– Saving does not always pay off, warn diabetics, who repeatedly use the same needle to administer insulin. This may not only cause skin infection and make the injection more painful, but can also contribute to hyperglycaemia and hypoglycaemia.
A well-chosen pen definitely makes life easier for a patient who has to take insulin every day. The injection can be done anywhere – at work, at home, on a walk. The use of the highest quality steel for the production of needles ensures their appropriate strength and sharpness. A specially designed blade reduces pain during injection, and the needles are covered with a thin layer of silicone, the composition and method of application of which are patent-protected, allows for quick and painless administration of insulin. The needles are for single use only.
Bacteria are not sleeping
Manufacturers of disposable syringes and pen needles recommend that they be used only once, as re-use is no longer sterile. Many microorganisms live on our skin: streptococci, staphylococci and other bacteria. Once used, the needle becomes colonized by this bacterial flora. Moreover, each subsequent administration of insulin with the same slightly blunted needle damages the skin and subcutaneous tissue. Meanwhile, the loss of the epidermis is an open gate for pathogenic bacteria. Insertion of a contaminated needle into the tissue under the skin increases the risk of local infections and inflammatory complications, and although most insulin preparations contain bacteriostatic agents that inhibit the growth of bacteria normally found on the skin, reuse of a syringe or needle may be associated with an increased risk of infection in some patients.
A blunt needle may lead to low sugar
One of the local complications of insulin administration is hypertrophy of the subcutaneous tissue. This is not just a cosmetic defect. It affects the reduction of insulin absorption, so its dose may turn out to be too low. There are thickenings under the skin at the site of many years of injecting the drug. Initially, they are invisible, but you can feel them by touching these areas with your fingers. Later tumor-like changes become apparent. The reason for their formation is, first of all, injecting insulin into one and the same place and not changing the needle. A blunt needle promotes tissue overgrowth. Therefore, doctors recommend that you change the site of insulin injection every week and change the needle each time. Research shows that with a single use of a needle, the risk of tissue hypertrophy is 20%, but if it is used four or five times it increases up to 75%. Insulin injected at the site of subcutaneous tissue hypertrophy is absorbed at an unpredictable rate. Its administration in these areas may cause hypoglycaemia, and hyperglycaemia in the area outside the hyperglycaemia.
A blunt needle hurts
Repeated use of the same needle can clog and dull the needle. As a result, the administered amount of insulin may not be correct and microdamages may occur at the injection site. The perception of pain on injection also increases. Even a single injection of insulin causes mechanical damage to the needle. It also wears off its silicone coating, which reduces the pain of the injection. With each subsequent use, the needle becomes duller and bends, increasing the pain sensation. It is worth noting that the changes on the needle cannot be seen with the naked eye. That is why some sufferers consider throwing away needles after a single use as a waste and use them again. In addition, storing insulin in the pen with the needle attached causes air to enter the cartridge and may contaminate the insulin. On the other hand, wiping the needle with an alcohol swab leads to damage to the silicone coating, which causes more severe pain when injected. The needle should also be discarded if it is visibly dull or distorted or has come into contact with any surface other than the skin.
Apparent savings
Patients with diabetes currently receive five or ten needles when purchasing one insulin package, depending on which manufacturer they take. Buying more needles involves an additional expense. However, it must be remembered that treating skin infections also costs money, and hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia are dangerous to health and life. A bent and distorted needle causes lacerations that become more difficult to heal. The savings may therefore turn out to be apparent. Doctors urge you to change the needle at least once a day and take care of hygiene when injecting. The first thing you should do before administering insulin is wash your hands and wipe them thoroughly. It is also worth washing the area where you intend to administer the drug or wipe it with an alcohol swab.