i really need ur help doctors & nurses!?

Question

i've been using the same needle called lancets and i'm afraid that i can die from this? is this true? i've been doing this for a couple of months but i change then every few months...i stopped a months ago but i'm still worried, please help...there's like these tiny tiny spots on my fingertip where i poke myself..please help me...am i going to die?

Answer 1

OMG use a new one EVERYTIME! the needle can harbor bacteria and viruses that you can infect yourself which can lead to skin or blood infections!

BTW there will be tiny spots where you poke yourself....you are poking yourself to draw blood. The more you use that lancet, the blunter it will get and the bigger the hole (again allowing more area for an infection to get into you!)The more injury you cause to your fingertips, the more likely they are to calous and get more difficult to draw blood from (not to mention decrese senstation in your fingertips) A dull or bent lancet will also cause more pain!

Who is your endocrinologist who hasn't told you to use a new lancet everytime????

Answer 2

No, you wont die anytime soon. But if I were you, I would use a fresh, new lancet each time I poked my finger. I suppose that you *could* sterilize them by boiling them or wiping them thoroughly with alcohol but the best thing to do is use a new lancet each time you need to check your blood glucose.

Answer 3

many diabetics reuse their needles just to save some money. the tiny spots are probably due to multiple punctures. if you are the only one using the lancets and you use alcohol preps it is unlikely that it will kill you. be sure to use a different finger each time, that way the first finger you used has a little time to heal before you have to use it again.

Answer 4

No dear, you are not going to die any time soon, but please sterilize the lancets between use.

Answer 5

I agree with lsd