One Year Supply for a 37 year old Type 1
Minus 1 Libre sent back to Abbott
Comments (72)
Those are not nearly enough needles for a year but it's interessting nevertheless.
Yeah, looks like 209 of them. I use 4/day on average lol. Definitely needs more.
I'm trying to get to one a day this year! I've set a reminder to change my needle every morning. Small steps 😅
This is how used needles look.Reason to use a new Needle.
This image has been going around for years and it's misleading. The magnification is increasing.
Buddy we’re not scraping our needleheads on a hot metal spoon like you
I've used the same needle on pens for their entire use. ZERO issues with contamination and never dulled enough to even matter. If you feel more comfortable wasting all those needles, then do what you have to do.
As a former IV drug user, there is a HUGE difference in new vs used needles. I would reuse my needles all the time and it's damaged my veins to the point where doctors can't draw blood from me.
Even after a few uses, it's obvious that a needle is becoming barbed at the tip and that the coating is coming off. I've used needles that feel like I'm removing a fish hook on the way out.
I'm so thankful now that I'm able to use a fresh needle every time I take my insulin. There really is a huge difference, and anecdotal evidence of "I don't notice it" doesn't make it any less true.
Please, everyone, use fresh needles if at all possible.
I’m not going to dismiss your experience, but if folks are saying it doesn’t make a difference to them, you don’t need to dismiss their experience either. Just do you, and they can make their own decisions.
I personally will reuse a pen needle tip 4-5 times before replacing. I’ll swap it out once I can feel any sort of difference.
I'm not dismissing anyone's experience, I'm just saying that the argument of "I don't notice it" doesn't mean the damage isn't happening.
A barbed needle tip does damage to your skin, which opens up the possibility of infection, especially when the needle tip is also no longer sterile.
Like I said, I used fucked up needles for a decade, and I see first hand the damage it did to me. I almost lost a foot from an infection I got. I don't want anyone to go through anything like what I did, and I'm just trying to advocate for best practices when using needles.
I mean, we’re not injecting into veins here.
Here are some more reasons to use every time a new needle. It is not only for comfort https://www.diabetes.co.uk/insulin/reusing-insulin-pen-needles.html
Article taken from a UK promotion page with multiple links to purchase various needles online. WAKE UP!
Exactly, our experience in reusing needles is enough information we need to know that it's okay to reuse a needle. I replaced mine once a day at most.
Why set a reminder? Just discard immediately after use.
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Woah you really need to get into the habit of changing after every use.
Exclusive of the addition pain of reusing the risks jump up dramatically with reuse.
Just remember even if it hasn't happened doesn't mean it won't. You can get lucky most days but all it takes is once.
Yeah I know, can't be great at everything all the time. I'm improving and that is what matters to me. I'm a much better diabetic than I was in my 20s hopefully I can say the same about my 30s when I'm in my 40s. I'll get better and worse but hopefully I can keep the trend going up
Thats fair, none of us are perfect at handling such an imperfect and at times unfairly random condition
you mean one per four days right? 😅
My doctor would say the same but that is an improvement for me 😄
Could be worse! But! If you collect everything again this year and use more needles your hoard could be even bigger! And bigger is better and and.. everything! =)
Mate, change you needles after every shot. Why the hell do people use them multiple times and risk infection.. One full box of 1000 needles would still be the cheapest thing on the table.
Sometimes it's a convenience/burnout thing too. After a few decades with no repercussions, it also feels low risk (apart from 'oops, it's occluded from being bent/too dull' if you forget to prime.) Is it best practice? Definitely not. But it's better than skipping a dose which, if you're deeper in burnout, is sometimes all it takes. The Little difference between leaving the last needle on ready to go for an immediate jab vs peeling off a cover, screwing on, removing a cap - seconds, but more seconds then just a fully one handed jab and go.)
Also means I don’t have to keep a sharps container (I use an old pill bottle for this) in my daily carry bag
A definite bonus for travel, too. Packing single-bag light for a month of backpacking around other countries, it was definitely not something I regretted going a bit minimalist on. 🫣 Plus sometimes you wanna take a quick correction jab on the way to coffee without breaking your stride, or under the conference table in a work meeting, or seeing a potential spike on your watch between moves in a busy yoga class -without having to rummage around with screwing a needle on the pen, can grab it from beside the mat, spin the dial with thumb, uncap with the same hand, jab through leggings, and then join everyone in moving from Sphinx to downward dog without missing a beat.
I've re-used needles for 22 years now and never once got an infection. Something else is going on.
'I never wore a seatbelt for 22 years and never once got a ticket', someone probably once said.
You’ll get the analogy, things going right hundreds and hundreds of times doesn’t mean it is worth the risk. I see about 250 needles on that table, every T1 shoots at least 1460 per year. That means OP doesn’t even change their needles every day. You only need one single needle that is contaminated to ruin your life. It may never happen, but you should absolutely reduce your chances by changing that needle as often as possible.
lmao
My wife noted you reuse your needles.
