Getting the Needle?

[mrburden]

Hi All,
I posted this yesterday but I think the post get hit by the server problems.
I surprised myself today by working out how many needles I've had since being diagnosed T1 in 1977. Sad I know but here is the result...
i started on 2 jabs a day, then 3,4 and now 5 (progress huh?) averaging 4 per day thats 46,592
Add to that about 3 BG tests a day for the past 25 years (urine before this) thats 27,300
So a total of 73,892 needles not counting the two months time spent in hospitals where taking blood samples seems to be a hobby for most of the staff. Its a wonder I don't leak.
I'm guessing this is about average really, but how does this compare with others?

 

[Slinger]

hi,

before going onto a pump i use to use needles until they were blunt. i used novapens. 3 injections a day with novarapid sometimes more and use to get about 4 days so 12 injections on 1 needle, use to change the lantus needle about once a week. so how much money was i saving the nhs doing that for 11 years

ste

 

[mrburden]

Hi Slinger,
I too used the needles until they either wouldn't go through my skin or until the insulin cartridge was empty, but now change them every morning using them about 4 times. But when I was first diagnosed I used the old glass syringes with the standard long, thick needles. My mum had to boil the syringes in a pan to keep them sterile and send the needles away for re-grinding once they got too blunt!! Ahh them were the days...

 

[hanadr]

No-one thanks you for saving on needles. The NHS never look ahead
I too used to steam sterilise tham for T1 husband. In my case, with our Ultra hard water, I used to use a trivet in the pressure cooker. That prevented limescale build up.