HELP! Why do my needles clog up?
Tony Pagano
I am a IDDM for 42 years. My doctor has recently switch my insulin to
Ulente. It has really improved my control. The only problem I have with
Ulente is that it seems to clog up my insulin syringes. The needle clogs
up after 4 or 5 uses. If you brake the tip off, the insulin flows ok.
This means the stoppage is in the needle tip. Sometimes it becomes so
clogged up that the plunger bends out of shape from all the force exerted.
Is this happening to anyone else?
Thanks for your help-tony
Please both post and email your replys.
--
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Tony Pagano
to...@voicenet.com
"I would rather live for a day than exist for two." Said by my Uncle Joe
on his eightieth birthday (11/22/94).
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
goldn...@aol.com
> The needle clogs
>up after 4 or 5 uses. If you brake the tip off, the insulin flows ok.
>This means the stoppage is in the needle tip. Sometimes it becomes so
>clogged up that the plunger bends out of shape from all the force exerted.
>Is this happening to anyone else?
>
>
Tony,
While this has never happened to me, I think it makes sense. After reusing a syringe, surely any residue left in the needle would dry and then after using the syringe again, the residue from that would dry on top of what was already in there and soon you'd have a block. Sounds like I'm talking about what cholesterol does to the arteries.
I am concerned....is reusing needles that many times wise? Last I read in Diabetes Forecast (which has been a while), they only recommended two uses out of one syringe if one was going to reuse them. I notice that my needle gets noticeably dull after the first use too.
Sheila
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Michel
> In article <tonyp-ya02358000...@netnews.voicenet.com>,
> to...@voicenet.com (Tony Pagano) writes: >
> The needle clogs
> up after 4 or 5 uses. If you brake the tip off, the insulin flows ok.
> This means the stoppage is in the needle tip. Sometimes it becomes so
> clogged up that the plunger bends out of shape from all the force exerted.
> Is this happening to anyone else?
>
>
What is happening is that the insulin in suspension/solution in the tip
is drying out (the water it comes in is evaporating). This solid insulin
residue will clog the tip of the needle every time.
People who reuse their syringes successfully often have to reshield the
tip after each use. That cuts evaporation down so much that clogging
cannot occur by the next use. Of course, not everybody lives in a
climate dry enough for this to make any difference.
Michel
mhm...@ibm.net
Tony Pagano wrote:
>
> I am a IDDM for 42 years. My doctor has recently switch my insulin to
> Ulente. It has really improved my control. The only problem I have with
> up after 4 or 5 uses. If you brake the tip off, the insulin flows ok.
> This means the stoppage is in the needle tip. Sometimes it becomes so
> clogged up that the plunger bends out of shape from all the force exerted.
> Is this happening to anyone else?
>
>
> Please both post and email your replys.
>
> --
> =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=>
> Tony Pagano
> to...@voicenet.com
>
> "I would rather live for a day than exist for two." Said by my Uncle Joe
> on his eightieth birthday (11/22/94).
>
fresh i.e. your pharmacy keeps it refrigerated. Check expiration date
and make sure and roll the vial between your hands before drawing up.
Hope this helps,
--
M.H. MOMAN
CONSIDER
"Is anybody happier because you passed his way?
Does anyone remember that you spoke to him today?
This day is almost over, and its tolling time is through;
Is there anyone to utter now, a friendly word for you?
Can you say tonight in passing with the day that slipped so fast,
That you helped a single person, of the many that you passed?
Is a single heart rejoicing over what you did or said?
Does one whose hopes were fading now with courage look ahead?
Think not on yesterday, not trouble borrow
On what might be in store for you tomorrow;
But let today be your incessant care-
The past is past, tomorrow's in the air.
Who gives today the best that in him lies
Will find the road that leads to clearer skies."
-John Kendrick Bangs
Tony Pagano
In article <19970322171...@ladder01.news.aol.com>,
goldn...@aol.com wrote:
> In article <tonyp-ya02358000...@netnews.voicenet.com>,
to...@voicenet.com (Tony Pagano) writes:
>
> > The needle clogs
> >up after 4 or 5 uses. If you brake the tip off, the insulin flows ok.
> >This means the stoppage is in the needle tip. Sometimes it becomes so
> >clogged up that the plunger bends out of shape from all the force exerted.
