Subscribe Now

* You will receive the latest news and updates on your favorite celebrities!

Trending News

T1D Exchange T1D Exchange T1D Exchange
  • Activity
    • 13 hours, 21 minutes ago
      Greg Felton likes your comment at
      If you have T1D, have you ever dated or married someone who also has T1D?
      I fell in love with an insulin-dependent Type 2 20 years ago. There’s something terribly romantic about taking Lantus together at the end of the day.
    • 13 hours, 53 minutes ago
      ConnieT1D62 likes your comment at
      Do you feel that your T1D healthcare provider understands the daily challenges and work that goes into living with T1D?
      One time I was explaining that a new pump would be too expensive at the time because my deductible had just started over.. and she asked if I had insurance and I said yes….. then she said “then it should be free with insurance.” 🤦‍♀️ She may know a little about the challenges of living with diabetes, but she knows nothing about how insurance works or how costly T1D supplies are.
    • 14 hours, 11 minutes ago
      Steve Rumble likes your comment at
      If you have T1D, have you ever dated or married someone who also has T1D?
      I fell in love with an insulin-dependent Type 2 20 years ago. There’s something terribly romantic about taking Lantus together at the end of the day.
    • 14 hours, 42 minutes ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      Do you feel that your T1D healthcare provider understands the daily challenges and work that goes into living with T1D?
      I am an RN. Been going to same doctor for about ten years. Took me six years to train him. I am very well read when it comes to my LADA. He trusts my judgement and gives me excellent parameters to make decisions. Recently had a bad case of Covid. Insulin needs changed dramatically. Getting back to normal but he made sure I had scripts to cover my ups and downs with insulin needs.
    • 14 hours, 43 minutes ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      Do you feel that your T1D healthcare provider understands the daily challenges and work that goes into living with T1D?
      Mine acknowledges the struggles and challenges that go along with managing T1D in my daily life. She gives suggestions as to what may or may not help and has often asked me I how I handle situations so she can give suggestions to other T1D patient's.
    • 14 hours, 44 minutes ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      Do you feel that your T1D healthcare provider understands the daily challenges and work that goes into living with T1D?
      None of my endocrinologists or NPs have had T1D but I always discuss my challenges and they are incredibly helpful. What I always find astonishing is they are constantly amazed at how well I’m doing even when i don’t think I’m doing that well because most of their patients have nowhere near the A1c’s I’m able to achieve. And just hovers in the 6’s!
    • 15 hours, 9 minutes ago
      Jubin Veera likes your comment at
      Have you developed lipohypertrophy due to repeated injections/infusions of insulin? Lipohypertrophy is a term to describe hardened lumps of body fat just under the skin that resulted from repeated insulin injections/infusion sites. If so, share how you’ve handled lipohypertrophy in the comments!
      The hard spots are fairly frequent with the pump infusion sets. Especially if I go past 3 days which I try to avoid! I don’t think I ever got one from injections. I try heat and massaging to treat them and they normally go away after a day or so. Once I had a large area that I had to treat with antibiotics.
    • 15 hours, 11 minutes ago
      Magnus Hiis likes your comment at
      Have you experienced any symptoms of physical sexual dysfunction as a result of having diabetes, or having diabetes-related complications?
      I’m 79. My last orgasm was springtime about 3 or 4 years ago. When I complained of ED, my PCP Rxd 3 to 5 (60-100 mg) sildenafil tablets by mouth about one hour prior to sexual activity. This alone hasn’t worked to bring me up to former sexual capacity that I had 10 years years ago. I’m still considering consulting finding a doctor who’ll prescribe a safe but effective way of administering testosterone or an anabolic steroid in a dose low enough to avoid causing cardiovascular problems but high enough to restore normal ability that I had up to my sixties. My present doctors say it can’t be done, but there are doctors who advertise otherwise. Analogs of the hormone insulin can be delivered in small safe doses, why not testosterone?
    • 1 day, 7 hours ago
      Becky Hertz likes your comment at
      Do you feel that your T1D healthcare provider understands the daily challenges and work that goes into living with T1D?
