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I was just diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, and received my meter, lancets, strips just a couple of days ago.
What is the proper way to dispose of the lancets and strips? The nurse told me to put them in a container, but I don't recall what type of container and HOW to dispose of it (I was too upset at my diagnosis that my memory went whoosh).
You can just use an old vitamin bottle (or any hard plastic bottle with a screw on lid is what I use.) But the test strips can just go in the trash. The lancets are the only danger, which is why you just want to be sure they are in a container thick enough that they cannot pierce it, and then just throw the container in the trash when full. Good luck. With diet and exercise I brought down my weight and sugar levels tremendously within only two months!
Sharps containers are a real hassle as no-one (usually) wants to take them once they are full, like your local pharmacist (my one told me put them in your trash!).
You can also buy a needle cutter, but cutting the lancets is quite hard as they are thicker than injection needles and are also quite short.
And this device is really meant for insulin needles.
When the container is full, you just discard it in the trash and buy another. The cut up needles can't get out.
I now cut my insulin needles with a normal pair of scissors, including any metal element left in the syringe. I cut the needles into the trash and they should be fine like this.
I then put the plastic elements of the syringes into my regular recycling, usually in a 2-liter plastic bottle of diet coke, with a label on it saying there is no metal inside.
Really, the diabetic nurse or doctor should tell you the right procedures and the equipment you need when they diagnose you. You shouldn't have to come onto forums to ask these basic questions that any good clinic should know.
Because of the hassle with lancets, I discard my lancets, whole, in my regular trash. I've not had any issue for many years.
Because of the cost to me, I re-use my lancets several times, about 5-8 times, until it gets too painful.
I'm not using insulin, so I have no needles to dispose of.
The lancets I use are in a cartridge, 6 lances to a cartridge. Once they're all used, I eject the cartridge from the device it's inserted in, and none of the lancets are exposed.
And the nurse did tell me something about disposal of the lancets, I just don't remember exactly what she told me as far as the container is concerned.
And if I can't come to a diabetic forum for a basic question, then why should any newly-diagnosed seek any advice from peers? Don't answer it it bothers you so much, pims.
I'm not using insulin, so I have no needles to dispose of.
The lancets I use are in a cartridge, 6 lances to a cartridge. Once they're all used, I eject the cartridge from the device it's inserted in, and none of the lancets are exposed.
And the nurse did tell me something about disposal of the lancets, I just don't remember exactly what she told me as far as the container is concerned.
And if I can't come to a diabetic forum for a basic question, then why should any newly-diagnosed seek any advice from peers? Don't answer it it bothers you so much, pims.
If there are no exposed sharps on your lancet cartridges, just toss them in the trash. If you want to be double sure, put them in a hard plastic container. I have a diabetic dog who gets insulin. I am currently using a vitamin bottle. When it is full of syringes, It goes in the trash. Anything puncture resistant will do.
Cutting the needle off any syringe increases the risk that the person handling the needle will get stuck.
If you use a specially designed sharps disposable container, usually red and labelled hazardous medical waste, your garbage collector may decline to take it. You may have to pay to get it disposed of.
We obviously dispose of items contaminated with blood in the ordinary trash without a second thought, such as tissues used to blow your nose, bandages for cuts and scrapes, and feminine hygiene products. The presence of blood is not the issue. The issue is blood on something sharp that might penetrate the garbage bag and injure someone.
And the nurse did tell me something about disposal of the lancets, I just don't remember exactly what she told me as far as the container is concerned.
And if I can't come to a diabetic forum for a basic question, then why should any newly-diagnosed seek any advice from peers? Don't answer it it bothers you so much, pims.
Instead of throwing a tantrum about others, why don't you just call up the nurse who you spoke to and ask them again?
Instead of doing that which is much quicker & easier task, you chose to go through a much longer winded and route of getting medical advice from nameless, unqualified and unaccountable persons?
Instead of throwing a tantrum about others, why don't you just call up the nurse who you spoke to and ask them again?
Instead of doing that which is much quicker & easier task, you chose to go through a much longer winded and route of getting medical advice from nameless, unqualified and unaccountable persons?
*****
Why is advice from others who use syringes and lancets not valuable?
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