Of course, as you’d expect, some in the #insulin4all community have suggested tweaking the message inside those vials to calling on Pharma companies to address the outrageously high cost of insulin. Lilly Diabetes has more recently shared a lighthearted idea of using old insulin vials in an artsy way to create a “message in a bottle,” marking diabetes anniversaries or other D-moments. That was a great way for so many folks to use old test strips and various supplies in a positive, creative way. Remember that fun Diabetes Art Day, an online effort some years ago where the community collectively used old diabetes supplies to create their own artwork relating to life with diabetes. It’s good to know that some general resources do exist for disposing of used medical supplies, in the form of local collection programs and a few national efforts like the non-profit AFYA. Check your local council website for guidelines.
If you eventually get a new one, here is how to dispose an old, faulty or outdated glucose meter: Check that your meter is working with its strips by using the meter’s control solution (your pharmacist can order the solution). If you have concerns about the accuracy of your meter, consider getting a new one. The key to knowing when it’s time for new equipment primarily lies with the accuracy of your machine. If you’ve had your glucose meter for a while, you may be wondering when you should consider replacing it. Many glucose meters can last more than 10 years and still function normally. The benefits include a reduction in the occurrence rate and severity of long-term complications from hyperglycemia as well as a reduction in the short-term, potentially life-threatening complications of hypoglycemia. Since approximately 1980, a primary goal of the management of type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes mellitus has been achieving closer-to-normal levels of glucose in the blood for as much of the time as possible, guided by HBGM several times a day. The meter then displays the level in units of mg/dL or mmol/L.
A small drop of blood, obtained by pricking the skin with a lancet, is placed on a disposable test strip that the meter reads and uses to calculate the blood glucose level. It is a key element of home blood glucose monitoring (HBGM) by people with diabetes mellitus or hypoglycemia. It can also be a strip of glucose paper dipped into a substance and measured to the glucose chart. A glucose meter, also referred to as a “glucometer”, is a medical device for determining the approximate concentration of glucose in the blood.