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Dr. changed my needles

Alasdair

Well-Known Member
I got a letter from my doctor's surgery a couple of weeks ago to say that they were changing my insulin pen needles from BD microfine to Omnican fine as they were cheaper. Fair enough. I got a box of them yesterday and put them into use. It turns out that once you put the needle on and remove the outer plastic shell, there is nothing covering the needle so it is exposed from the outset. What it does do though is ensure single use for each needle instead of multiple use which i was quite guilty of despite knowing the consequences. It also explained why they gave me 2 boxes instead of my normal 1 box. Cost effectiveforbthe NHS and better for my body.

Has anyone else has this?
 
Can you put the original outer shell back on to protect against the needle exposure?
I ask because I think about disposal of the needles. At home, no problem. But when I go away, then I put the used needles into a temporary case - small box &etc, and dispose of them on return. The NHS needle disposal boxes are too big to take away on trips. However, I would hate to carry temp boxes of unprotected sharp needles in my suitcase, and then transfer them to a proper sharps bin.
 
Yes, you can and I use them but I also use a small needle clipper to take the needle off.
 

Not quite sure what you mean by your description on why it can only be used once, however if it encourages you to change the needle each time then that's not a bad thing IMHO, but as you say it's hardly cost-effective unless these needles are a fraction of a price to the BD Microfine

I got a box of Owen Mumford needles (by mistake I believe) when I picked up my last prescription, they are really good and I'm going to request them when I put in a repeat next week
 
Hey I use the BD microfine needles at the mo so I wonder if I'll have mine changed??

Anyway how long does 1 box of needles last you? I only get 1 box each time.
 
Seriously_Sax1989 said:
Hey I use the BD microfine needles at the mo so I wonder if I'll have mine changed??

Anyway how long does 1 box of needles last you? I only get 1 box each time.
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Unlike bg strips I've not heard of many people having their needles changed due to cost, so don't worry about it for now.
 
Last year I had my BD Microfine changed to GlucoTRX due to cost. These still have the inner needle cover. I re-use my needle during each day to save NHS cost and waste and put the outer cover back on between use. As you can't put the BD Microfine inner needle cover back on anyway I don't understand your post?
 
No it's the first I've heard too! I don't know if I like the idea of using something different just because it's cheaper, especially needles... But if they work they work I guess.
 
Seriously_Sax1989 said:
No it's the first I've heard too! I don't know if I like the idea of using something different just because it's cheaper, especially needles... But if they work they work I guess.
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Someone a short while ago said they were unhappy with the needles their Dr had changed them to, but overall I would think they are all much the same, providing you get the same size needle you can only give them a go if you do get swapped over, if there's problems then patients need to tell their gp or diabetes consultant.
 
I complained that my needles had been changed without consultation and they were changed back. The practice nurse said that it was a blanket thing and they'd had loads of complaints. In my case they were also changing to a thicker guage.
 
@ElyDave.. must be a Cambridgeshire thing? My sons got changed to the gluco ones last week as they are cheaper, according to his doc, but they were awful and made him bleed. Swiftly complained and changed back to bd ones.
 
Hi I live in South Lincolnshire and I am a Type 1 diabetic. I had my needles changed from BD Microfine to Owen Mumford early this year. I was not notified and I was a bit miffed because they seem a lot flimsier and don't screw onto either my novo rapid or lantus pens that easily, however they seem to do the job they are made for as insulin delivery hasn't suffered as am getting good glucose readings so something must be working.
 
noblehead said:
Unlike bg strips I've not heard of many people having their needles changed due to cost, so don't worry about it for now.
Click to expand...
I had mine changed due to cost, and I had a lot of problems with them went to gp about them and told tough it's what they have been told to issue by the local health board. I had an appointment about a week after this with the diabetes clinic. Told them about the problems I was having and others have had the same problem. So. One fax later to gp surgery and my needles were changed Bach to my beloved novo twist
 

Well that's good news, you did right by reporting the new needles if they didn't come up to standard
 


Hi Coco, as said earlier in the thread I was given these needles when I last picked my prescription up, I'm also on Novo and lantus and can't say I've had problems screwing the needles onto the pens, I use the NovoPen Echo and the disposable Solostar pens for my lantus, which pens do you use?
 
I originally had the green ones (can't remember the name?) but now have the novo-twist... Initially I didn't think they were any different, but I definitely get less bruises from the novo-twist - even though they're almost exactly the same mm's (the green were 1mm less actually).

I think it's maybe because the green ones were flimsier, so nicking me and causing bruises..? Either way happier with the novo-twist


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The change in needles has been interesting! I was previously quite bad at changing my needles so I'm super delighted at what I'm doing now by having a new needle for every injection - every injection is now pain free and my body is thanking me for it. My previous needles were 5mm but the new one only came in 4mm or 6mm. I opted for 4mm and the change is fairly dramatic in terms of my insulin absorption! still trying to get it right but my sugar levels have been bouncing around the bottom. Rubbish but it makes a change from hanging around the double figures mark. Concerned about the increased number of hypos though and the potential consequences of this but quite glad that something has changed to bring my levels down (which might also just be the fact that I'm checking just about every opportunity I can- I might be addicted!) but my body is definitely now absorbing insulin much better. All good but getting control of it is also 'interesting' and not always fun.
 
@Alasdair do you mean you're getting lower blood sugars from the shorter needles...?

That's interesting/confusing... I did have the 4mm ones but my GP suggested I may have better absorption with *longer* needles... I used one of the 8mm needles she gave me to try and it hurt like hell! So I haven't tried again - but thought I 'should' try the 6mm after what she said... But I think you're saying that shorter is what gives you better absorption...?


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