Yeah me too.
Thanks for sharing. What type of pen are you using?
I use the Noovpen Echo
Thank you!
Wow did you actually save everything up for a whole year?
Yep! I used Libreview records to see how many injections I did in 2024 (turns out the data was... problematic), so I wondered what one year looked like in terms of supplies and started saving from the first needle I changed in Jan.
Libre's whole software / sensors are problematic - but beggars cant be choosers on the NHS
I actually think their hardware is pretty good (by now), the software is a torture like I've never seen before. I really wonder who they hire to do their software, as I'm pretty sure they don't talk to the engineers who design the sensor.
Try juggluco app, it's software is far far better and works with libres. It can be tricky to figure out how to connect the first time but once you get it you will never go back
yep I use juggluco for some time now, since then I haven't even had to replace a sensor before the 14 days - no errors anymore.
Altough I'm thinking about switching to the ypsopump with CamAPS and I'm afraid I have to rely on official software again :(
Yep Juggluco is a winner 4 sure, I use it in conjunction with GlucoDataHandler on my smart phone GDH is fantastic and works so well with juggluco. It has lock screen readouts and great widgets. I wouldn't want to be without these 2 apps now!
Can I jumble them and then rearrange them?
You should definitely make changing your needle every time or at least more often for a New Year’s resolution😂 Does it hurt you more using the same needle a lot? Not judging, just curious.
No I think that's the issue, I only change it when I think "that one hurt" which I know is too late
No. As I commented above, I use ONE needle for an entire pen. Never have any issues from contamination or pain etc from what other think is a big deal. It's not. I guess some people don't keep a very clean environment, but i certainly do and after 46+ years have never had any issues.
To each their own, I guess.
Yep..I change pen needles maybe 2x per pen. When I used standard needles it was every few shots. Haven’t had any issues after 23 years. Although there was one time a hypo needle broke off in my stomach. That was a party ;-)
Do you tend to bend needles when you insert them in skin? Very rarely it happens to me around my stomach (I had a kidney transplant in 2023) so scar tissue will bend them, I will of course change a needle then.
No I don't bend them - it happened once in 23 years ;-) I attribute it to cheaply manufactured needles. It looked like that one had no lube.
Can I ask why you reuse them?
I'm the same, change my needle when I change the cartridge unless there is a specific issue with that needle. Type 1 for 41 years so maybe it's an old school thing 😂
I'd like to use a new needle every time but my doctor is very confident in his statement that I should reuse them a couple of times before throwing them away.
I absolutley disagree with him but I think he's just a somewhat stubborn / arrogant guy. I use them 2x now and buy a box myself if I run out. Switching to pump soon anyway.
There is no doubt whatsoever that reusing needles is malpractice.
I would try to find a competent doctor ASAP.
Was gonna say - and the some! Given the failure rate of the Libre's I think you could probably add a 3rd again to their volume! or is that just me being optimistic lol.
Do you get dextrose from a pharmacy and is it covered by insurance?
No I am UK based but I just bought it on Ebay. 2.5kg for £9 but I think if I made a case I could get it on the NHS.
What do you do with this powder? I use dextrose tablets, since I can put them in my pocket easily.
I mix it with Squash/Juice Concentrate and water to make my own glucose drinks. I still use other more convenient things when I'm on the move like gummies and what have you
My Libre 2 fails about 1/3 of the time, so it would be 39 of those for me 🫣
A nice line up though - I thought me saving all the CGM labels with dates on them was an overkill 🤣
I won't be doing this again that's for sure! Though everyone lecturing me on my poor needle change habits means I will be keeping those to see how much better I can do
I am. 37 year old type 1 as well, I’m in Canada, do you buy all your shit at the beginning of the year is it cheaper?
I don't, it's all monthly prescriptions from the NHS in the UK. The only things I buy are the glucose for low treatments
how do you use the dextrose powder?
I mix it with a juice concentrate and make my own glucose drinks. I just make the juice weaker than recommended so it's not too sweet
that’s cool. Do you then have containers for on the go? Do you batch make it? Or do you make it when you need it?
Sorry for so kay questions
No worries, I make it and store it in the fridge at home and I just decant it into what I need. Tho it is very quick to make so even when there is none in the fridge it's handy. I also store a bottle on the work fridge and label it "Diabetes Medication" which keeps people away.
It's not useful all the time but it deals with 90-95% of my lows
Do you have to store it in the fridge? I work in a warehouse so it would be good (and cheaper) to have it to hand in my pocket etc.
The NHS provide me with Lift shots however, they are disgusting! Lemon&Lime
No you don't. It's just that it's sugar so unless it's stored in a sterilised container it will eventually go bad. So the fridge just means if I have no lows I know it's fine. When it's at the side of my bed in a metal bottle it stays there for days no issues
Dude must never go low.
Is that a joke about the low numbers of needles or the 7.5kg of pure glucose?
So beautiful!!!
Here comes the Reddit comments to ruin the day. 🍿