i reuse mine all day. i take 5 shots a day, if u clean them before and after use it is fine. i learned this from my grandparent and mother who did the same thing.

I have been using Lantus and Novolog for a while now. I have been a non physician Healthcare provider for over 20 years. The use of the same needle is not recommended. At least in my case, the 'mixing' of the two insulins is HIGHLY discouraged, even if only in small amounts; such as residual in a syringe.

Hi! I use lantus in the am and humulin R after meals! I use a new needle with EVERY single use! I'm blessed because my insurance covers new needles with every injection.to be honest with you, if my insurance didn't cover my needles id be forced to reuse because of the money issue. But as it is now the insurance covers it so I use fresh needles each time. I was told by my doctor to make sure and use fresh new needles with every use. Problem is these needles are made for single use and they wear down in a microscopic way that can't be seen with the naked eye. Also, tiny particles stick to the needles after each use and id worry about that. I feel very fortunate to be able to change my needles after each use to be honest even if I had to reuse it would make me uncomfortable.but like I said, if I was forced to id reuse. I'm glad I don't have to at this time! Good luck and best wishes!

A bad idea, as it is hard to keep those needles sterile once you open them. True, if you keep them someplace safe, the actual risk is probably low, but the odds are not zero. I mean, your choice, do as you feel best, but you did ask and that is my opinion.

I take aspert(novolog) before meals and glarcine(Lantus) twice a day. I re-use my needles about four times or until I feel they are getting dull. Use alcohol swabs before injections. I've been doing this about 13 years with no bad results.

I take 4 shots daily, 3 of Novolog, one prior to each meal and one of Lantus at bedtime. I re-use the needle on my Novolog pen for up to 5 to 7 days or for 15 to 21 shots and have had no problems. I do toss the Lantus needle after every use…not really sure why other than fear of contaminating remaining Lantus in vial.
Also, I re-use the lancet until I feel it is dull and can go weeks on the same one, testing a minimum of 4 times daily. Haven't had any infections at injection or lancing sites and have been type 1 diabetic for 34 years. Also, when my Lantus cartridge is "empty" (pen will not allow me to dial any more units), if I use a disposable syringe, I can get an additional 15 to 20 units from the "empty" cartridge. I guess I'm just a tightwad and hate to waste.

Back before I switched to a pump I reused disposable syringes 15-30 times at a time, always kept them clean, sharped them on a matchbook cover if they get dull, and flushed with alcohol, I have had the same lance in my kit for checking Blood sugars for well over a year, maybe two, I test 6-7 times a day, I know most people will freak, but I have had only one infection at an injection site in 53 years of type 1 and never at a lance site, go figure.
Back when I used glass and metal syringes the doctor taught me how to sharpen the needle on a little wet-stone he gave me, I was about 4-5 then.

Hey Greg. I actually do reuse, but that doesn't mean I recommend it. I am just stingy with my syringes; I reuse mine 2,3 and I've reused them four times when I get low on syringes and dont have the $20 to pick up more.
They syringe gets dull after you use it once. If you use B-D they have a picture of the syringe under a microscope of how it looks after the first use…it looks like it'd be painful to use.

If money is an issue and you go to novonordisk-us.com and use levemir and novolog pens you can get the pens and pen needle for free all you need is to fill out paperwork submit a tax return and get script from dr many dr offices and clinic may have info aswell to help you I ma getting mine from the company through my dr office in a 3 month supply.

I was wondering if you could do this and thanks to this post I now know. I take nlog and lev and i always dump my pens after every injection. Im about to save time and money! Thanks

I reuse my syringes all the time. i have no insurance and cant afford to buy stuff all the time.Since I am the only one using them i do not worry about re-using.

Hi Greg, I like many others will reuse my needles. I use Levemir, and Novolog as well. I will screw on a new needle to each pen in the morning and reuse the needles throughout the day. As per my doctor it's okay to reuse the needles as long as you don't share, but if they become dull, or clog, by all means change the needle. Never wipe the needle tip with a alcohol pad, it takes off the coating.

my doctor says it's common and will not really cause a problem. i have been doing it fast as long as i can remember. using just one needle for the entire day on all my injections. but now i am on omnipod

I usually use the same needle on a single insulin pen and dump it when the pen is empty. I'm not sure this is a good idea but i do it anyway.