      We are all so very different, and trying to say that all of us with T1 understand what it's like for another who has the same hill to climb is unproductive. Having a health care provider with T1 may often be helpful just because there's apt to be more knowledge about the specifics. How we respond to the disease is such a personal matter, that I really don't think there are any guaranteed benefits beyond the grasp of the factual. Finding a doc with the same general attitude about the disease does feel good, and sometimes that's all I hope for after working hard to make peace with the disease for 70 years. Asking my doc to "get it" used to be almost my mantra, but I've come to realize that the ones who don't just see us as unruly childrenchildren
    • 1 day, 7 hours ago
      Becky Hertz likes your comment at
      Do you feel that your T1D healthcare provider understands the daily challenges and work that goes into living with T1D?
      Both my endocrinologist and my nurse practitioner are great. They compliment me on the way I take care of my life and health and make aure I get all the supplies I need managing all the paperwork Medicare and insurance requires. My nurse practitioner who works with me on managing the pump has her own opinion about the pump settings based on her technical knowledge which is different than what I do with my settings based on living with them. She has thru the years learned to respect what I do and is surprised with how my settings work. So we are now at peace. Both very supportive.
    • 1 day, 10 hours ago
      pru barry likes your comment at
      Do you feel that your T1D healthcare provider understands the daily challenges and work that goes into living with T1D?
      Yes. However, for those of you who assert, "It takes one to know one," the same might be said of age. Geriatrics is a marvelous array of marvels.
    • 1 day, 10 hours ago
      mojoseje likes your comment at
      Do you feel that your T1D healthcare provider understands the daily challenges and work that goes into living with T1D?
      I said yes but that refers to my nurse practitioner who sees me every other visit, if not more often. The doctor may know how hard I try but perhaps takes my efforts for granted.
    • 1 day, 12 hours ago
      Anneyun likes your comment at
      Do you feel that your T1D healthcare provider understands the daily challenges and work that goes into living with T1D?
      How can someone without the disease really understand what it is to live with it? I have never had a doctor with T1D in 60 years.
    • 1 day, 12 hours ago
      Bruce Schnitzler likes your comment at
      Do you feel that your T1D healthcare provider understands the daily challenges and work that goes into living with T1D?
      Yes. However, for those of you who assert, "It takes one to know one," the same might be said of age. Geriatrics is a marvelous array of marvels.
    • 1 day, 13 hours ago
      Kristine Warmecke likes your comment at
      Do you feel that your T1D healthcare provider understands the daily challenges and work that goes into living with T1D?
      My endo is young, very empathetic, thorough, always asks for my input, and does research. I am blessed too. have him, and the one before for over 25 yrs.
    • 1 day, 13 hours ago
      Kristine Warmecke likes your comment at
      Do you feel that your T1D healthcare provider understands the daily challenges and work that goes into living with T1D?
      Yes. However, for those of you who assert, "It takes one to know one," the same might be said of age. Geriatrics is a marvelous array of marvels.
    • 1 day, 13 hours ago
      lis be likes your comment at
      Do you feel that your T1D healthcare provider understands the daily challenges and work that goes into living with T1D?
      None of my endocrinologists or NPs have had T1D but I always discuss my challenges and they are incredibly helpful. What I always find astonishing is they are constantly amazed at how well I’m doing even when i don’t think I’m doing that well because most of their patients have nowhere near the A1c’s I’m able to achieve. And just hovers in the 6’s!
    • 1 day, 14 hours ago
      Daniel Bestvater likes your comment at
      Do you feel that your T1D healthcare provider understands the daily challenges and work that goes into living with T1D?
      My provider does not have T1. Only someone with it can truly understand the various daily challenges and worth it takes to manage this.
    • 1 day, 14 hours ago
      TEH likes your comment at
      Do you feel that your T1D healthcare provider understands the daily challenges and work that goes into living with T1D?
      My provider does not have T1. Only someone with it can truly understand the various daily challenges and worth it takes to manage this.
    • 1 day, 14 hours ago
      Lawrence S. likes your comment at
      Do you feel that your T1D healthcare provider understands the daily challenges and work that goes into living with T1D?
