Lancet Replacement Schedule
 

When I go to see my doctor the nurse uses a new lancet every time - common sense. Yet what about home use when you're the only person using the meter and needle? Of course the companies selling them say to use a new one each time but they're no different than oil change companies telling me to change my oil every 3,000 miles. It's not a question of cost as my insurance covers all the lancets I could ever use but more a matter of curiosity. My tendency is to put in a new one each morning (I take readings 6-8 times a day) yet I've read blogs where people claim to go as long as a month between changes.

So how long do YOU use the same needle?

It's a personal choice. I have boxes of lancets, but seldom take the time to change them out. However, a dull lancet hurts considerably more; so you may want to keep that in mind.

when my son complains it hurts or can't get blood we change it

I only test in the morning. I change the lancet once a week....usually Sunday when I load up my day-of-the-week pill box.

I use a meter with a 17 strip drum and I try to change the lancet then.