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Fresh needle for each injection?

MARGAR

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,190
Type of diabetes
Type 2
I'm a long time lapsed member, but I'm back again now, I read somewhere in the Forum, someone was saying "try changing your needle more often" because the person was having blood spots after injecting! Surely, you should have a fresh needle for every injection? Or do some people use the same needle time after time? Any comments about this please
 
Some people do use the same needle multiple times. It may be habit - those who have been injections a long time would have started with reusable needles, or it may be a cost saving measure.
I use a new one each time, more hygienic I feel.
 
Have to admit to re using needles. I guess it's a personal thing, I've never had any problems with doing it and I guess in one way it makes me feel that I'm saving a bit of money. Obviously if I did have issues injecting then I would change my approach. I usually use one needle throughout the day ( 5/6 injections ). This is something that only the individual can decide what is best and I wouldn't question anyone who only uses a needle once and then discards it, after all that is what you're supposed to do.
 
MARGAR said:
Surely, you should have a fresh needle for every injection? Or do some people use the same needle time after time? Any comments about this please
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When I was first diagnosed we were actively encouraged to re-use needles, but times have moved on and the design of the needles have come up leaps & bounds, as we know they are much smaller in size and much more comfortable to use so there's less chance of injection site issues such as lipohypertrophy.

The advice now is to change the needle after every injection, whether someone adhere's to that advice is an individual choice, in recent years I changed the needle after every injection and found I'd had less site issues and a much better insulin absorption.
 
I've seen posts of people who use a single needle until their pen has been used up. It baffles me, but to each their own! Typically the only time I reuse a needle is when I'm out and about and can't safely handle sharps. Then I keep the needle on and reuse it if I need an injection, but after the second injection I always discard the needle and use a fresh one. The rest of the time I use a single needle once and then discard it.
 
Hi. First, using a needle more than once has virtually zero risk of infection as long as the needle is removed from the pen after each use and isn't used for weeks on end. Gradually the needle will become blunt but I find that one needle per day works fine for me after 4 to 5 uses with very occasional slight bluntness. Needles cost the NHS a lot of money and there is no good reason to use a new one after each use, but it's your choice. The manufacturers will, of course, recommend a new one for profit and legal reasons.
 
I usually use the same needle for the entire pen cartridge and have been doing that for years. The only time I deviate from that is when I nick the needle trying to put the little plastic cover back on. When that happens I replace the needle.

I very seldom have any injection issues - no bleeding, no bruising, no scar tissue and no infections.
 
fletchweb said:
I usually use the same needle for the entire pen cartridge and have been doing that for years
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I have to agree I'm exactly the same and change lancets once a month. Never had any problems or issues in over 20 years.
Main reason is time - I once estimated for lancets alone I save myself a whole day per year (estimating 25secs to remove, safely dispose of and put in a new lancet).
 
Am type2.
With my lancet, I use the same one for a few days
I also inject victoza but I do use a new needle each time
 
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