Lancet Needles

[stuart264]

Could anyone answer a quick question re: Lancet needles as I was talking to one of my friends husbands last night who is a type 1 diabetic and he asked me what lancet needles I was using and was a bit appalled when I said the the ones that came with the Freestyle meter and I need to ask for some more on Tuesday and gave me one of his spares out of his insulin kit to try which I put in this morning and I must admit its certainly better, now he said at the time that its a BD Diabetes lancet needle however its white in colour and when I looked on the BD Diabetics website this morning http://www.bd.com/resource.aspx?IDX=14063 they only seem to make 2 a 33 gauge which is blue and the 30 gauge which is green according to the pictures on the website.

Does anyone know which ones are actually white in the packets as I cant call him to ask as he is "up north" visiting his children until Wednesday and I see the diabetes nurse to ask for a re-supply on Tuesday.

 

[Ottermoon]

Mine are blue, 28 gauge, and I only change to a new one every couple of months. The 200 I was given originally might last me my whole life. They are the ones made by Abbott for the Freestyle meter. I don't see why anyone would be appalled at that. How odd.

If you are wanting a different gauge needle, I would expect your diabetic nurse can direct you.

Hope this helps.
Ottermoon

 

[stuart264]

@Ottermoon,

I only change to a new one every couple of months

:shock: have you never heard of sterility and bacteria? I got told to swap the lancet needle every week without fail by the Diabetes Nurse practitioner.

He did mention something at the time about the needles being better and if they had been around when he was a kid he might have better sensation in his finger ends which makes sense as I remember his wife mentioned to me that he tests from his forearm which I know is a bit vague but I have been friends with his wife for years but I hardly know him at all because he can be a bit stand offish and he has only recently started talking to me because of all the hassles I have had in the last couple of months since the Type II diagnosis as I got very vague and incorrect information at the start due to the specialist diabetes nurse practitioner at my GP's practice being off sick.

I suspect Abbot who make the Freestyle meters buy in the lancet needles from somewhere and have them branded to go in the meter kits as I cant find a mention of them on the website, but the BD ones seem to be a one type fits all as their website includes about 10 lancet systems their needles fit including the Abbot one from the Freestyle lite.

 

[Ottermoon]

From Dr Bernstein's book, pg 69.

I reuse mine until they become dull. The small supply packed with the various meter outfits should easily last a year.

I pretty much trust his advice, which is based on both his personal experience and medical knowledge.

 

[stuart264]

Without wanting to get into an argument its Not a book I have heard of or read before, but might now you mention it. I was thinking that when the needle goes through your skin it can potentially pick up bacteria from the surface of the skin and then on the next uses deposit it in your finger.

 

[bowell]

Postby Ottermoon »
From Dr Bernstein's book, pg 69.

I reuse mine until they become dull.

Urrrrrrr

Do you do the same with your cutlery :lol:

 

[anna29]

Hello, aaaah whhaaat???? :shock: Keep reusing same lancets over n over again? uh uh shouldnt be happening. Definetly cant be hygenic or safe with blunted lancet. Try revisting your GP or clinic and ask them face to face what you should be doing, not do what a bloke in a 'book!' says... Books are okay for reading n help us to chew things over etc... but I personally wouldnt do what a book writer says about a clinical instrument . Best place n source for this advice would n should be a medical n clinical source n place. If you had an open flesh wound that would require medical attention would you wrap in up in a filthy teatowel you had been using for the last month? [n a bloke in a book advises to do this too ] Anna. :shock: :shock: :shock:

 

[catherinecherub]

Hello, aaaah whhaaat???? :shock: Keep reusing same lancets over n over again? uh uh shouldnt be happening. Definetly cant be hygenic or safe with blunted lancet. Try revisting your GP or clinic and ask them face to face what you should be doing, not do what a bloke in a 'book!' says... Books are okay for reading n help us to chew things over etc... but I personally wouldnt do what a book writer says about a clinical instrument . Best place n source for this advice would n should be a medical n clinical source n place. If you had an open flesh wound that would require medical attention would you wrap in up in a filthy teatowel you had been using for the last month? [n a bloke in a book advises to do this too ] Anna. :shock: :shock: :shock:

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Makes you wonder what his views are on toilet paper. :?:

 

[ailz]

I keep reusing mine too. Probably for a month each - or longer, if I'm not testing so much.

Sometimes someone will ask to use my meter and I always change it then.

Cheers
Ailz

 

[daisy1]

I get reminded to change mine when someone talks about it on the forum.
Off to do it now :wink:

 

[Eiche]

You are meant to use a new lancet EVERY TIME you check your blood sugar!!! The needles when used, have microscopic amounts of blood on them and can harbor all kinds of bacteria and can give you a nasty infection, never mind them going blunt.

 

[stoney]

You are meant to use a new lancet EVERY TIME you check your blood sugar!!! The needles when used, have microscopic amounts of blood on them and can harbor all kinds of bacteria and can give you a nasty infection, never mind them going blunt.

Yeah you're right and maybe even give false bg readings too :roll:

 

[noblehead]

From Dr Bernstein's book, pg 69.

I reuse mine until they become dull. The small supply packed with the various meter outfits should easily last a year.

I pretty much trust his advice, which is based on both his personal experience and medical knowledge.

Does Dr Bernstein really say that! :shock: I can't see the logic myself, it would only hurt after a period of time causing bigger puncture marks in the skin and possibly leading to nerve damage in the finger ends, also the lancet would be so germ ridden the chances of infections would be vastly increased.....

Nigel

 

[Ottermoon]

@Nigel, a direct quote. Seriously. And you thought I was fabricating to wind you up?

And anyone who hasn't yet read Diabetes Solution, there is much more there to challenge your (closely held) beliefs. Highly recommended, if you like to be challenged. (one of the things I reacted to: he doesn't eat fruit.)

Cheerfully,
Ottermoon

 

[noblehead]

@Nigel, a direct quote. Seriously. And you thought I was fabricating to wind you up?

And anyone who hasn't yet read Diabetes Solution, there is much more there to challenge your (closely held) beliefs. Highly recommended, if you like to be challenged. (one of the things I reacted to: he doesn't eat fruit.)

Cheerfully,
Ottermoon

He doesn't eat fruit................OMG it gets worse! :shock:

Nigel

 

[anna29]

Hi, As I do want to keep myself going best I can , n using months old reused n blunted lancets n never eating fruit!!!! :shock: Plus dont know the bloke from adam! no thanks definetley cant be the wisest thing to do.... :shock: :shock: Anna.x

 

[stuart264]

Minor point but can anyone answer the original question?

 

[catherinecherub]

Hi
I use the One Touch Ultra Soft 0.4MM.. THey are white and state that they are compatible with most finger pricking devices.