More than one billion diabetic insulin syringes and lancets are used in the United States each year. While this means diabetics have the correct tools available for managing their blood sugar levels, it can also pose dangers if they are disposed improperly.

Insulin syringes and other sharps can accidentally hurt others, including your family and sanitation workers who have the task of transporting your home's waste to collection areas.

Here are some ways you can avoid harming yourself and others with used insulin syringes and lancets:

1. Use Strong Containers

After you've given yourself insulin or used a lancet device, place the sharp directly into a strong plastic or metal container with a tight cap or lid. Ideal containers would be made of non-recyclable material, like liquid laundry detergent bottles or aluminum coffee cans. Don't try to bend, break or put the cap back on your diabetic needles - you could hurt yourself in the process.

For easy access, keep the container in the same room where you typically give yourself an insulin shot or test your blood sugar. Don't use glass containers (they can break) or lightweight plastic containers (the needles can poke through).

Most of all, don't use containers that you intend on using again - insulin syringes can contain harmful bacteria that can't be removed simply through dishwashing soap and water. Make sure the container is something you're OK with throwing away for good.

2. Explore Disposal Options in Your Community

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. More often than not, this means avoiding the recycling bin, since insulin syringes can't be reused again.

Many communities have sharp disposal centers where all needles and medical sharps can be disposed properly and remain separated from other forms of waste. They may also provide disposal bins that are free and can be kept at home to collect used needles and lancets.

Some diabetes medical supply companies may offer a mail-back program when ordering needles or lancets. With each order of needles, a package or disposal container may accompany it so that you can simply drop your used insulin syringes and mail it back to be disposed. These may or may not come with nominal postage fees.

Medical supply companies may also carry needle destruction devices among their product lines that enable people with diabetes to destroy insulin syringes at home. These work by melting or burning the needles so that they cannot be used again, thus allowing them to be safely disposed along with normal waste.

As a general rule, never throw insulin syringes in the same trashcan you use to throw out other things in your home. Also, never flush used syringes down the toilet or attempt to sanitize it on your own.

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 for options near you.

3. Talk to Your Pharmacist or Doctor

You can also talk to your pharmacist or health care provider about collection sites for used diabetic insulin syringes. They may suggest locations at hospitals, medical offices, pharmacies, or other areas in your community. They may even request that you bring the syringes back to them, so that they can dispose them properly for you.

Disposing insulin syringes safely is a major responsibility that all diabetics should be mindful of when taking insulin or doing a blood sugar test. By doing this, you can help prevent diseases from spreading and save the environment from improperly disposed needle waste.