> >Is this happening to anyone else?
> >
> >
>
> Tony,
>
> While this has never happened to me, I think it makes sense. After
reusing a syringe, surely any residue left in the needle would dry and then
after using the syringe again, the residue from that would dry on top of
what was already in there and soon you'd have a block. Sounds like I'm
talking about what cholesterol does to the arteries.
>
> I am concerned....is reusing needles that many times wise? Last I read
in Diabetes Forecast (which has been a while), they only recommended two
uses out of one syringe if one was going to reuse them. I notice that my
needle gets noticeably dull after the first use too.
>
> Sheila
To explain my procedure a little further, I wash the syringe out with water
each time I use it so there should not be any build up. And, I have used
my syringe mny, many times mixing NPH and REG. It is only the last few
weeks with Ulente that I am having a problem. I am using a 28 gauge needle
(B-D Micro-Fine IV Needle). I wonder if the needle is too narrow and the
Ulente participate clogs it. But why then would not the NPH clog the 28g
needle?? I am going to call the B-D Customer Service Dept on Monday and I
will report my findings.
As far as your question about using a syringe multiple times, I think it is
safe. Obviously a person only uses it on themselves! I believe there has
been new research showing that you can use syringes multible times. I
think the single use idea is more a ploy of manufactures to get you to buy
more syringes. I, myself, have used syringes over and over for more than
10 years and have never had any infections. I also administer my shot to
the stomach area and have been doing this for about 10 or 12 years. This
was the time that the literature said you should vary the shot location
over arms, thighs, and abdominal area. Now they say, it is best to use the
smes area because your absorption will be more constant. IMHO, use your
syringe for as long as it is comfortable to use be that 4 or 5 times or 40
or 50 times.
Thanks again for your reply. What do other IDDM people think about using
syringes multiple times?
-tony
Carmen
day... never had any problems, and I agree with you, BD & Monoject just
want us to buy more syringes... But i'm thinking about going on the
pump... I've been having trouble with going hypo a lot, and have been
told it could help. Any feedback out there?
Rick Stockton
to...@voicenet.com (Tony Pagano) wrote:
>To explain my procedure a little further, I wash the syringe out with water
>each time I use it so there should not be any build up. And, I have used
>my syringe mny, many times mixing NPH and REG.
touch only clean insulin bottles and clean skin, I think that
additional contact with anything else increases the chance
of problems. I re-use the 29 guage BDs 20-30 times unless
I discard early for a special reason. The most common
special reason is: breakage of the white plastic plunger
handle. (Hasn't anyone else noticed this mode of failure?
Maybe I'm on the far edge of re-using them a lot of times.)
I try to be careful to always push the needle into bottles
and into myself absolutely straight. Pushing the needle
at even a small angle from absolute vertical
makes them go dull a lot faster, and also obviously
increases the risk of a catastrophic bending failure.
I am not a 'U' user, but have no problems with
heavy reuse for N, R, and H.
Rick Stockton
Michel <mm...@cts.com> wrote:
>People who reuse their syringes successfully often have to reshield the
>tip after each use. That cuts evaporation down so much that clogging
>cannot occur by the next use.
exposed to God-knows what for an extended amount of time.
Sounds like a really bad idea.
However, if putting the cover shield back on is new for you, be
VERY CAREFUL! Put it on straight and WATCH what you
are doing, or you will eventually have an accidental stabbing.
Herman Rubin
In article <Pine.SCO.3.91.970323...@crash.cts.com>,
Michel <mm...@cts.com> wrote:
>> In article <tonyp-ya02358000...@netnews.voicenet.com>,
>> to...@voicenet.com (Tony Pagano) writes: >
>> The needle clogs
>> up after 4 or 5 uses. If you brake the tip off, the insulin flows ok.
>> This means the stoppage is in the needle tip. Sometimes it becomes so
>> clogged up that the plunger bends out of shape from all the force exerted.
>> Is this happening to anyone else?
>What is happening is that the insulin in suspension/solution in the tip
>is drying out (the water it comes in is evaporating). This solid insulin
>residue will clog the tip of the needle every time.
>People who reuse their syringes successfully often have to reshield the
>tip after each use. That cuts evaporation down so much that clogging
>cannot occur by the next use. Of course, not everybody lives in a
>climate dry enough for this to make any difference.
