I started changing lancets after every test when I got infections at test sites. Like teeny-tiny pimples, they hurt out of all proportion to their size. Always using a new lancet + cleaning with hand sanitizer prior to testing has meant no more infected test sites.
As far as what do I do with the strips/lancets, I carry a man bag for my copious diabetes supplies and geek toys, and I’ve always got an empty plastic drink bottle in there. It’s fairly unobtrusive, and the plastic is thick enough to stop the lancets from easily poking holes in the side. I even throw syringes in there once I’ve clipped the needles with my trusty needle clipper.
I just carry an old test strip container in my pouch, when it's full up with the 50 strips from the new container, I throw it away in a medical waste bin I have at home, which when full is then passed to the local authority to be incinerated. Repeat ad nauseum.
I'm amazed by the amount of waste from pump supply packaging, test strips, needles, infusions sets I create.
My major bad habit diabetes wise is leaving in an infusion set 24-48 hours longer than I really should.
Oh and going running and forgetting to take any fast acting carbs with me, school boy error that still occasionally happens.
I do the same Buckley, although with my pump (omnipod)) they give us a bag and when they are filled up (about 50) we send it through fed ex. The company pays for it but think it is a great program. as for my biohazard box I get free from shoppers drug mart. my worst I think is when I carb guess. My pump seems to keep me in line since it will only last for three days I have to change it. I have better habits now that I am on a pump. When on MDI I never took my lantus at the same time all the time. my sugars were everywhere for a while till I started to behave, now I am serious about it more than I was.
If I'm at home, I just throw the strip and cotton ball in the trash. Away from home? I carry a baggie in my purse, and throw both the strip and cotton ball in the baggie. When it starts to get too full, I just toss it in the trash at home and put another empty baggie in my purse.
Also, when I close the baggie, I press down on it so all the air goes out - that way it doesn't take up much room in my purse.
Ruth
We're supposed to change them after every test?! What?! I've never heard that! I was told to change them every 1-2 weeks! I'm terribly misinformed!
Thirty-plus years ago I started using Chemstrips. (Before that it was urine testing and no I did not keep used urine testing strips around!). I used the Chemstrips for a long long time before switching brands (I think I tried a couple other brands, like the old Ames fuzzy strips, over the first decade or so but did not like them.)
I still find old books etc. with used Chemstrips in them I was evidently using them as bookmarks :-).
Newer test strips are too short to use as bookmarks!
Yes kaycee after every test strip,
A couple years ago I put on, withmy Endo, a diabetes session at the gym I belonged to. I had all sorts of materials from organizations etc. I also wanted to make it fun. So at the door when they came in, there was a large peanut butter jar - full of my used test strips. I introduced the jar by saying how important it was to discuss testing with your MD, and to ask for an Rx to cover the strips - as many as you need - because they go for about a $1.00 a piece. So I had the attendees guess the number of strips in the jar. The correct guess won free passes to a wonderful soup and salad restaurant. Of course, that meant I had to count all of those strips. 7,022! Yep, $7,022.00 worth.
I wish I had thought to write down when I put the first strip in there. Nowadays, I still have a margarine tub on the kitchen counter. When I'm not home they go in the meter case and get dumped in there later.
Where do you put them once it is full? I am wondering if every one has a pharmacy that they can go to that has the shard program where you bring in your bio hazard box that they supply for free and when you return it full they give you another one. I think it is a fantastic program, only the Shoppers Drug Mart in my town does it thought.
I just caught my brother using a used test strip as a toothpick....maybe we could recycle test strips this way
lol@shoehorn
oh the things we could do. we could make lamps and boxes etc... like we do with popscicle sticks. lol
In the trash. Since I am not personally a major biohazard, and any "bad things" would long be demised, I just throw them in the garbage can. I usually put them in a double plastic bag so they don't escape - you know how you find a test strip in the weirdest places.
I change them when they start to hurt...or really after they have hurt for a few days and my mind finally triggers that I should.
That being said. I had a box of 100, for 10 years, and I didn't use them all. But I got a new lancing device and they don't fit. So I probably used 85 of them in 10 years. Terrible, I know. So far I haven't had any issues with them.
I do use super small ones, so they don't hurt though.
I thought this is what everyone did! What better use for your empty test strip vial? Then when I use up the next vial, it goes in the pocket of my meter pouch and becomes the new ‘trash can’. And I always have my meter with me, so I’m never without this. I’ve never done anything else in 20 years. I had no idea there were so many variations 
I am glad we are all different, I do the same as you shelby although I am always looking for new and improved ways of taking care of myself and my supplies with my D.
Me too, I have gleaned so many great ideas from this community. It’s awesome!
I've stayed in a hotel for an anime convention, and I used both ketone strips and my test strips in the regular trash there, no issues. They knew I was diabetic though so that might make a difference, I had to say that to get a fridge for left overs (I get a fridge for free at this hotel every time now lol DIABETES HAS IT'S ADVANTAGES). I had no sharps at the time as that was misdiagnosis time still. This time I'm taking my clipper for my needles if I am not on the pump yet, if I am, I might get another biohazard container for the sharps with that. I just feel like it's a good idea to also make the front desk aware I'm a diabetic (and this time I'll say insulin dependent) so they know in case I have issues. It's a good idea when I'm gonna be staying there for like 3 nights and going to be veeeery active where I might have issues and if they want me to do more than clip my needles and whatnot.
I used to use an used test strip container, but my new meter bag didn't really have room for two vials. So, I instead put the used ones in the zipper pocket for my meter bag (I think the one designed for lancets). I don't change my lancets nearly as often as I should - probably once a month or so, unless it starts getting painful.
But when I replace my vial of test strips, I empty the old strips into the biohazard container that I use for my infusion & CGM needles. If I'm traveling, I keep my infusion needles in a bag to dump in my biohazard container when I get back home.
Like someone else mentioned - I don't have any known issues with my blood, but since I know that I would be potentially exposing someone else to my blood, I choose to keep strips out of the way.
I have some very small plastic zip bags that are made for jewelry. (Do a search for jewelry zip bags to see what I mean.) I put the used strips in there and either empty the bag or replace it when full.
The only time I don’t use it is if I’m testing in the Ladies’ room at work. Then I just use the waste container for tampons, sanitary napkins, and so on.
But just like sanitary napkins and tampons, I prefer to wrap my waste items in a few turns of toilet paper before disposing. Many people don’t want to look at another person’s blood, so I figure it’s just the polite thing to do.
I don’t change my lancets each time, so I just change them when I’m at home and dispose of them in a large pill container or empty vitamin bottle. I label it well as a Sharps container and dispose of it with the other sharps containers at the the town’s waste center.