The practice of reusing insulin needles has increased recently, as more people are diagnosed with diabetic conditions. In the U.S. alone, the CDC finds that 11.3% of the population has diabetes.
But, using an insulin needle more than once can create a host of health issues for individuals. Just a few of the problems that may arise include:
Bacterial growth on the needle, leading to infection.
- Increased pain during injection.
- Skin damage or lipodystrophy.
- Broken or distorted needle tips.
- Inaccurate insulin dosage and embolism.
Why Do People Reuse Insulin Needles?
Many patients think reusing their insulin needles, syringes, and lancets can be a good way to save money.
But, reusing insulin needles can have grave consequences to your health. The following common questions and answers will help you better understand how to safely use and handle insulin needles and related items.
Can I Use An Insulin Needle More Than Once?
Before the advent of modern medicine, medical practitioners often used insulin needles more than once. After each use, they boiled the needles to restore their sterility, then sharpened them with a pumice stone. As needles aged and became too dull to repeat this process, they’d finally be disposed of.
But today, insulin needle manufactures and most healthcare providers recommend one-time use, and safe disposal immediately afterwards.
People also ask: Why Are There Expiration Dates On Insulin Needles?
What Happens If I Use The Same Insulin Needle Twice?
While some studies suggest that using a needle up to four times may be safe, it’s not advisable. And, even if you know fellow diabetics who’ve used needles multiple times without consequence–we recommend that you refrain from doing so.
Speaking with your doctors is your best source for direction about insulin needle use. In addition to their guidance, it’s helpful to know what can happen to insulin needles that are used more than once—and how repeat needle use may negatively impact your health.
Using insulin needles more than once can result in:
1. Bacterial growth and infection
Staphylococcus epidermidis is a bacterium commonly found on the skin and usually considered harmless. But, this bacterial growth increases after injection—and some bacteria can appear on insulin needles that have been used more than once.
If injected into your skin, bacteria build-up can negatively impact your health. And, future reuse of the same needle can cause Staphylococcus epidermidis to spread, leading to greater contamination and more toxic bacteria entering your body with each injection.
2. Pain during injection
Of course, you may feel some pain when you use an insulin needle (injections don’t generally feel good). But most pain subsides after the insulin needle has penetrated the outer layers of your skin.
But, if you reuse a needle, it can become dull or distorted. This can cause more pain upon injection and during dispensing, too.3. The chance of Lipodystrophy
Reusing insulin needles can increase the chances of experiencing this condition and affect the severity of it—potentially leading to inadequate glycemic control, hypoglycemia, and glycemic variation.
4. Broken needle tips
Insulin needles have microscopically fine tips, which can cause them to quickly weaken and dull with repeated use. When needle tips become weak, the chance for breakage increases. If this happens while administering a shot of insulin, you may not notice tiny metal particles have been embedded in your skin until later. Fragments can contribute not just to an uncomfortable, sliver-like sensation, but serious infection.
5. Inaccurate insulin dosage and embolism
After several uses, insulin can crystalize within the needle. This may cause clogging and result in air bubbles forming within the cartridge. This can lead to incorrect dosage administration, as well as serious health complications.
For example, if an air bubble travels from your insulin needle into your vein, this can create a venous air embolism (or air in the veins) or an arterial air embolism (air in your artery). If either of these air bubbles travel to your lungs, heart, or brain, you can experience lung failure, heart attack, or stroke.
People also ask: Syringes And Needles: Can I Buy Injection Needles Over-The-Counter?
What Necessary Precautions Should I Take When Handling Insulin Needles and syringes?
To protect yourself and ensure your insulin needles or syringes are sterile, be sure to follow the following seven safe practices.
1. Keep your insulin needle sealed and sterile.
Try to limit your needle’s exposure to germs, keep it sealed until right before you plan to use it. This minimizes its exposure–and also lessens the chance of you handling the needle tip and compromising its sterility.
After unsealing your needle, try to keep the tip capped or covered until immediately before use. Also, it's important to prevent the needle from touching your hands or any other surfaces before use.