      I have no clue what my T1D health care provider understands about my daily challenges and I don’t know about his daily challenges either. Not sure why I should care as long as I have access to information how to best take care of myself.
    • 1 day, 14 hours ago
      Jeff Marvel likes your comment at
      Do you feel that your T1D healthcare provider understands the daily challenges and work that goes into living with T1D?
      My provider does not have T1. Only someone with it can truly understand the various daily challenges and worth it takes to manage this.
    • 1 day, 15 hours ago
      Richard Wiener likes your comment at
      Do you feel that your T1D healthcare provider understands the daily challenges and work that goes into living with T1D?
      My provider does not have T1. Only someone with it can truly understand the various daily challenges and worth it takes to manage this.
    • 2 days, 6 hours ago
      sweetcharlie likes your comment at
      Have you developed lipohypertrophy due to repeated injections/infusions of insulin? Lipohypertrophy is a term to describe hardened lumps of body fat just under the skin that resulted from repeated insulin injections/infusion sites. If so, share how you’ve handled lipohypertrophy in the comments!
      Hi Connie, I still have my glass syringe and show it off occasionally. We boiled the needle and syringe every morning and sharpened the needle with a file. I was diagnosed at age 6 in 1963. Life is so different now! Then, my diet was extremely limited as was my exercise. Now, I am very active and eat pretty much as I please. I maintain an A1C in the low 6s (6.2 was my last).
    • 2 days, 6 hours ago
      sweetcharlie likes your comment at
      Have you developed lipohypertrophy due to repeated injections/infusions of insulin? Lipohypertrophy is a term to describe hardened lumps of body fat just under the skin that resulted from repeated insulin injections/infusion sites. If so, share how you’ve handled lipohypertrophy in the comments!
      Connie and Beth, I was diagnosed in Nov 1962, age 10. During the early years I developed lumps and indentations on my upper thighs from my injections. In fact, I was able t o spot other t1 kids in my junior high school based upon the lumps in their upper arms.. (I eventually met up with them and learned that I was correct.) By the time I reached my twenties, these indentations had more or less disappeared, but I still have remnants of the lumps. I wish I could say that the layers of tissue now deposited on my legs disguises them, but they don't. I think the changes in insulin have been responsible for this improvement: the isolation and purification of animal insulins were refined, and then the various human clones were game changers in many ways.
    • 2 days, 6 hours ago
      sweetcharlie likes your comment at
      Have you developed lipohypertrophy due to repeated injections/infusions of insulin? Lipohypertrophy is a term to describe hardened lumps of body fat just under the skin that resulted from repeated insulin injections/infusion sites. If so, share how you’ve handled lipohypertrophy in the comments!
      Yes in my upper arms when I was a petite and skinny child in the 1960s with T1D. In those days we used glass syringes with stainless steel 1/2 inch long heavy gauge needles. My mother would jab me in the upper arms, it hurt like the dickens, and I developed several hard nodules. I was diagnosed at age 8 in December 1962 and after the initial two months of her jabbing me in the upper arms, I took over giving my own "shots" and started self injecting via site rotation in my thighs for several years. Eventually the lipohypertrophy in my upper arms resolved and I never injected there again until many years later as an adult on MDI using disposable syringes with very short and fine gauge needle tips. Periodically I would give my tired pin cushion thighs a rest and take a break for a few months or a couple of years and rotate injections in my abdomen or upper arms. Have been using a pump for over 20 years now and rarely use MDI unless I am taking a pump break for a short period of time. Happily, I no longer have lumpy sites.
    Clear All
Pages
    • T1D Exchange T1D Exchange T1D Exchange
    • Articles
    • Community
      • About
      • Insights
      • Submit a Question
      • Donate
      • Join the Community
    • Quality Improvement
      • About
      • Collaborative
        • Leadership
        • Committees
      • Clinics
      • Resources
        • Change Packages
        • Sick Day Guide
        • Meet the Experts
      • Portal
      • Health Equity
        • Heal Advisors
      • Join Us
    • Registry
      • About
      • Recruit for the Registry
    • Research
      • About
      • Publications
      • COVID-19 Research
      • Work with us
    • Partners
      • About
      • Previous Work
      • Academic Partnerships
      • Industry Partnerships
    • About
      • Team
      • Board of Directors
      • Culture & Careers
      • Annual Report
    • Join / Login
    • Donate