I do not use one too many times, although I sometimes add some.
But I always reshield the tip, and I also (unless I forget) plunge
lots of air through the needle to remove any droplets which may
have stuck for whatever reason.
--
This address is for information only. I do not claim that these views
are those of the Statistics Department or of Purdue University.
Herman Rubin, Dept. of Statistics, Purdue Univ., West Lafayette IN47907-1399
hru...@stat.purdue.edu Phone: (765)494-6054 FAX: (765)494-0558
David G Taylor
In article <tonyp-ya02358000...@netnews.voicenet.com>,
to...@voicenet.com (Tony Pagano) wrote:
> I am a IDDM for 42 years. My doctor has recently switch my insulin to
> Ulente. It has really improved my control. The only problem I have with
> Ulente is that it seems to clog up my insulin syringes. The needle clogs
> up after 4 or 5 uses. If you brake the tip off, the insulin flows ok.
> This means the stoppage is in the needle tip. Sometimes it becomes so
> clogged up that the plunger bends out of shape from all the force exerted.
> Is this happening to anyone else?
>
After 27 years, that's a new one on me. I keep the *capped* syringe in a
baggy with the insulin in the door of my refrigerator.
As for syringe reuse, I've used the same one for the duration of a bottle
many times before, which would be something like 50 shots. I depends a lot
on the toughness of your hide and your comfort/discomfort level !
( my views only, not those of my employer, etc., etc..)
Dave Harsant
>> Ulente. It has really improved my control. The only problem I have with
>> Ulente is that it seems to clog up my insulin syringes. The needle clogs
>> up after 4 or 5 uses. If you brake the tip off, the insulin flows ok.
>> This means the stoppage is in the needle tip. Sometimes it becomes so
>> clogged up that the plunger bends out of shape from all the force exerted.
>> Is this happening to anyone else?
>>
Yes, Tony, I've noticed this with Ultralente. It appears the syringe
tip dries out a little and becomes clogged, occasionally only after 1
2 uses. I use a 29 gauge syringe and Eli Lilly UL, and of course I
always replace the cap. This didn't happen with the N I used to use.
--
Dave Harsant,
Telstra Research Laboratories | d.ha...@trl.telstra.com.au
Tom
Carmen wrote:
>
> Tony Pagano wrote:
> >
> > In article <19970322171...@ladder01.news.aol.com>,
> > goldn...@aol.com wrote:
> >
> > to...@voicenet.com (Tony Pagano) writes:
> > >
> > > > The needle clogs
> > > >up after 4 or 5 uses. If you brake the tip off, the insulin flows ok.
> > > >This means the stoppage is in the needle tip. Sometimes it becomes so
> > > >clogged up that the plunger bends out of shape from all the force exerted.
> > > >Is this happening to anyone else?
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > > While this has never happened to me, I think it makes sense. After
> > reusing a syringe, surely any residue left in the needle would dry and then
> > after using the syringe again, the residue from that would dry on top of
> > what was already in there and soon you'd have a block. Sounds like I'm
> > talking about what cholesterol does to the arteries.
> > >
> > > I am concerned....is reusing needles that many times wise? Last I read
> > in Diabetes Forecast (which has been a while), they only recommended two
> > uses out of one syringe if one was going to reuse them. I notice that my
> > needle gets noticeably dull after the first use too.
> > >
> > > Sheila
> >
> > each time I use it so there should not be any build up. And, I have used
Lots of feedback in this usenet group re: insulin pump info.
Also, check out using Humalog, ie, Lyspro. Highly effective for stable
blood sugars on a consistent basis. Type I's after 20 or more years seem
to do very well on insulin pumps. Good luck.
Virginia Young
I have been using my needles for about a week before discarding them and
have had no ill effect. I could probably use them much longer than a
week at 2 shots per day. I never thought of doing this untill I saw on
this ng about doing it.
Barry Erick
Do you have a good filter on your water supply? What might be coming in on
it from the water source and the piping to the faucet? Is there any residue
if you let it settle in a glass?
