diabetic needs an answer for "drop" of lancets
 

I'm new to The Villages and before just arriving here was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. I know that I'm to put my lancets in an empty detergent bottle for disposal BUT where do I take this when it's full? The garbage wouldn't be the probable "drop". I live in Sumter County and would appreciate an answer. I checked at a couple of the pharmacies in the area and they were of no help at all. Thank you ahead of time.

JenAjd, I don't know what brand of lancets you use, but the Humira company offers free containers and free shipping of the full containers back to them for disposal. I'm not sure if you have to use their products to get the terrific service. I'm posting a link with a phone number to call and ask about this program.

Sumter County doesn't have a "Sharp Solid Waste" disposal program. But Marion County does have a program for disposal.

Hope this helps.

Here's a link for this:

http://www.marioncountyfl.org/solidw...psprogram.aspx

http://www.myhumira.com/Disposal/Default.aspx

I use FreeStyle Lite...and I'd heard about the Marion County site BUT living where I do thought there "might" be one a bit closer. Thank you though for responding and sending me the links to look at---which I will do! :)

Good lord, how many lancets do you use. I use about 2 or 3 per year and dump them in the trash. Am I evil or something?

Yoda

Sharps/needles
 

Most people dispose of lancets and insulin needles in their trash. Up until a few years ago it was thought that placing them into a coffee can or other impenetrable container before putting in trash was appropriate. Recently, it is recommended to purchase a sharps/needed destruction device. A device can be purchased for as little as ten dollars. There is a wide variety of choices on line.

2 or 3 per year? Per year??

Your fingers must be sandpaper by now.

You are kidding I hope.

Don't want to head this thread in another direction, but I too, only use 2-3 per year (test 4x per day). Lanclets or needles should be placed in a plastic gal jug (like Bleach) bottle, taped real well with something like duct tape and then placed in garbage. I have a device that cuts the needles off too. I called the Sumter Co authorities and that is the procedure they gave me after the trash folks and myself had a "conference" and they wanted me to comply with Marion county brochure that they presented me. VA also will take your collection.

If you are using the same lancet more than once, you are putting yourself at great risk of infection. I use a fresh one each and every time I test. Those things are dirt cheap. What's expensive is the test strips. It's not worth the risk to use the same lancet more than once.

the new testers do not require you to draw blood from your finger. The arm is fine. You need to adjust your calculations a little bit. Maybe two or three per year is an understatement but it's close.

Yoda

I buy a Sharps container at Wal-mart for about 3 bucks, made for needles and such. My Dr office told me that you can take them to the local fire station for disposal. I haven't done that yet so I can't confirm if true.

Yes i know but the lancet still dulls after a while and can become contaminated. Lancets are very, very cheap at Walmart, Target. I use it once and toss.

I test once a day and always use a fresh lancet. I purchase plastic sharps containers for disposal. Do not take the full container to the fire department or the Sumter County sheriff's office. They will not accept them. I recently had a full container and I just took it to my doctor's office where they have a contract with a company to properly dispose of them. I've also heard that The Villages Regional Hospital will accept proper full containers.

Good luck.

Diabetic Lancet question
 

I'm fairly new to The Villages and prior to coming down here this year I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Having so many questions is part of this transition. It never occured to me OR my practioner, apparently, to discuss disposal of the lancets. What I do know is to put them in a detergent container when done BUT then what do I do with that container?? Can anyone give me some in-sights to this? Also the location, when/if you have the answer would be wonderful! I live in Sumter County south of 466.

I generally cap the old one with the cap from the new one, installing a new one as I remove the old one. If you ever fill the detergent bottle you are using, you should then tape it shut with duct tape and see if Walgreens or CVS will take it. Better still, call Walgreens and see if they have FREE "sharps" containers and if they do, get one (and they will take it back when full).

If should take you a L-O-N-G time to fill a container. You say you are new at this...do you realize that most of us use the lancet more than once? Many people use them until they feel dull, actually...