    Do you recycle any of the trash from your T1D supplies? Share your tips for reducing T1D waste in the comments!

    Home > LC Polls > Do you recycle any of the trash from your T1D supplies? Share your tips for reducing T1D waste in the comments!
    Previous

    When you get lab work done, does your T1D health care provider discuss the results with you?

    Next

    In your experience, what are the biggest barriers to accessing diabetes-related medical care? Select all that apply.

    Sarah Howard

    Sarah Howard (nee Tackett) has dedicated her career to supporting the T1D community ever since she was diagnosed with T1D while in college in May 2013. Since then, she has worked for various diabetes organizations, focusing on research, advocacy, and community-building efforts for people with T1D and their loved ones. Sarah is currently the Senior Marketing Manager at T1D Exchange. Sarah and her husband live in NYC with their cat Gracie. In her spare time, she enjoys doing comedy, taking dance classes, visiting art museums, and exploring different neighborhoods in NYC.

    Related Stories

    Meet the Expert

    Meet the Expert: Looking Beyond A1c at a Patient’s Quality of Life 

    Jewels Doskicz, 3 days ago 8 min read  
    Research

    Fear of Hypoglycemia: New Tool Helps Docs Identify “FoH” in People with Diabetes 

    Ginger Vieira, 6 days ago 5 min read  
    Meet the Expert

    Meet the Expert: Evaluating Telemedicine in T1D Patient Care 

    Jewels Doskicz, 1 week ago 9 min read  
    Lifestyle

    T1D Exchange Team: Our Type 1 Diabetes Diagnosis Stories  

    Tara Mayo, 2 weeks ago 3 min read  
    Insulin & Meds

    Total Transparency: How Cost Plus Drugs Sells Affordable Medications 

    Ginger Vieira, 2 weeks ago 10 min read  
    Technology

    All About the Medtronic Minimed 780G Closed-Loop Automated Insulin Pump System 

    Ginger Vieira, 4 weeks ago 8 min read  

    62 Comments

    1. LizB

      I recycle the cardboard boxes that the infusion sets/sensors/reservoirs come in. The plastic package that my Mio Advanced infusion sets come packed in also have a recycling symbol on them. Everything else gets thrown away.

      6
      1 year ago Log in to Reply
    2. Lawrence S.

      I said “No”, but after having read LizB’s response, I do recycle the boxes that the supplies come in. In my area, we are very limited in the items that can be recycles. It has bothered me that medical supplies, in general, are so wasteful. More needs to be done in the area of recycling medical supplies.

      5
      1 year ago Log in to Reply
      1. Henry Renn

        See my comment on reduced list of plastics, glass & cardboard our recycler accepts. Used to take wide variety of plastics & cardboard even cardboard in which supplies were packaged. Since China stopped buying our recyclables it has had big effect on what our recycler will take. People around here don’t seem to realize that unacceptable plastics & cardboard are going to the landfill or incinerator.

        1
        1 year ago Log in to Reply
    3. Becky Cain

      I recycle everything I can. All the cardboard boxes and product books, Tandem infusion set holder (have to push out the needle holder), and the plastic container my Dexcom G6 comes in.

      1 year ago Log in to Reply
      1. Donna Young

        Same. We pull the needle out of the infusion set and separate the parts. Same for the the Dexcom applicator.

        1
        1 year ago Log in to Reply
      2. Sue Martin

        It would be nice if the DexCom 6 applicator bulk piece could be recycled. It seem a large waste not to be able to recycle it.

        4
        1 year ago Log in to Reply
    4. LuckyPineapple

      I send back all of my Libre applicator things to the Abbott recycling program!

      1 year ago Log in to Reply
    5. Henry Renn

      No bc since China stopped buying US recyclables the list of what we can recyce has been greatly reduced. I recommend finding out exactly what happens to your recyclables after they are picked u0. My municipality contracts for collection of recyclable plastics but only bona fide #1 & #2 plastics are now accepted. Only clear glass from bottles & jars. No colored glass. Only corrugated cardboard without shiny paper covering it. No pizza boxes. I pay for sharps disposal just to protect others. At County Incinerator trash is crushed & shredded before burning. Sharps in any container such as liquid laundry detergent bottles can be scattered where workers would be exposed to them. Workers doing maintenance on crusher/shredder have been stuck by insulin needles.