--
--- Barry
http://www.epix.net/~berick/
Tony Pagano <to...@voicenet.com> wrote in article
> To explain my procedure a little further, I wash the syringe out with
water
> each time I use it so there should not be any build up. And, I have used
> my syringe mny, many times mixing NPH and REG. It is only the last few
> weeks with Ulente that I am having a problem. I am using a 28 gauge
needle
tquick
goldn...@aol.com wrote:
>
> In article <tonyp-ya02358000...@netnews.voicenet.com>, to...@voicenet.com (Tony Pagano) writes:
>
> > The needle clogs
> >up after 4 or 5 uses. If you brake the tip off, the insulin flows ok.
> >This means the stoppage is in the needle tip. Sometimes it becomes so
> >clogged up that the plunger bends out of shape from all the force exerted.
> >Is this happening to anyone else?
>
> Tony,
>
> While this has never happened to me, I think it makes sense. After reusing a syringe, surely any residue left in the needle would dry and then after using the syringe again, the residue from that would dry on top of what was already in there and soon you'd have a block. Sounds like I'm talking about what cholesterol does to the arteries.
>
> I am concerned....is reusing needles that many times wise? Last I read in Diabetes Forecast (which has been a while), they only recommended two uses out of one syringe if one was going to reuse them. I notice that my needle gets noticeably dull after the first use too.
>
> Sheila
Sheila,
I've used syringes repeatedly until the unit markings wore off! Never
had any problem with the neede getting
dull. What DOES happen is that the silicone coating on the needle only
lasts for about 3 shots, after which the needle doesn't slide in quite
as easily. It doesn't really get dull from repeated use since it's only
pushed through the skin.
My doctor has a copy of a Forecast magazine article in each examination
room which says that long term repeated use does no harm but will save
the diabetic a lot of money. He agreed with me that I was using the
needles correctly. He is the second generation of doctors in his family
treating me, I started with his father, now semi-retired, in 1958 or so.
Ted Quick
tqu...@cris.com
Type 1 for 40 years, now use MiniMed insulin pump and Humalog.
Jim
Tony Pagano wrote:
In article <19970322171...@ladder01.news.aol.com>,
goldn...@aol.com wrote:
To explain my procedure a little further, I wash the syringe out
with water
each time I use it so there should not be any build up. And, I have
used
my syringe mny, many times mixing NPH and REG. It is only the last
few
weeks with Ulente that I am having a problem. I am using a 28 gauge
needle
-tony
--
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Tony Pagano
to...@voicenet.com
"I would rather live for a day than exist for two." Said by my
Uncle Joe
on his eightieth birthday (11/22/94).
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
I usually use my 28 gauge needles (B-D) 4 or 5 times and have never
experienced any clogging though I have heard others do. I re-cap the
needle promptly anf have had no trouble
Jim
goldn...@aol.com
>My doctor has a copy of a Forecast magazine article in each examination
>room which says that long term repeated use does no harm but will save
>the diabetic a lot of money. He agreed with me that I was using the
>needles correctly. He is the second generation of doctors in his family
>treating me, I started with his father, now semi-retired, in 1958 or so.
>
>
Ted,
It has been about 5 years (+/- a year or two) since the article *I* read about it came out. In that article, they also recommended that the syringes be refrigerated in between uses to ward off
bacteria growth. Its been about 2 years since I stopped receiving the Forecast, so it wouldn't surprise me if things have changed in that time.
Personally, I use syringes two times, unless I've managed to "spring a leak" and gotten blood on the needle or in the syringe barrel itself. One time, I did use one a third time and it hurt
something terrible so I just stick to two uses (no pun intended :) ).
What I worry about is the damage that this is doing to the underlying skin if the coating wears off, making it harder to get the needle in, surely there must be a greater potential for 'hard spots'
to form (luckily, I haven't had any problems with that and I'm strictly an 'abdomen' injector). Have you had any problems with that?
BTW, I never said that using syringes multiple times (over two) was right or wrong. I'm only going by what I read and what works for me based on experience. I do find it amazing that so many people
seem to use them alot longer than what I personally feel is safe.
Bill Lederer
testing
Bill Lederer
test
Charles Coughran
Bill Lederer wrote:
>
> test
Please don't test to active newsgroups. Use one of the
groups specifically designed for testing, e.g. alt.test.
--
Charles Coughran
REMOVE_FOR_R...@ucsd.edu