2. Never clean insulin needles with alcohol.
It’s important that you do not clean your needles with alcohol. Insulin needles have a special silicone coating, which protects and keeps the needle tip from dulling during its initial use.
Cleaning the needle with alcohol destroys that silicone layer, and can compromise the sharpness of your needle. This can lead to more pain during use.
3. Know when to dispose of your insulin needles.
The best time to dispose of your insulin needle is immediately after use. Put the used needles into a strong container, with a tight-fitting lid (plastic or metal is preferable).
You can then take your filled container to your doctor’s office or pharmacy to drop off. Most have a used needle and expired medicine disposal program—be sure to speak with your doctor or pharmacist to learn more.
Additionally, you should immediately dispose of needles that:
- Appear to have a blunt, broken, or bent tip.
- Has inadvertently touched another surface before use.
How Should I Take Care Of My Insulin Syringes?
Insulin syringes work much like insulin needles—so it’s important to follow similar best practices:
1. Don’t reuse insulin syringes
While reusing an insulin syringe may seem like a good way to save a few dollars, much like insulin needles we advise you to not reuse syringes.
2. Safely store your insulin syringes
Speak with your healthcare provider, to confirm where your personal insulin prescription should be stored. But generally, most providers and manufacturers recommend keeping insulin syringes in the refrigerator. Because insulin is protein-based, and sensitive to temperature and light, your fridge can be the ideal storage spot.
Tip: Store the syringe with the needle covered and facing upward to avoid insulin blocking the tip.
3. Be careful disposing of your insulin syringes
Just like insulin needles, you should check syringes before use: Watch for blunt or bent needles. And if you inadvertently mishandle a needle and it touches another surface—dispose of it immediately.
To safely dispose of your syringes, we advise that you carefully remove the needles from the syringes, and place both parts in a hard, opaque container that the needles can’t pierce (thick plastic or metal is best). Also, make sure the container has a firm, tight-fitting lid.
When your container is full, take it to your doctor’s office or pharmacy for safe drop-off.
What Are The Types Of Insulin?
There are generally two types of insulin: long-acting and short-acting insulin.
Examples of long-acting insulin include Glargine, Degludec, NPH, and Detemir.
Examples of short-acting insulin include Glulisine, Lispro, and Aspart.
Doctors recommend different insulin types, or a combination of both, depending on several factors, including:
- Whether a patient has type 1 or type 2 diabetes
- Body glucose levels and insulin absorption rate
- Age
- Lifestyle
- Body sugar levels (and how they fluctuate throughout the day)
What Role Does Insulin Therapy Play In Diabetes Management?
For individuals diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, insulin therapy is an important part of health management. But, insulin works in different ways for each diabetes type.
Patients with type 1 diabetes need insulin therapy to help replace the insulin their body lacks.
While patients with type 2 diabetes need therapy to keep their insulin levels within the required range.
What Are Common Ways to Administer And Delivery Insulin Therapy?
Since insulin isn’t available in pills or tablets, there are limited ways in which to administer dosages.
Insulin isn’t available in pills or tablets, because your body would destroy it before it could use it. Instead, insulin needs to be administered through a shot or pump.
Depending on your daily routine or lifestyle, your doctor may recommend:
Using insulin pens or shots: In this instance, injections of insulin are made via a needle, syringe, or pen (pen-likes devices with a needle at their tip).
Using an Insulin pump: This method involves pumping a steady dose of insulin into your body through a tiny tube inserted beneath your skin.
What Should I Do If I Still Have Questions?
Although many people use insulin needles two times or more—thinking they’re saving money or making life easier—you should only use your insulin needles and syringes once.
And, safe disposal is essential: Remember to store needles and syringes in a tight-lidded heavy plastic or metal container and drop off at a pharmacy- or doctor-approved disposal site.
If you have any questions about how to use, store, or dispose of your insulin needles and syringes be sure to contact your healthcare provider.
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