      1 year ago Log in to Reply
      1. AnitaS

        🙁

        1 year ago Log in to Reply
    6. DiabetesC

      There should be a “bulk shipping” option since most supplies are for long term users. The individually wrapped system for everything is unnecessary for the majority of the supplies we use.

      2
      1 year ago Log in to Reply
      1. Ahh Life

        DiabetesC–Excellent idea, bulk shipping for long term users. 3-month, one shipment container for 90-day supplies would help too. Currently medicare insists on testing my memory each month with Let’s-see-if-you-can-remember-to-reorder queries. Com’on guys, there’s got to be more efficiency than this !!! ʕ・//㉨//・ʔ

        1
        1 year ago Log in to Reply
    7. Ruth Schwartz

      I would like to recycle, but have not found a Site that Recycles, ESP the CGM Supplies, they are not taking them!!
      Please list the Sites and Availability

      1
      1 year ago Log in to Reply
    8. Jane Cerullo

      I try to recycle supplies but it is difficult. I recycle to box and paperwork in the FSL box. Of course shipping boxes. Any other suggestions?

      1
      1 year ago Log in to Reply
    9. GLORIA MILLER

      I use Lbre and they send a self addressed stamped envelope to put use supplies (10) in to send back to them. I wish Omnipod did the same.

      1 year ago Log in to Reply
    10. KCR

      I recycle all the cardboard and paper and recycled the pods until Insulet ended their program in the US.

      1
      1 year ago Log in to Reply
    11. BOldfield

      No one will take the waste from the sensor application of the Dexcom 6

      1 year ago Log in to Reply
    12. Tina Roberts

      Yes. Everything plastic or cardboard.

      1
      1 year ago Log in to Reply
    13. Dave Barden

      All paper cardboard and plastic. I put all sharps in sharps container and take to the local transfer station sharps disposal. Including that disgusting Dexcom 6 applicator that should be RE-usable not disposable. It is a sharp and should be classed as such and disposed of properly. I put mine in large mouthed plastic containers clearly labeled as SHARPS and seal the lid and take to sharps disposal unit at xfer station. Good for Libre(Abbot industries?) for taking back the waste

      3
      1 year ago Log in to Reply
    14. Francisco Varea

      I recycle the paper components.

      1
      1 year ago Log in to Reply
    15. Susan Watkins

      I put them in a soda can and then bend can in half so that nothing comes out

      1 year ago Log in to Reply
    16. Karen Newe

      That plastic is not recy able. It will get tossed by the trash service.

      1 year ago Log in to Reply
    17. Pauline M Reynolds

      I always have recycled the boxes that my insulin and supplies came in. For a long period, I saved the tops of my syringes for a school to use for art. Other than that, I don’t see that the rest of the equipment is salvageable.

      1 year ago Log in to Reply
    18. Antsy

      I recycle the cardboard shipping boxes, as well as the white boxes for my Medtronic infusion sets, reservoirs and CGMs (after cutting out any foam glued on the inside). Unfortunately, the molded plastic for each item is not recyclable, nor is the coated paper that seals them, so that all goes in the garbage. Any sharps go in a 2qt plastic bottle, and I take them to a transfer station (or a sharps container drop-off bin) so they can be safely destroyed.

      1 year ago Log in to Reply
    19. Sherrie Johnson

      I recycle everything except needles. Most of its plastic paper the tubing I cut up the CGM inserter what a big waste of plastic that is all of it goes in the recycle set for the needle

      2
      1 year ago Log in to Reply
      1. Sherrie Johnson

        Correction I cut up the tubing the big plastic inserter I just recycle as it is

        1 year ago Log in to Reply
    20. Andrew Aronoff

      Of course, all paper and plastic gets recycled. (Where I live in France, all the plastic is accepted.) All needles are taken to the pharmacy for disposal.

      I also remove the needle from the FreeStyle Libre inserter, leaving the plastic for the recycle bin. My FreeStyle Libre sensors are sent back to Abbott in an envelope they provided.

