Reusing needles

Hey Anne,

I personally use new lancets every time because of the difference of dirt and residue on your hands. As for insulin needles I personally stick to 6 hours. If you spray your insulin (only 4 units tops) and count how long it takes to dry, minus an hour to play it safe. That's what I have tried and tested


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I too am newly diagnosed, and received the same conflicting information from the person who was trained to show me how to inject, and then the diabetic nurse said I should change each time.

It is confusing enough, with when and where, establishing a new routine, much less the people who are supposed to be trained in this specialist field, don't know what they are talking about!!

I started changing after each day as I inject twice, then I changed to after each injection. My health is important and I'm not messing about with things like needles and reusing them.

Further, there are reasons for health purposes, why it is hygienic, and for accurate readings concerning the lancets. I won't be messing about with blood or needles, even if its my own.

I inject once a day for each of basal and bolus and swap the needle from one pen to the other so it gets used twice. This works well for me and there is only a few hours between each use. It may not save the NHS much but every little helps, the risk of infection is very low if the needle is removed and protected between pen use and I've not found the second use any more painful than with a new needle.

I saw this on Facebook a while ago, very interesting.

Giv, I saw that. It scared me and now I change my needles. I also read somewhere that more than 7 uses and little bits of the needles can come off and stay in me. Scary


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Giverny, that pic is the best incentive I've ever seen or heard not to reuse needles. Made me feel a bit queasy

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Hi all! That is a scary pic! Can i just check what needles this is about? The finger prick needle or the injection pen needle? Was wondering cos i do reuse my finger prick needle for a day- not the injection one tho. Thanks all.

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I never reuse any needles
Surely once it's used it is contaminated


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That's the injection needle.


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Thanks. Think i might start changing my testing one more often as well!

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When I used needles (before I got a pump 8 weeks ago (yay!), I would get through a novorapid pen every 5-6 days. I found that I didn't need to change the needle for the entire cartridge - it was good for >30 goes.
Before I got a Accuchek Multiclix, I'd use a lancet for somewhere between 300-500 times.
Folk fearing contamination are quite right in a hospital environment, ONLY EVER 1 person should use ANYTHING that goes under your skin more than once. I'm not sure how leaking it out, letting dry & popping it back in again represents a contamination risk, as you'll only be exposing yourself to the same contagions you had a couple of hours ago.
The main thing is bluntness, and yes, after 6 years on reusing a lancet for 500+ times, I must say that a new one every day is a bit more comfortable. That said, I now reuse a lancet 6-8 times.
I find that if you don't re-use, you end up so cluttered with "stuff", spare needles, spare lancets, old needles, old lancets & boxes to put 'em all in. That fine if you can carry a bag with you, but as a "bloke in a suit" I just don't have the space. Just carrying a pen, a stabber, a test-meter & a pot of test strips is about as much as I can easy live with when you've got a couple of trouser pockets.
Let us know your thoughts - maybe someone here has "the fix" - I'd love to hear too!


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Hi I have been T1 for 20 years, when firstly diagnosed I had to pay for needles for my pens. So yes I inly changed them when I needed to change the insulin cartridge. 20 years on although they are now prescribed I still only change them when I have a new cartridge or pen, yes I have bent them when I have popped the cap on wrongly and always take spare needles on holiday "just in case", As I am not sharing needles and like the previous member has said, I have enough to carry around with me without having to change needles. Time is also a factor as I work and travel around for my job, I find I am often eating in a carpark in my car so not exactly the most hygienic place to change needles. I get strange looks when I inject now so can only imagine what comments when changing needles would bring!

I have never had any problems with doing this I will occasionally change it mid way if it is getting blunt but a box of needles will usually last me 12 months . Everyone is different and you will find what suits you but don't beat yourself up about if you change your routine

be happy x

So yeah, I err change mine quite irregular I guess. My usual schedule is based on "when I can be bothered" or when it starts to hurt.. Changing a needle every time is way too much effort..

More recently I've tried to remind myself to change them every few days, usually turns into a week or when my current cartridge runs out...!

Regarding finger pricking, I have an Accu-check multiclix, which has 6 finger prickers in 1 and you just turn the slot to change them. But I usually "forget" to do this often too! Doh!

Change needles when they start to feel blunt, usually 2 or 3 per 3ml cartridge, and lancets when they hurt. Not sure how many I get but it's the Accu Check Multiclix 6 and I will get weeks out of that.

I was told use needles once, but use the lancets for a day.

Must admit I don't always remember to change the lancet.

Reuse lancets for months and only change them if it starts to hurt. I test on average 8 times a day and I've gone as long as a year in the past without changing a lacent. So 3000 tests in a year and no infections or issues.

Pen needles get changed normally when I change a cartridge. Sometimes every couple of cartridges. Again, if it starts to hurt I'll change it. 18 years and 7 or 8 injections a day and again no issues. So, 45K to 50K injections and no issues.

So, either I'm very lucky or there really are no health issues with reusing them.

SteveA, how many strips do you get through a month? (am thinking it's help when I see my GP!)


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My specialist told me to use needles only once!


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Use your needles more than once it is possible the needle restricts the insulin from coming out a frond of mine never changed needles and couldn't work out why his blood tests were always running high


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Very disappointed to see that people think its ok to re- use needles and lancets after I frustratingly try daily to get my 13 yr old to change herd to save any mus readings and infections,??!! She's been Dx 15 months and I'd prefer her to do things correctly , needles are supplied free aren't they,.?