Tips for Handling Insulin Syringes
More than one billion diabetic insulin syringes and lancets are used in the United States each year. And used insulin syringes and other “sharps” can accidentally hurt other people — everyone from you and your family to the person who collects your garbage.
So, as you take care of your diabetes, make sure you take care of the safety of everyone around you by safely handling and disposing of used diabetes insulin syringes and lancets.
Put a Lid on Insulin Syringes
After you’ve given yourself a shot, put your insulin syringe directly into a strong plastic or metal container with a tight cap or lid. After you use a lancet, you can put it into the same container too. Don’t try to bend, break or put the cap back on your diabetic needles.
A great make-it-yourself container for diabetic insulin syringes is an empty laundry detergent bottle. Just keep it in the same room where you usually have your insulin shot or test your blood sugar.
- Don’t use glass containers (they can break) or lightweight plastic containers (the needles can poke through).
- Don’t use any container that will be returned to a store or recycled. A diabetes insulin syringe is not recyclable.
Dispose of Your Insulin Syringe Properly
When the container is full, tightly secure the lid and reinforce it with heavy-duty tape. Then, dispose of it according to your local waste-disposal rules (make sure you don’t put it in the recycling bin). The rules and regulations regarding sharps disposal may be different in towns and counties around the country, so check with your local sanitation or health department.
You may also talk to your pharmacist or health care provider about collection sites for used diabetic insulin syringes. They may be located at hospitals, medical offices, pharmacies, or other areas in your community.
If your community does not have specific disposal rules, follow these guidelines:
- Never throw insulin syringes or sharps into the trash.
- Never flush insulin syringes or sharps down the toilet.
Several companies offer ways to safely dispose of your diabetic insulin syringes and sharps, including home sharps containers. These are special secure containers for safe disposal of used insulin syringes and needles. You simply fill it with your used sharps, seal it and dispose of it properly.
Becton Dickinson also offers the BD™ Sharps Disposal by Mail system, which you can purchase at your local pharmacy. You simply put your used diabetic insulin syringes, needles and lancets into the container. When the container is full, you seal it and place it in the special red bag. Then place the bag inside the postage-paid mailing box and return it.You’ll receive a certificate of destruction in the mail to confirm destruction of your sharps container.
Tags: diabetes insulin syringe, diabetes supplies, diabetic insulin syringe, Insulin, insulin syringe
