LANCETS CHANGING / USAGE

That’s the official line and probably advisable, but I reckon I change mine around once per month

 

Hi Q, I don't change mine at every test, but it is entirely up to you.

 

I change mine every other test ... approximately.
I find it saves my fingers if I change the lancet before it hurts too much.

 

I dial a new lancet into the Fastclix lancing device, when I open a new pot of strips each week.

 

After a nasty infection in fingertip and under nail earlier this year I am much more vigilant. Use fastclix and although the advice is new lancet each time I do sometimes reuse, but never more than three times. Always a fresh one each morning.

 

I tend to try and recall the last time I changed mine when I read posts like this.
Never can remember.

 

It's definitely a matter of personal preference, and the question pops up regularly on the forum with probably nearly as many different answers as we have members who test.

I also use the Fastclix drums and change these when all 6 lancets have stopped easily poking bloody holes in my finger. I've done this over the past 5+ years without any problems.

I vaguely remember from fairly early on in my forum membership seeing a post from someone probably T1 who saved and sterilized their (single use) lancets to re-use. So that's another possible option for you!

Robbity

 

I think @Squire Fulwood boils his up every now and again...

 

It used to be every 1-2 months, when it started to hurt and I knew it was getting blunt. Now I have a CGM and I still test off and on, but I can't even remember the last time I changed it. I probably should change it now while I'm thinking about it. I have several around the house so I probably should change all of them..............hmmmm.

I am very lackadaisical about it.

 

Mañana...

 

I change the lancet every time but I don't throw them away. I put them in a "used lancet" box. When it becomes necessary I put them all in a steamer for half an hour. If I have some unused ones I often tip them into the steamer also so that I get a fresh start.

My lancets have been round a few times now.

 

When first diagnosed i used to change everytime i tested now i change about every 2/3 days

 

Hey,

Okay granted you get may people I see on here not changing them for a year or a month. However, the needle is puncturing your skin every use, the potential for infection (even though it is your own blood etc etc) is not something you would really want. Also they do get blunt and can get blunt pretty soon after a few uses.

You’re provided with enough lancets to change them after each use and like you say it is recommended by your healthcare provider.

I used to use a fastclix lancet and would always use a fresh lancet for each test.

 

I change the lancet when I notice it's a bit harder then normal to get a sample. By then I know it's getting a bit blunt. You should wash your hands before each test whenever possible.

 

Not everyone is provided with them - most T2s have to fund their own test equipment and some of them may well be on very tight budgets. I know that lancets are not all that expensive compared to the cost of the test strips - but as one supermarket reminds us "Every little helps!"

Robbity

 

Agree heartily. I am most certainly not provided with any lancets, or anything else for that matter. In fact if my doctor had her way I’d never have even used a single lancet