How many needles do you use?

[PaulinaB]

Hi all people on MDI,
I'm curious - how many injections per day are you doing? (Assuming we follow the guidelines and don't reuse needles - this should equal the amount of needles used).

I'm asking because I was just rejected a repeat prescription for new needles and I'm wondering if I'm using "too much". I order prescriptions online so I don't know the reason for them being denied, so before I go to my GP and start making fuss, I'd like to know how others are doing

 

[robert72]

Usually 3-4. My GP said there was no restriction, I shouldn't reuse them and I need as many as it takes.

 

[britincali]

4 a day if I don't have to do any corrections.

 

[Daibell]

3 to 4 injections per day but only use one neede. I have found no problem with re-use within the day and it saves the NHS money.

 

[tim2000s]

I tend to use one per pen per day. Having to carry about one per injection and manage the used sharps is even more of a pain the bum than only using the one needle.

 

[Robinredbreast]

Same as the others, 4 normally or if there are corrections ( over Christmas period) then a little more. I haven't had any problems over the years. Maybe it's a glich on the site ?

Good luck RRB

 

[morethanmutts]

To be honest I use about one per week.

 

[himtoo]

it takes me about 2 months to get through a box of 100 needles so i would estimate 1 needle per pen each day for novorapid and 1 needle every 2-3 days with lantus
I do know i should do it after every injection but usually life gets in the way

 

[Sarah69]

I inject twice a day and use new needles each time. They are meant for single use only.

 

[Heathenlass]

Hiya Paulina
There is no such thing as " too many" needles on a repeat prescription for insulin users, and along with test strips they should not be refused. I recently had to " train" a new practice into the esoteric ways of being a Type 1 after they refused mine and limited strips to 50 per month .

I made an appointment with the practice manager to explain exactly why I needed consumables like needles, lancets and strips. It turns out its a preset automated system, and it's possible to override the limits manually where needed, so it was so However, I did have to educate them as to why - the manager being an administrator ( not medically trained ) who was also responsible for prescriptions thought I would only need to inject twice a day, and test 1-2 times a day . A reasonable discussion remedied that ! However she muttered a bit when amending my strips to 200 on the system, so I told her about the NICE guidelines for diabetic prescribing, and later took a copy in for her.

Signy

 

[himtoo]

Hiya Paulina
There is no such thing as " too many" needles on a repeat prescription for insulin users, and along with test strips they should not be refused. I recently had to " train" a new practice into the esoteric ways of being a Type 1 after they refused mine and limited strips to 50 per month .

I made an appointment with the practice manager to explain exactly why I needed consumables like needles, lancets and strips. It turns out its a preset automated system, and it's possible to override the limits manually where needed, so it was so However, I did have to educate them as to why - the manager being an administrator ( not medically trained ) who was also responsible for prescriptions thought I would only need to inject twice a day, and test 1-2 times a day . A reasonable discussion remedied that ! However she muttered a bit when amending my strips to 200 on the system, so I told her about the NICE guidelines for diabetic prescribing, and later took a copy in for her.

Signy

I can imagine that you kept the discussion with the practise manger nice and friendly by wearing your viking helmet

 

[Heathenlass]

I can imagine that you kept the discussion with the practise manger nice and friendly by wearing your viking helmet

The throwing axe tapped gently on the desk helped

Signy

 

[PaulinaB]

Hey,

Thanks everyone! I'm hoping this may be related to the fact that I'm due a review, but still it's a bit annoying. I made my review appointment with my doc and I'll ask him for the reason. Until then I guess I have to watch my needles ;]

 

[robert72]

Hey,

Thanks everyone! I'm hoping this may be related to the fact that I'm due a review, but still it's a bit annoying. I made my review appointment with my doc and I'll ask him for the reason. Until then I guess I have to watch my needles ;]

The box is clearly labeled 'For single use'. Ask the surgery what you are supposed to do when they run out. They can't withhold vital supplies.

 

[PaulinaB]

I'm curious - if most of you use 3-4 needles daily on MDI, then you literally each 2-3 meals a day, with no snacks and no corrections in between? I noticed that I'm using about 7 (6 bolus, 1 basal) needles each day, including snacks, corrections, etc. Which means that a box of 100 lasts for about 2 weeks... Am I doing something wrong?

 

[robert72]

I'm curious - if most of you use 3-4 needles daily on MDI, then you literally each 2-3 meals a day, with no snacks and no corrections in between? I noticed that I'm using about 7 (6 bolus, 1 basal) needles each day, including snacks, corrections, etc. Which means that a box of 100 lasts for about 2 weeks... Am I doing something wrong?

I use one for basal and then 2 or 3 for meals. I don't usually need to inject for lunch as I low-carb. Otherwise I think your usage is reasonable for your needs.

 

[noblehead]

Hey,

Thanks everyone! I'm hoping this may be related to the fact that I'm due a review, but still it's a bit annoying. I made my review appointment with my doc and I'll ask him for the reason. Until then I guess I have to watch my needles ;]

Any problems Paulina ask your DSN/Consultant (if your under the care of a hospital clinic) to write to your gp and say that you need the required insulin needles to manage your diabetes, as a rule this generally works, but as Robert says they are for single use only.

I use 4 needles a day, sometimes 5 if I'm slit-dosing.

 

[Daibell]

I'm curious - if most of you use 3-4 needles daily on MDI, then you literally each 2-3 meals a day, with no snacks and no corrections in between? I noticed that I'm using about 7 (6 bolus, 1 basal) needles each day, including snacks, corrections, etc. Which means that a box of 100 lasts for about 2 weeks... Am I doing something wrong?

Hi Pauline. Each person has different injection needs. I'm slightly surprised by 6 bolus needs but thats your choice. I couldn't be bothered with that number and don't need them anyway. I have Bolus for lunch and dinner and normally none for breakfast as the carbs are too low and the Basal is peaking. I have been having a Bolus with each mince pie I've been using up (!) as they are 40gm carbs. I think most of the posters have said that they have MDI but only use one needle per pen or for both pens per day

 

[Daibell]

The box is clearly labeled 'For single use'. Ask the surgery what you are supposed to do when they run out. They can't withhold vital supplies.

Hi. If I were a manufacturer and made shed loads of money out of the NHS for needle sales I might be tempted to write 'single use only' on the pack. I've never seen a post from anyone having infection issues from multiple use over a sensible span of time. My own limit is one day and I don't leave the needle on the pen. My needles remain painless over several injections but I know others may have more pain.

 

[PaulinaB]

Hey everyone,

This wasn't really a question of needles, more how many injections do you do daily (which, for my GP, should equal the amount of needles used).

I prefer to eat smaller meals but more of them rather than only 3 big meals a day. My control is very good (hba1c last week was 38mmol/mol) and my DSN is very happy with it. I put down my good control (and maybe increased needle use) to the CGM - since I know what is happening all the time I can take action sooner. I'm also trying to lose a bit of weight, and I noticed that eating smaller thing more often means that I avoid stretching my stomach (and being very hungry which means I can easily over-eat during the meal) and simply eat less in total than I would otherwise.

I don't reuse the needles, because I tend to get bruises if I do. I reuse them only if I have to split the dose into 2 immediate injections (because the dose is too big for one go) - I just can't be bothered to put a new needle on.

I'm curious - if you don't leave the needle on the pen, where do you put it? The ones I have do not have a cover on the bottom that you can put back on it, so the tip that goes into the pen is left exposed, so potentially anything can get on it.