      I regret to say I don’t recycle my insulin pens.

      1
      1 year ago Log in to Reply
    21. Mick Martin

      I recycle all cardboard containers and paper items, and I reuse the containers that my blood glucose test strips come in. (These are used to salvage seeds from my garden, and for holding small items that would otherwise clutter up my desk. 😉 )

      3
      1 year ago Log in to Reply
      1. ConnieT1D62

        Great idea for reusing strip containers to salvage and store seeds. Thanks for sharing that useful gardening tip!

        1 year ago Log in to Reply
    22. Paul McGuigan

      Found a company that pays for used transmitters from dexcom, like $10.50 each, but they need to have serial number starting with 8.
      StripsUSA.com
      I thought it sounded fishy but they sent a shipping label and I got a check in the mail a week or so later. Currently on Omnipod 5 limited market release and weighing out whether or not I want to continue and the lack of recycling them is a big deterrent. Do what I can otherwise w cardboard and things but very limited and very disappointing that someone can’t figure this out.

      2
      1 year ago Log in to Reply
      1. Becky Hertz

        Just checked out the website. They take dead transmitter with 80 or 81 as first numbers. Good to know!!!

        1
        1 year ago Log in to Reply
      2. AnitaS

        Very interesting. I always feel terrible about not recycling my diabetes supplies, especially if they are recyclable. It would have be nice if Dexcom would at least mention this recycling option on their transmitter boxes.

        1
        1 year ago Log in to Reply
    23. Becky Hertz

      Paper products only

      1
      1 year ago Log in to Reply
    24. Mary Dexter

      Boxes

      1 year ago Log in to Reply
    25. Anneyun

      Omnipod sends a big postage paid envelope with each order so that I can return the used pods for them to recycle.

      1
      1 year ago Log in to Reply
    26. Marie Cardinell-Daldry

      During the pandemic I attempted to donate unopened completely sealed insulin vials to the hospice center. The insulin was refused although I had previously donated insulin at the same facility. I ended up giving it to one of my daughter’s friends.

      1
      1 year ago Log in to Reply
    27. Janis Senungetuk

      I recycle all accepted papers, boxes and plastics. Sharps, including disposable syringes and the inserter needle from the Dexcom sensor , go in a gallon BD Sharps container. When full that container will be returned to the pharmacy I bought it from.

      1
      1 year ago Log in to Reply
    28. KarenM6

      I recycle as much as I can, but it’s not much.
      Paper and boxes, for sure.
      Some of the outside containers can be recycled.
      But, the rest (which may be overstated as I may have forgotten something) is not recyclable.
      Needles and such go in a sharps container. I smash up that annoying Dexcom 6 inserter and take out the needle part for the sharps. I WISH the rest could be recycled, but it can’t, so in the trash it must go.
      I used to recycle the Omnipods when Insulet would send the plastic bags, but I was told they stopped that service, so now I have to throw them away. I was told that it was ok to throw away the pods… ok for rules and law, maybe, but certainly not for the planet. It is quite the conundrum to be diabetic and also concerned for the environment!

      2
      1 year ago Log in to Reply
      1. ConnieT1D62

        I keep wishing and hoping that Dexcom could/would design a reusable device that we could just slip the sensor into and then insert. It is shameful how mush plastic is wasted with each inserter device.

        2
        1 year ago Log in to Reply
      2. KarenM6

        Hi ConnieT1D62 –
        *High five!!!!
        I read that the new G7 is smaller… I am crossing my fingers tightly that they’ve fixed the inserter issue!!

        1 year ago Log in to Reply
    29. MARIE

      I said no but we do recycle the boxes the supplies come in. But no to the plastic and other components.

      2
      1 year ago Log in to Reply
      1. AnitaS

        That is exactly what I do and how I replied.

        1
        1 year ago Log in to Reply
    30. AnitaS

      Even if I take the insertion needle out of the dexcom insertion device, that plastic is not recyclable, at least where I live. I am not sure about other cities. In response to Lawrence S., yes I agree that medical supplies need a better way to be dealt with. Just look at all of the medical gloves that are thrown away after a nurse touches each patient. And look at all of the masks that have ended up in the garbage (or worse yet on the ground) during this covid epidemic. Not that I chose to be diabetic, but having to use all of my medical supplies and not much is recyclable is very disheartening.