Greg, I'm glad I was not the only one to have the disappearing postage box. Now I know I'm not going crazy. Lets see if I can get my response to you without losing any of it.
What I had started to tell you was, I think you are playing a dangerous game ny re-using needles.
I was an LPN for 16 years and one thing I learn't in nusing school was that you don't ever re-use a needle. Even if you are the only one using them. When you open a new needle it is coming from a sterile package. When you re-use a needle you could pick up all kinds of germs . If you are doing this to help cut costs of supplies, you really should look into one of the needle exchange programs. Well I am currently typing over someone elses posting so let me see what I can do to get this to you.

Take care,

~Lymy~

U sed to reuse my needles also but my Doctor recommended for me not to do this. ( Why?? I dunno he never said why) But i did notice that after using 3 or more times that needle started hurting me when trying to insert it anywhere in the body where we inject our insulin in ourself. So be careful with re-using of the needle. Also I had so many times had brand new needles that were damaged at the tip. So if it already is damaged and you used it once and it hurt when you used it , then it is best NOT to use that needle again and destroy it. ( ten years of taking needles and trust me i know what i mean putting a damaged inside you.

Greg,
I always reused my needles. Now that I'm on the pump, the only time I reuse is when I get a cold. I have major insensitivity issues and when I get an infection, 40 units per shot is not uncommon and I would wipe out my pump resovoir in no time. I just started on this site and it is really helpful. I look forward to participating often. regards Rick

I started reusing needles when I was 16 on my doctor's advice. Did so for the next 25 years with no ill effect. I only used each syringe for 24-hours though and then got rid of it. Also, if you take more than three injectins, that needle will get pretty painful. The only thing I would worry about though is using the same syringe for the two different insulins. Levimir is not supposed to be mixed with other insulins, so there could be some problems having it in the same syringe even at different times. Novolog will make any traces of Levimir cf levemir crysalize. Actually Lantus will crystalize. Not sure what Levimir would do.

Greg, You can ask your doctor as mine told me you can reuse your needle as long as you are not sharing with anyone. Please don't take offense to what I am saying. I am just trying to get across that reusing your syringe is not a bad thing. If you write me personally I can send you what syringes I have left since I am on the pump I don't need the syringes, I have approximately 30 syringes left If you want them write me personally and they are yours my friend. Alway happy to help a fellow friend in need.

I certainly consider you a friend God Bless and Have a Blessed Evening.

Hi Greg,

Reusing your needle is not a bad thing however, the sharp point becomes dull and when you reuse it will cause scarring. I used to reuse when I was running low on supply. Especially when finances were tight. It is also painful when you reuse as it rips the tissue. Hope that helps. God Bless :~)

I have never been in favor of needle re-usage, but if you are going to do so for whatever reason, please be cautious and use good judgement.
~Mays~

Greg, What is wrong with this site? I just wrote you a decent sized response, it went outside of this box and covered my ability to post my response to you.
Regards ~Lymy~

I don't think it is safe. I have never reused a needle. When ever I go to the endo I always see the posters saying how dangerous it can be. In my state it costs me about 13.00 for a hundred needles. I know cost can be a concern. Maybe ask your dr for samples. I don't know…

I hate to admit this but I have been reusing needles for years. I take one kind of insulin before meals and another kind before bed. I use a different needle for each kind of insulin but I might use the same needle up to 4 times. Always clean it with an alcohol pad before though. And don't come down on me because us uninsured sometimes have to resort to desperate measures!

Dont mix insulin unless your Doc sed it was ok
I have reused needles befor thow I dont like to its just to much of a risk and to mix even just a little can make the long lasting insulin absorb faster then it would otherwise
for me I sey dont do it Greg life is such a gamble anyway dont risk it for a needle frend
best wishes
Harlen

You have a couple of issues, the mixing of insulin and needle reuse.

Personally I reuse needles a lot so I'm not one who believes in only 1 shot per needle.

The mixing of insulins is different. With levimir and novolog you are OK, they can be mixed with no issues, at least no documented one. Some other insulins are not OK to mix because of their make up. Lantus cannot be mxed with anything, not even using the same needle as another, for instance.