Changing the lancet advice

The advice from the manufacturers is to change the lancet after every use, some members do this as where others change it less often.

You will find some views on this if you read the whole thread

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/why-do-lancets-have-an-expiry-date.115077/#post-1363427

Personally I do not use a new lancet for each test. I change them when they start to hurt (blunt) or refuse to draw blood. This is just me, I am not suggesting you do it.

I change mine about once a week when they start to hurt more. I have never had a problem or infection and rarely have soreness.

I only change mine when I change the test strip cartridge in my meter, which is after 50 tests. Even then I don't really think I need to change it as it doesn't hurt more and works effectively. But that's probably not the best practice.

I use a lancet once only.

The cost of lancets is trivial in relation to the cost of test strips! But as already suggested different people have different ideas on how frequently to change them (and there have been several threads that I know of about this!).

I use a Fastclix device which had a little disposable drum with 6 enclosed lancets and I only click round to the next one when I feel the current one is getting blunt, and I'm still using to box odf 200 drums that I bought when I first started testing. Since the lancets are enclosed, I'm happy with the cleanliness aspect of doing this, though for individual lancets I might have a re-think. However, it's really something you do need to decide for yourself, as the recommended practice is to change after every use.

Robbity

Robbity said:

The cost of lancets is trivial in relation to the cost of test strips! But as already suggested different people have different ideas on how frequently to change them (and there have been several threads that I know of about this!).

I use a Fastclix device which had a little disposable drum with 6 enclosed lancets and I only click round to the next one when I feel the current one is getting blunt, and I'm still using to box odf 200 drums that I bought when I first started testing. Since the lancets are enclosed, I'm happy with the cleanliness aspect of doing this, though for individual lancets I might have a re-think. However, it's really something you do need to decide for yourself, as the recommended practice is to change after every use.

Robbity

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SNAP. I have 5 drums left out of my box of 200 that I bought in 2015.

Well, if I was allocated a budget for my diabetes to spend myself on needles and lancets I would be saving the NHS a fortune! I'm one of the non changing every timers.. It definitely comes from initially having to buy own needles when the drug addicts got them allocated free before us diabetic's. I not changed in 30+ years.... Don't think I will be changing either to be honest. Can't be faffed to do it and thinking of all the needles I would be carrying around with me and having to be prepared just going out to have a costa lot cuppa etc. Would take spontaneity out of my life totally..

Grannie75 said:

Do you clean the lancet between uses? I wondered about cleaning with surgical spirit but wasn't sure if it would change the readings. ( I plan to change the lancet maybe once every few days)

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No.. cos the trigger
for the lancets are spring loaded so they just go back in the stabbing device.

This is what I know;

1- Ethyl alcohol, which may be as wipes, the one's most common in day to day use or in liquid form, "do effect BG Readings" and may give faulty results, but, could be used afterwards to clean your fingers.

2- 70% V/V Isopropyl Alcohol Gluco Swap Wipes are used to clean your fingers before the BG Measurement and only those alcohol one's do not give faulty results. They are also in liquid form and can be used with a piece of cotton. The same wipe or cotton piece can be perfectly used to clean the blood drop and the finger following the measurement.

Ideally, and practicality, the hands are washed with a plain and pure soap. And, these are used when washing is not possible.

In hospitals they use both type of alcohol for different purposes.

70% Isopropyl Alcohol wipes and bottled ones may be available from some drugstores but, sold at Diabetes Supply Stores, on line or the actual store itself.

70% Isopropyl Alcohol is also used for the weekly cleaning of the lancet device and how this is done is simple but, a little bit of tricky and there is normally a manual which comes with the lancet device explaining this.

Cleaning the lancets in between uses with hospital surgical sprit is something which I have not heard of it before and am not able to comment on it but, what I have heard is, a tiny drop of blood is viable to create problems once it gets in contact with air. It is like the traffic. Millions drive each day but, accidents only happen to some.