Have an insulin needle question

Fiona59 · Sep 25, 2006

Yes, I've heard of diabetics doing this, even with good insurance coverage. For both the syringe/needle and for the insulin pens. Their logic is they are the only ones using the needle, so they feel "safe". The needle does become duller with each use. The max. anyone's ever admitted to me is two uses of the same needle....

RNsRWe, ASN, RN · Sep 25, 2006

Like fiona said, it's their needle and their own contamination, although I suspect they DON'T at least wipe off the needle with alcohol before jabbing themselves again

Anyway, if they can deal with the more painful second stab, they aren't going to die from it.

LisaRn21 · Sep 25, 2006

Ihave done some research and they have also said the needle can break off in the patient if used more than once.. but I was thinking if they use it like 5 tmies lol I think he was only trying to use it like 2 times so its one needle a day .

markjrn · Sep 25, 2006

There are plenty of diabetics out there who reuse needles and lancets, and have been doing it for years and years. I don't think they're about to change. lol

P_RN, ADN, RN · Sep 25, 2006

As long as the needle is still sharp, and they only use it for insulin on themselves it's perfectly OK. I wouldn't recommend it in a hospital though.

Creamsoda, ASN, RN · Sep 25, 2006

My boyfriend, has juvenile diabetes since he was 9, hes 21 now, totally insulin dependent. He uses the insulin pens, but he will use the same needle for a few days in a row that I know of, pretty much untill it gets dull and it starts to hurt. Its stays "clean" as the cap is put on and not further contaminated. And like the other posts said, its only his germs. Its not a money or insurance thing, its just that he doesnt want to keep changing the cap and doesnt feel a need to every single time with 4-6 inj. a day and being active and out and about. I could only ever forsee a problem with it in when he gets older and the long term effects of diabetes starts happening like with poor circulation, I could imagine just one poke happening to get a minor infection that just wouldnt heal and eventually turn into some nasty wound.

Cher

cookie102 · Sep 25, 2006

working home health, i have seen many pts not only use the same needle several times, but we once had a pt that refused to give his insulin any other way but straight thru his clothes, i thought i had seen everything, and there was NO changing him!!!

Jules A, MSN · Sep 26, 2006

working home health, i have seen many pts not only use the same needle several times, but we once had a pt that refused to give his insulin any other way but straight thru his clothes, i thought i had seen everything, and there was NO changing him!!!

For some reason this strikes me really funny! Oh well, whatever works, right?:wink2:

nurse4theplanet, RN · Sep 26, 2006

Yeah, we were made to be aware of this during our home health rotation. I mean what is really worse, reusing the same needle with the small chance of infection, or not taking your insulin and ending up in DKA with shot kidneys and rotten toes?

cookie102 · Sep 26, 2006

For some reason this strikes me really funny! Oh well, whatever works, right?:wink2:

you are so right , it is rather "funny", when i saw him do it, what could i say and not offend him in his own home, which is a bigger in home health, always having to remember we are "quests" in a patients home!!

AdelaideChic · Sep 26, 2006

Sometimes injecting through clothing is much easier. Think about ballerinas, it would take ages to pull down a leotard, pull down the top of tights, to reach the abdomen. Injecting through the leotard is much quicker!

Needles apparently have a slicone type coating, to help them slide in as such, which is removed once used, meaning it is more painful second time around. Still, if you have one syringe on you (or pen needle), thats what would be used regardless!