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NEARLY OUT OF INSULIN NEEDLES!!! WHAT SHALL I DO??

The pharmacy should have done you a solid and gave you some needles until your prescription was ready they know your diabetic so should have been sympathetic to your situation . Call the doctors and tell them what’s happened tell them they need to expedite your repeat prescription as well with it being on repeat it should be simple is there anyone else you know who’s diabetic boots pharmacy also sell needles but if you explain what’s happened they should sort you out
 
I was going to suggest maybe the hospital could provide supplies in an emergency.
 
Kessi said:
It won’t hurt to use the same needle until Monday I don’t change mine every time and nothing has ever happened!
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Agree with that. I am on 28 day repeat prescriptions and so order 13 times a year. But my GP will only let me have needles every second order - so they don't stretch to a new needle every dose. I now use my Novorapid needle twice every time - although only use my overnight insulin needle once. I haven't found it to be a problem and now don't always need to order them.
 
You need to be allowed more needles to enable a fresh one each time. And to make sure you have plenty for corrections. There is always a first time for infection and the bluntness is not good for the skin. A problem would end up costing far more than a suitable amount of needles. Get your hospital team on it.
 
Obviously no doctor would ever approve, but I have been reusing dispossible syringes and later disposable needles ever since the switch from glass syringes 45 + years ago. These days I usually use the same needle for the entire contents of a pen
Crucially I have never come to any harm.
I have only chosen to replace a needle occasionally ( other than starting a new pen) after I have had to inject in some potentially unsanitary venue.
I have just checked my current box of 100 needles ( still with about 20 left) and note it was prescribed in mid September 2023 , so it will probably end up lasting a year, though I will be asking for next box in August.

PS I try to keep a small supply of everything separate from my main supplies for just such an emergency.
 
Good luck.
 
It's been interesting to see the differences in how different numbers of needles etc are prescribed for people and how differently people use them. Mine are in boxes of 100. I've been diabetic for 62 of my 73 years starting with the old glass syringes. Even then, I'm sure my parents didn't use a new needle each time when they were prepared for the next injection (via heating in a pan of water!). I still don't use a new needle for each injection I do: circa 6 per day. I do change them more often these days but can still remember just about getting through a 300ml cartridge with 1 needle on occasions in the past. More laziness than anything else or rushing to do something or go somewhere.

Re prescriptions, I tend to do a mass prescription for all items as soon as it becomes possible online usually with a gap of about 8 weeks noted on the prescription strips. Therefore, I always tend to have a good stock of what I need in the cupboard
 
I ended up ordering them from Amazon and getting emergency supplies from the local hospital. I still cant get BD needles which were the best and the replacements often dont inject properly. I generally use the same needle for the three insulin injections I take with my breakfast and I keep an emergency supply if the same problem happens again
 
As you say Nick no Dr would approve but I have been doing the same for 49 years and never had a problem , I usually get a new box of 100 when I'm down to about my last 20 which would still be enough for about 3 mths so I shouldn't ever run out .
 
Amazon.co.uk sell insulin needles. Make sure you know exactly what length and style you want and you can usually get them by next day.
 
ALL WAYS DO A BLLOD TEST WHEN THAT LOW ...
WHICH IS MORE ACCURATE THAN ANY READERS ON ARM
AS THEY ONLY CHECK ON FLUID WHICH I THINK IS CALLED INTEERSTTITIAL FLUID NOT THE BLOOD THAT IS WHY THEY BOTH VARY IE YOURS 3.4 BLOOD SUGAR CHECK MAY WELL BE HIGHER SAY 4/5/6 VIC
 
I used to be given two boxes of 100 needles but presumably by trying to save some money they have cut them down to one box but as someone else has said if you inject four times a day a box of 100 doesn't last a month and although I have frequently requested another box I never get it. What is frustrating is that the tablets that I have to take once a day i get two months supply of - ridiculous.
 
How have you requested them? Have you tried speaking to the diabetes nurse at your surgery, or a pharmacist at your surgery if you have one or just requested them on your repeat prescription?
 
I believe you are entitled to request as many needles as you need (I had the need to up my repeats prescription. Did so by contacting the gp surgery)
 

Wouldn’t work for me. I split doses and correct often. Sometimes use 4 needles a day sometimes 6 or more. And goodness knows what I would do on that amount monthly if I was ill with rising sugars. And no I am not going to re use. I was told at the hospital. Do not re use needles.
 
I remember the old glass and metal syringe and being told when I asked when do I change the needles and being told when they are blunt , I tend to change them these days when they become a tad sore consequently I change them probably every week I have a good supply and don’t get any problems when ordering
 
I'm sure there must be someone local to you that can give you some needles. I certainly would if I lived close to you!
 
How often do you find they get sore ? it's something I have never experienced , I've probably got leather skin .
 
My daughter had an issue a few years ago with different needles, looked the same but had a different gauge ans gave us wrong needles and just didn’t work well for her at all. I would go to any pharmacy in your area and ask for what you usually have, there are 24/7 pharmacies and we had to use once, even out of area, they will,ask your GP details etc, but will help you as an emergency.
 
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