Diabetes Talking

Syringes are needles used to treat diabetes and other treaments that require injection. buy syringes and feel better today!

Question:

regarding disposal of needles at a hospital….

The hospital where I work does accept them for disposal, at the same cost they pay to dispose of them. Medical waste costs a fortune these days, so they simply charge what it costs them. The lab my husband works for, however, said to bring ours in and dump them in with the rest of the sharps. We were lucky to have that advantage I guess. Laurie

Response:

Re – used syringes. Ask for a "sharps" container from your local home care agency.  They were most helpful with us.  And they picked up and disposed of it too! Icky foo about the hospital’s reaction.  What a bunch of nozzles.   Having been a hospital brat, I think that was uncalled for.  Next time, make a few phone calls – ask for Infection Control or Discharge Planning (only because this is a MSW position and they know everything). We’ve done everything with the little boogers – clipped them, broke them into little bitty pieces, used them as fire starters (grin) on camping trips – most of the time, we put them into an empty 2-liter bottle.  Until it isn’t empty any more.  Then we dispose of properly. Does anyone remember what wonderful cat toys Monoject syringe covers used to make?  Not the syringes themselves, but the plastic tubes they used to come in? I’ll bet you folks have more respect for them than Cliff – having had them around since he was five, I don’t think he gave them much thought.  I found them everywhere!  They’re like pencils! That was before the 2-liter bottle trick – it just ain’t safe anymore.

Response:

A related topic that no one has discussed is the disposal of used syringes. One should probably inquire about what to do with them in the place you are traveling, because some places it is sufficient to just clip the needle and trash it, but in others this might put you in violation with the law.  I suppose you can always dispose of them (for a fee) at a hospital, but this could be out of your way….

I’ve never been anywhere for an extended stay, but I do my syringes like a hiker, pack ‘em in pack ‘em out.  I had the room in my luggage when they were new so I should have room when they are used.  Just don’t buy too many souvenirs.  :-) Darrell

Response:

A related topic that no one has discussed is the disposal of used syringes. One should probably inquire about what to do with them in the place you are traveling, because some places it is sufficient to just clip the needle and trash it, but in others this might put you in violation with the law.  I suppose you can always dispose of them (for a fee) at a hospital, but this could be out of your way….

Which brings up another of my pet peeves: Considering how much we, as a group, generally support our local health care organizations (including hospitals and an interestingly large group of doctors of various types), why are they not more willing to help us dispose of needles? They already have to deal with a large mass of controlled-substance and special- handling medical wastes.  They are already setup to handle this situation better than anybody else (presumeably). It would seem to me to be a really good customer service and just good PR to offer to help us dispose of our used needles. With proper care and appropriate safeguards (ie, all transport done in safe sharpie containers, needles pre-clipped, etc.) our hospitals are better qualified than any of us to properly dispose of our needles, no matter how much care any of us dedicate to the task. Once, shortly after my initial IDDM diagnosis, I tried to take a can of clipped needles back to the hospital where I spent the first week of my IDDM-life (at no small expense to me and a nice profit to the hospital).  My goodness, judging by the response of the duty-nurses you would have thought I was bringing in a can of The Plague. They said _NO WAY_ most emphatically!  Bummer. Almost ruined my day.  But still bothers me more than just a little every time I try to safely dispose of my used needles. Be well. Happy Trails, art

Response:

        In the United States, insulin is not a perscription item.  The syringes GENERALLY are not either.  You MAY be asked to sign the controlled substance book for the syringes.  There are some exceptions.  Some mail-order drug companies will not ship even a band-aid without a perscription.  I suppose that if you were not known by the pharacist and weren’t purchasing insulin then you might get some hassle.  I personally have never experienced this an I have been on insulin for some 9 years.         If you are going to be travelling, it doesn’t HURT to have a note from your doctor stating that you are diabetic and have to carry insulin/syringes.  I have travelled internationally on a couple of ocassions since I went on insulin and I have never had a problem at Customs either her or abroad.  Yes, I opened my briefcase and the inspector looked right at them.         I might add, DO NOT put your insulin/syringes in your checked bags when traveling by air.  Put in carry-on.  That way you can be sure that where you go they will go too instead of you going to Rome and your luggage going to China (this actually happened!).         Most airlines can also accommodate a diabetic diet.  When you make reservations ask your travel agen or the airline to request diabetic meals.  If you use a travel agent, it doesn’t hurt to call the airline direct to check that diabetic meals have been requested for you.  SOMETIMES the request is inthe agents computer but NOT in the airlines so beware.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –    In the United States, insulin is not a perscription item.  The syringes GENERALLY are not either.  You MAY be asked to sign the controlled substance book for the syringes.  There are some exceptions.  Some mail-order drug companies will not ship even a band-aid without a perscription.  I suppose that if you were not known by the pharacist and weren’t purchasing insulin then you might get some hassle.  I personally have never experienced this an I have been on insulin for some 9 years.    If you are going to be travelling, it doesn’t HURT to have a note from your doctor stating that you are diabetic and have to carry insulin/syringes.  I have travelled internationally on a couple of ocassions since I went on insulin and I have never had a problem at Customs either her or abroad.  Yes, I opened my briefcase and the inspector looked right at them.    I might add, DO NOT put your insulin/syringes in your checked bags when traveling by air.  Put in carry-on.  That way you can be sure that where you go they will go too instead of you going to Rome and your luggage going to China (this actually happened!).    Most airlines can also accommodate a diabetic diet.  When you make reservations ask your travel agen or the airline to request diabetic meals.  If you use a travel agent, it doesn’t hurt to call the airline direct to check that diabetic meals have been requested for you.  SOMETIMES the request is inthe agents computer but NOT in the airlines so beware.

In the US, I think prescription requirements vary by state.  In California, you can get everything just by asking the pharmacist, but you will have to sign for the syringes.  I believe that in New York, perscriptions are necessary for the syringes.   A related topic that no one has discussed is the disposal of used syringes. One should probably inquire about what to do with them in the place you are traveling, because some places it is sufficient to just clip the needle and trash it, but in others this might put you in violation with the law.  I suppose you can always dispose of them (for a fee) at a hospital, but this could be out of your way….

Response: