How often do u change the lancets

[Finnlee]

Before getting a CGM, I changed my lancet every other use.

Now with a CGM, I'm not testing as much and I change my lancet every 5-6 uses, mainly because I lose track of how many uses it's gotten.

I'm Type 1 and I'll be finger pricking the rest of my life (although tech has certainly reduced the number of pricks I do), so I want keep my fingers in the best condition possible.

It took me 1.5 years to finish one box of 200 lancets and a box isn't expensive (I'm in Germany and a box of 200 lancets costs €2.20 with insurance) so I figure I might as well do what will keep my fingers tips in top form.

 

[SimonP78]

I used to be every month or so (assuming the box of lancets was somewhere to hand when I remembered), however now that I'm using FastClix lancets (in a Gatling gun style circular magazine) I tend to change them with gay abandon when they start to hurt, so perhaps once a week (until I get to the last one and need to find the box again....).

 

[jonathan183]

Use until they start to hurt or every few days if remember ... some hurt with single use while others can seem to be OK for quite a few uses. The box of 204 FastClix lancets (have 6 in each) last long enough that they got stopped and I had to request they got added back on repeat prescription

 

[Deleted member 574368]

Looked at my prescriptions prior to switching to libre, I used to order/use 1 x 100 box each month. I you use them frequently you will get pain if you don't change them.

 

[MommaE]

I have a libre so typically only finger prick once a day, sometimes twice, if I am doubting how I feel compared to the reading. A recent hypoglycaemic seizure has scared me into that doubt more often than I did. I change lancet every time.

 

[Daibell]

Previous 'advice' on this forum has been to change the lancet on St Swithins day! I change mine every few weeks.

 

[Paule Foster]

Change mine for every test, on libre so only test once or twice a day more if libre gives random readings

Yes me too. The pharmacy said change every test when I got the kit. Luckily all on prescription.

 

[hankjam]

Once a day tester first thing, use fingers in sequence, if I can remember where I was the day before.
Change about once a month.

There was a Mod who posted on this subject a couple of years back, showing a photo of how his finger had become badly infected...

 

[Grace04]

I’ve been using a new one every time I test. Now, having read this thread I don’t know what I’ll do…..

 

[Outlier]

Do whatever you are comfortable with. There are no "rules" and we are all different.

 

[Robbity]

I also use a Fast-clix with little drums of 6 pre-loaded lancets. I generally test fasting, pre & post meals, and dial a new lancet when they get blunt or (rarely) hurt. The drums last long enough that I've only ever needed to buy two boxes. I've never had issues with damaged fingers and I've never seen any differences in results that could be caused by the state of a lancet rather than by my glucose levels. However I do occasionally have issues with temperamental test strips.

 

[filly]

Every time I finger prick, 3/4 times a day usually.

 

[ianf0ster]

Every time I finger prick, 3/4 times a day usually.

Why so often?
I didn't change them more than once per week even back when I was testing before & after meals twice a day ( had given up breakfast by then as I was fat adapted).

I noticed somebody talked about wiping them to remove blood, which I don't understand, because:
1. No blood on them as they retract so fast
2. Have to dis-assemble lancer to wipe them. Plus I would imagine that as being both fiddly and potentially dangerous.

 

[becca59]

It used to be once a week before I was on Libre now every few months. When first diagnosed 10 years ago I ended up with loads for various reasons. I have not ordered any more and still have half left.

 

[filly]

Why so often?
I didn't change them more than once per week even back when I was testing before & after meals twice a day ( had given up breakfast by then as I was fat adapted).

I noticed somebody talked about wiping them to remove blood, which I don't understand, because:
1. No blood on them as they retract so fast
2. Have to dis-assemble lancer to wipe them. Plus I would imagine that as being both fiddly and potentially dangerous.

I am an ex nurse. Wouldn't dream of using it again and again. Even though it is just me.....

 

[Ajax]

I change my blood lancet with each use ..and change my needle after each injection ..though I'm not sure this practice ✻affects✻ my SMBG values.

 

[eventhorizon]

.....is it that time of year already! I don't really prick anymore since using the FSL but when I did it would be months between a lancet change.

 

[Ali Baba]

Like many others here,when it hurts. Maybe twice a year.

 

[Lainie71]

I use a new one each time, also worked for nhs and wouldn't dream of re using one. Plus I have ocd which plays a massive part in my thought processes.

 

[Mike_T]

seeing as I’m using the Libre system I use lancets rarely maybe twice or three times a week but when I used them regularly it used them til they hurt…more , sort of like when I first got diagnosed , when I asked he diabetic nurse when do I change the needles on my glass and metal syringe ( oh the joys ) “ when they are blunt was the reply “ lol how far we have come

For me it used to be ‘when they bend’. People don’t realise how lucky they are in this day and age. We also never had Facebook groups like U.K. freestyle Libre where people moan and moan about their cgm problems.