M.

I've found it's time to change lancets when the old one won't pierce the skin enough to bleed. :cus:

Today's Daily Sun (10-18-10) has an article stating that The Villages Hospital began providing a sharps-disposal container for area residents to properly dispose of their used needles and lancets. The location is between the double doors of the entrance to the hospital at 1451 El Camino Real. The fire stations are not accepting them.

Today's Daily Sun (10-18-10) has an article stating that The Villages Hospital began providing a sharps-disposal container for area residents to properly dispose of their used needles and lancets. The location is between the double doors of the entrance to the hospital at 1451 El Camino Real. The fire stations are not accepting them.

I saw the article in today's Sun about this...so have a place to go! I test 2X daily and was told in my diabetes class never, EVER re-use the lancet!!! As someone said here you can get infection. Diabetics really are fragile people and it's a high-maintenance disease and nothing to be trifled with. For people who don't read the paper. We're to put the lancet's in a sealed plastic bag and there's a place just inside the door at TV-Hospital!!

I cannot believe someone would only test 2 or 3X per year!!!

I believe they were saying that they only use 2 or 3 lancets per year, reusing one for quite a long time before using a new one....not that they test only 2 or 3 times per year.

If you are re-using your lancets you're setting yourself up for infection. Went to a class and was told never, ever do this. Also have clean hands AND used alcohol swabs each time to clean site besides. I test 2X daily for now...and use new lancets each time. As for disposal...the newspaper was timely in coming out with a solution to my original question. NEVER EVER dispose in the garbage. Think of ALL the people who have needles here and would do that...then think where your garbage goes. In the ground! You do not want to potentially have a needle re-infect someone down the line.
I will be putting my used lancets in a sealed plastic bag and will dispose it in the container provided at the hospital. It's free!!!!!

Do you use something like a zip lock bag and drop in box
Hospital?

I recall that there was a place to dispose of used needles at the Villages Hospital. Not sure if this service still exists.

John

I put my used lancets in a larger RX pill bottle, when it's full I empty into a gallon sized plastic bag. It took about 2 years to fill the bag which I then took to the depository in the foyer of The Villages hospital. You place the whole thing in that...self-explanatory once you get there. I do my "stick" every day...using the FreeStyle lancets.

As stated before you should NOT put these in your regular garbage!!!

Both my hubby and I use plastic bottles for the test strips and lancets. The Villages Hospital has a drop slot for these items right inside the front door and to the right.

I was a visiting nurse. We instructed the home patients to put their lancets into a coffee can with a slot in the top plastic lid. When full, tape it well so it won't come apart and throw it in the regular garbage. Granted this was years ago, but still makes sense to me.

I have to say that I'm really pretty shocked! I've read all of the posts so far and just can't believe that people are re-using their lancets! Why on earth you'd risk an infection to save a couple of pennies (if that's the reason)? My husband tests 4 times a day, and I test twice. We would never think to re-use any of the lancets.

I am at eight months diagnosed have lost 80 pounds diabetes is the best thing that ever happened for me to extend my life I dispose of all my lancets at the hospital they are very accommodating by exercise an hour every day take my meds alter my eating habits some What I am healthier now than I was before diabetes my doctor says I will live a long and happy life and diabetes will not kill me and I will have my eyesight and all of my limbs for my entire life because of diabetes It can be either a wake up call or a death call whichever you choose Be sure to get the free download book from Amazon called taming the tiger it will change your attitude. Be careful there is lots of mid-information out there about treatment find a good doctor in you will be in great shape! The first answer should never be more insulin or more medication it should be more activity and a better diet then with medication. I test five times a day anything over 120 I go out and walk a mile to bring my sugar down I use of fresh lancet every time it is almost foolish not to as cheap as they are I am not a doctor these are just the things that have happened to me and I was scared to death eight months ago now I am very comfortable with what is happened and moving on enjoying life

The villages hospital has a drop for sharpes.