Newly diagnosed here and I guess I have a lot to learn…I had no idea you could re-use lancets!..I thought even the smallest microscopic amount of blood leftover on the lancet would effect the test result. Wish they’d invent a re-usable test strip. Those things are so expensive! Call me a cynic but I don’t think there will ever be a cure for diabetes that is available to the masses–think how many people would lose their jobs from the racket they make off us diabetics.
I’d get years of use from the same lancet before changing. I’d guess at least up to 3 or 4 years. I never had any infections or finger pain in all that time. The only reason I’d change would be because I’d somehow get another packet (given to me for some reason or other) of lancets and I figured I had to use them up before I died (I hate wasting things).
When I finally switched to a different finger pricker (since the one I had was 20 years old and didn’t have depth adjustments), I started changing about once every month. The reason is because I don’t recap it (it’s not easily accessible) like I used to do with the old one, so its not kept as sanitary. Plus I test a lot more now (6 - 10 vs. 3 - 4) and I want to make sure it’s as sharp as possible.
We change Olivia’s daily.
I change my daughter’s (Olivia) lancet every time! Her poor little fingers get enough abuse - I would rather use a very sharp new lancet, then a dull old lancet OUCH!
wow - I never thought to re-use them! AWESOME! I’m gonna do just that - I like the idea of doing it till it gets dull or when you need a new bottle of test strips! Great stuff! And I’m getting Bernstein’s book too! Thanks people!
I use the Accuchek lancet with the little drum, and I change it maybe once every 2 months.
I have NEVER had an infection in my fingertip. I’ve been testing for 9 years.
If you drop the lancet out in the cow barn, yes, you need to change it. Ditto if you drop it into the toilet. Otherwise, forget it. There are hundreds of people with diabetes who have posted about this online and I have yet to hear of a SINGLE one who got an infection from reuising their own lancet.
Needless to say, NEVER SHARE A LANCET!!!
I change mine every morning. Call me crazy and all…
But all of you who leave 'em on for a long time, here’s a tip: Get a cotton ball with some rubbing alcohol on it and use that to wipe down the tip of the needle every time.
When I think of it I cahnge mine once a week. I think because it isn’t dull just because of a strile thing.
Have a good one. I must have about 400 lancets before I run out.
Chuck,
I guess I’ll be the one to tell you that I was told years ago to wash my hands with Dial soap dry them off then prick your finger. You don’t have to use alcohol. Sorry! I was told (by a Dr no less) that Dial soap would sterlize your skin as well as alcohol. That’s what I’ve done for like 20 years now. As far as changing my lancet I do that when it starts to hurt maybe about 6 times a year. I was told and tell my daughter your the only one using it if someone else uses it then change it but you don’t have to change it if you know your the only one using it b/c it’s your blood and all. You know what you have.
Whoa - everyone’s not discarding their lancet after every test? My doctor told me to discard the lancet each time I test, which is four times a day. I’ve been testing for 45 days now. I’m giving this method a try.
i used to change it everytime, my pharmacy told me that will stop & it did. I’m now one of the new year’s resoultion changers 
okay actually I try to change it more often than that but I’m close.
I change mine once a week.
I change mine each time I start a new bottle of strips.
If I leave them any longer, they tend to dull a little (I believe) and sometimes start to hurt when I test.
However, … on this discussion Alcohol Wipes…Germs many spoke of swabbing before testing. I think it might be moot with a reused lancet.
Jack
4 times per year…I used to re-use syringes–often and shot through my clothes. I never use alcohol for my fingers, but I always use IV Ppep for my infusion set–I can wear it for five days that way. My daughter uses alcohol often, after all she has sticky kid hands, which can affect the readings.
Ditto on the re-use of syringes & shots through clothes (before I switched to the pump). I’ve never had an infection from a shot (since 1966) or lancet (since 1980).
ROFLMAO>>>>
I just did this the other night…my mother has health issues and never feels well…occasionally she asks me to “test” her and thus the “ritual” that you mentioned in your reply began…
I change lancets when I have to turn the device up to a stronger “jab” meaning the lancet is getting dull. I DO, however, ALWAYS use rubbing alcohol to throughly clean my finger tip every single time. If I am rushed and don’t clean my finger before (very rare), then I make sure I take out the lancet and change it the next time I use it.
As for syringes, when I am hurried at work, I sometimes don’t wipe the area I’m going to inject with alcohol, which sometimes makes me a little nervous. At home, I pre-fill my syringes for medication at work. It’s my version of the insulin pen, which I like better than the pen.
I’m not sure how often I change mine, but I have to admit I’d rather re-stick myself 5 times with the same dull lancet than have to bother with changing it! And yup, I reuse needles until they get so dull they hurt. If any of you are new to needles and don’t like 'em, try this - use the same needle until it is dull and hurts like heck. Now when you use a brand new one you won’t even feel it, like a hot knife through butter! Really the only worry about reusing needles is a staph infection, but after 15+ years of reusing I’ve never had a prob.
One more thing, for those of you who are parents of small children with diabetes, please always use a new needle and lancet every time, because SHARPER = LESS PAIN!
Mark, that’s a great idea. lol
Jennifer, I thought I was the only one who stabbed myself w/ insulin through my clothes! I hardly ever use alcohol swabs either. Only when I’m showing someone how I test my bloodsugar - then I try to be a “good diabetic”. lol