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byetta & reusing needles

by Private
September 29, 2009 2:44 PM
10 Replies
150 Views

does anyone reuse the needles w/byetta?


Tags: supplies, medications

From Replies
Diabetic Connect Member hbkunkel
hbkunkel
hbkunkel replied September 29, 2009 2:45 PM 

NO. I don't take byetta but I sould not consider reusing my needles with my insulin.
Betsie

Diabetic Connect Member Ms Kat
Ms Kat
Ms Kat replied September 29, 2009 3:22 PM 

I use the Lantus Solostar pen and have never reused needles, it's not the thing to do!

Diabetic Connect Member scionxb
scionxb
scionxb replied September 29, 2009 3:31 PM 

I know youre not supposed to but I reuse my needles. Have to save money somewhere.

Anonymous replied September 29, 2009 3:52 PM 

I do use my lancets for testing my blood glucose over and over and have never had a problem. the byetta and needles are expensive and I am thinking of re-useing them,,,just wanted to know if anyone has had a problem doing that...thanks for any info...

Diabetic Connect Member Harlen
Harlen
Harlen replied September 29, 2009 4:22 PM 

NO never ever reuse a needle
Its your life
I love me and I dont need to get a infection
keep it reel

Diabetic Connect Member Ginetteb
Ginetteb
Ginetteb replied September 29, 2009 7:18 PM 

I take lantus at night and symlinPen before each meal. I do reuse the needles and I have not had any problems. After I give myself a shot, I recap the needle and put the medication away. I always check to make sure that the tip is not damaged.
My diabetic supplies are all paid for with the exception of the needles. Between Medicare and BCBS, my co-pays each month amount to $260.00. If you add the $180.00 for medical premium and $94.00 for Medicare coverage, the cost ($594.00) is quite high.
Being on a fixed income, that's an awful lot of money and I have to cut wherever I can. "Needles" is one place I can cut.

I have been doing this now for 3 months and I have not had any infection anywhere. So either I'm extremely lucky or there is no danger in doing it.

Diabetic Connect Member Sarguillo
Sarguillo
Sarguillo replied September 30, 2009 12:19 AM 

They have done studies on this. It is agreed that re-using needles is a risk. It is also agreed by some that it might be an acceptale risk for some. I have reused needles when I was at work and found that I didnt have a new needle with me, but did have a used on in my needle vault. I cringed but used the needle and survived. I do reuse lancets and have found no ill effects.
But then again, there are some who have had ill effects from reusing lancets. So it all got to what amount of risk you are willing to take. Some will say, dont reuse needles. Other will say, its ok to reuse, But they arent you. You have to make that descisison. Its your descission to reuse or not. If you can get away with it and not have to re-use, then that is the way to go. If I was forced to reuse, then I would if I had to with no other alternitive, but I would fight it as long as I could.
With what ever is your descission, good luck.

Diabetic Connect Member kruss
kruss
kruss replied September 30, 2009 12:31 AM 

I don't use insulin but the doctor/diabetes nurse educator I saw said I could reuse the lancets for daily testing of my glucose level. I don't use them too many times and make sure I wash my hands thoroughly before using.

Alicia039 replied September 30, 2009 12:28 PM 

When I was on Byetta the only concern I had with reusing a needle was I have heard that since the needles are so fine they tend to dull quickly. I hate pain, hate sticking my self so I didn't reuse only because I was afraid it would hurt more.

Diabetic Connect Member BLC
BLC
BLC replied September 30, 2009 12:56 PM 

I do reuse the needles quite a bit. I have been doing that for about 3 years. No problems yet. I actually had a doctor tell me that it was okay as long as the needle wasn't damaged. He said, "You can't infect yourself." Now sharing needles with someone else that a different story.