I try to remember to change mine every morning...
(Delica - testing ~10x day.)
It is quite a hassle to change lancets at school/work. That's the reason I have replaced all my lancing devices (Softclix and so on, I got 3-4, from different manufacturers) with Accu-Chek Multiclix lancing devices.
Guilty as charged. I usually change mine when a) I'm not getting blood or b) when I can see the tip of the lancet bent down. I usually test using a lancet 8-10x a day (I also have a cgm, so this reduces the number of times I actually test 'the traditional way'). I think that if I changed my lancet every time, I'd so insane. It's enough work just finding my bg meter and putting the strip in testing.
Wow. So many responses in so little a time. Looks like most answers frown on changing lancets often, which surprised me. I posted this to see if anyone got an infection from repeated use of an old lancet. Thank goodness no one has had a problem. They are pretty cheap, and I use a new one 6 times a day. Hat's off to everyone who responded. Just remember : test.test.test.
I keep a couple softclix around the house and office for forearm testing and only change these once or twice a month, I use a Delica with my test kit for the fingertip tests I change it every morning when I check to see that I have enough test strips for the day.
I have found the OneTouch Delica a better lancet. Finer, less pain.
+1
I only change when it consistently hurts to poke!
...and a free trial from my endo! Can't pass up free! :)
I have (unfortunately) been guilty of using lancets for WAAAAAYYYY longer than intended. Never really had an issue though ( not that it makes it a good idea).
I know quite a few diabetics who do the same, for better and for worse. It seems to be fairly commonplace, and like some of the comments below, I feel like most people switch when they change test strips because otherwise they'd go through supplies too quickly.
I posted this to see if anyone got an infection from repeated use of an old lancet.
I looked into that several years ago. I found two reports in medical journals. When I investigated further one was a case where two elderly sisters shared a lancet between them; one got an infected finger. The other case was a nursing home where the staff changed the lancet between patients but did not adequately clean the nozzle of the lancet-holder; the contamination came from that.
Actually, the only use I have for the box of alcohol swabs I got nine years ago is to clean the lancet device when I test friends or relatives :)
In nine years on various forums I have read one report from a lady who had an infection in one finger which her doctor claimed came from lancet re-use. At the other extreme is a guy who claims he is still using his first lancet from many years ago. Ouch.
I'll keep changing when I remember, which isn't very often, or when I'm bored with the old one, which is slightly less rare, or every St Swithun's day.
Cheers, Alan, T2, Australia.
Everything in Moderation - Except Laughter.
( not that it makes it a good idea).
Reading the response here it is difficult to see why it is a bad idea.
Maybe I should pose Mike's question as a specif topic. Can we do surveys here? I'll check.
Cheers, Alan, T2, Australia.
Everything in Moderation - Except Laughter.
Thanks for your post. It's great to learn something new every day.
Pretty much one a day.
I guess I maybe the laziest one here. I may only change the lancet out twice a year. I test about 5 times a day.
I've heard of some people getting really bad infections from using the same lancet too much, which is usually why they want you to change it so often. However, I've never had an issue like that so far.
That's a great idea!
That is what I do, too, either every bottle of strips or every other bottle of strips. Whenever ti gets painful, I think about it. Over 27 years without an infection, so I don't worry.
I only change a lancet when it dawns on me that I've been using it for a long time. And I have no idea how long that long time is. So I guess I could say I change when the fancy takes me?
I am lancet lazy, but change it out every morning. I test about 10 times each day. I know I should change it out every time I test, but alas...I am lancet lazy.
I personally do not use ANY lancing device, and I change the lancet after every 2nd or 3rd use. I can stab my finger tip quickly,and the point is ALWAYS sharp . I am amazed that you guys can use the same lancet over and over again. I find the dull used ones to be painful. I do not have ugly fingertips because I rotate the stabbings between all ten fingertips. And I just find that the little "prickers" ( lancing pens) take too much time and are too painful. I put the little plastic head on the lancet sideways so I know it is a used one, then after 2-3 uses; I transfer it to an empty strips container so I do not use it again. I dump the used ones in a sharps container at home at the end of the day.
And after this long ramble... N -O, never got an infection from a used lancet.
God Bless,
Brunetta