37 Comments
How often do you clean your skin with an alcohol wipe before giving yourself an injection or inserting a new pump site or sensor?
You must be logged in to post a comment.
© 2023 T1D Exchange. All Rights Reserved.
Personally I think this should be two questions because I never use an alcohol wipe before shooting insulin but always use an alcohol wipe before inserting my Dexcom (feel it sticks better when clean).
Same!
Yes I agree fully with Yaffa, I use Dexcom as well and it sticks good after the acohol wipe.
One of the first things my doctor told me when I first became a diabetic, 46 years ago, was sanitation is one of the most important things. Always clean your injection site. So, I use either alcohol or a skin prep pad before I inject anything.
Same for me, except 72 years ago.
On MDI so never when giving basal/bolus shots. But always when inserting new G7. Clean with alcohol to clean and make device stick better.
I said “always” but technically what I’m using is an IV Prep wipe which allows my pump site to adhere better. I don’t use anything when inserting my Dexcom.
I bought a small box individually wrapped wipes two years ago, but gave up on them preferring cotton balls for changing out my pump and G6. I use them under the guise of helping the adhesive stick where it should, vice concern over germs, though it serves both purposes. The G6 “collects” more dirt (due to longer period? 10 vs 3 days) and find the cotton ball has more “scrubbing” power to remove the dirt/adhesive mix.
If I’m out in the backcountry I will since I’m usually days/weeks without a shower then, but when at home I’ll usually change sites after a shower so no alcohol is used
I feel that this should be 2 separate questions.
I occasionally use a wipe before injections. I ALWAYS use alcohol wipes before inserting a new sensor
Agreed! Same here
alcohol wipes on skin has severe side effects, soap-n-water much more efficient. …… from internet search on wipes …. ” You’re wiping across the skin but you are not really taking away all the dirt. Wiping also pulls at the delicate skin which can damage it “
I wouldn’t say the side affects are “severe” by any means. Also if you’re washing with soap and water and then drying the area, you’re still wiping it. *Most* skin we’re injecting into is not delicate, I don’t think too much damage is being done.
I don’t say any of this to pick a fight, only in hopes that if someone is using an alcohol wipe for infection prevention (IMO more important than if skin is slightly “damaged”) they don’t stop doing it unnecessarily.
Always when changing sensor….never when injecting.
Always for the CGM, rarely for the pump site, never for an insulin injection. In 53 years, I’ve never had an injection site infection.
I answered always. Always with a new sensor, rarely with an injection.
Always for a new sensor, always for a new Omnipod pump, rarely for an injection.
A med student told me once that he was told that it takes a full minute to kill most bacteria with alcohol and a brief swipe won’t do it. Dr. Google seems to think the same thing today. Even so, I still use alcohol wipes before inserting sensors and infusion sets, as I was first taught. It makes them stick better.
Monthly and every day
If I have just showered I do not use the alcohol wipe. Otherwise I do
I heard this wasn’t a good idea ?
Should have had an “other” category. Always for insertion sets and cgm, rarely for injections.
I never use alcohol for testing but always for infusion site changes. I should have answered always. Misread question
Lumping all of these actions together will confuse your data, eg I always use alcohol before placing a new CGM sensor, but never when giving shots.
For syringe corrections, we use an alcohol wipe. For pump site/Cgm changes, we use an IVPrep wipe.
always for the sensor, never for the shot
The science is what I stick with, alcohol is much less effective at clearing the skin than soap and water and the irritation caused by wiping the skin with a degreaser can really case irritation when placing an adhesive on the skin.
The only time I don’t is when I’m applying a new cannula or cgm right after a shower.
This is right up there with, “How often do you change a lancet in a finger prick device”?
2 separate questions! Injections, no. Pump sites and sensors, always.
I prefer soap and water to alcohol wipes, not as drying to my skin.
I sometimes skipped the alcohol with injections, but since having a CGM and pump, I always use alcohol.
I NEVER use alcohol for injections(MDI)/ finger sticks, but i ALWAYS use I.V. Prep before inserting a new CGM sensor. I do with the CMG sensors because I leave them inserted for 20+ days and I suspect, that creates a greater chance of infection.
Zero valid need to use alcohol swabs for injections unless the environment is nasty-dirty or I am physically nasty dirty. Unless either one of those is true, zero need to use/require them for injections. Infusion sets, sensors, because they are (in theory) far longer time frames of constant-consistent physical contact, I could see a use for swabs in those scenarios, reluctantly.
Always
I always use alcohol for sensor insertion so they will stick and never for injections or infusion sets.
I don’t if I just took a shower and an inserting a site.