      3
      1 year ago Log in to Reply
      1. Lena Selbrand

        I feel the same, but I also try to teach people that “You are not Diabetic” You have diabetes. Your diabetes does not define you. I just wonder when the medical community will learn that.

        1 year ago Log in to Reply
      2. ConnieT1D62

        In response to Lena’s comment about use of the the word “diabetic” to define a person with diabetes – do we call a person with cancer a “canceretic”? Or a person with MS a “multiple sclerotic”?

        1 year ago Log in to Reply
    31. Vivian Moon

      All I am able to recycle is the paper from pump supplies and the paper and cardboard from my insulin.

      2
      1 year ago Log in to Reply
    32. Jodi Greenfield

      I hate to see recyclable stuff go in the garbage! The only thing I don’t recycle is the sharps, but the CGM applicators are all plastic, and my OmniPods can be turned in with batteries.

      1
      1 year ago Log in to Reply
      1. KarenM6

        Hi Jodi –
        Thank you re: the OmniPods going wtih batteries. I have a bag-o-bats and can add a second one for Omnipods… next time I turn in the batteries, I will ask them about the pods (all the while crossing my fingers!)

        1 year ago Log in to Reply
    33. Molly Jones

      I use Dexcom and Tandem. The only things I put into the recycle container are the cardboard boxes and the clear plastic parts of the containers for supplies. All else goes into the garbage or sharps container.

      1
      1 year ago Log in to Reply
    34. Sasha Wooldridge

      I replied no, but I’m the same as most – recycle boxes and paper, but pretty much everything else isn’t accepted. Honestly, most recycled material ends up in the trash anyway. Henry Renn hit the nail on the head. You have to check with your local recycling center to make sure you understand how recycling works in your area. There are a ton of people assuming they know what’s recyclable when those things really aren’t. 😕

      2
      1 year ago Log in to Reply
      1. KSannie

        Ditto

        1 year ago Log in to Reply
    35. Bonnie Lundblom

      Cardboard, paper, and the small plastic recyclable piece from the Tandem infusion set.

      1 year ago Log in to Reply
    36. PamK

      I reuse the containers from my test strips to carry cotton swabs with alcohol with me on trips. These containers are water-proof, so they work quite well.

      1 year ago Log in to Reply
      1. PamK

        PS: I also recycle all of the cardboard boxes from my infusion sets, reservoirs, CGMs, and syringes, along with all of the paper inserts that come with them – – the only exception is if I am using something for the first time (like a new brand of CGM), then I keep the inserts.

        1 year ago Log in to Reply
    37. ConnieT1D62

      I attended a TCOYD ONE gathering in San Diego in 2019 and a very creative artist had recycled thousands of test strips, used meters, Dexcom inserters and other bits and pieces of discarded T1 diabetes paraphernalia into giant size works of art. One was a giant size sculpture of a surfer guy with test strip shag hair wearing beach trunks made of used meters and Dexcom parts, and another one was a beach gal wearing a bikini made of Dexcom inserters and jewelry pieces made from various bits & pieces of discarded plastic and vinyl diabetes stuff.

      I have shopping bags filled with used Dexcom inserters in my diabetes supply closet that I keep meaning to donate to an artist or inventor with some imaginative flair who can come up with a clever design to make them into something amusing and brilliant. Like maybe building blocks to build a fort for kids or as a shelter kit for adults? There must be something useful to do with all those millions of G6 inserters!!!

      Although, I feel like loading them all up into a giant box and shipping them back to Dexcom and asking them to deal with the issue of recycling all that plastic please.

      1
      1 year ago Log in to Reply
    38. Bea Anderson

      Oops! Said no, but I do all boxes/ plastic as appropriate. And separate out sharps in container.

      1 year ago Log in to Reply
    39. Joseph Vaughan

      The Dexcom is an excellent CGM. But, the applicator is single use. It is 83mg of waste. I hoped to recycle it but it is made of BPA, the most toxic kind of plastic. 600k customers x 36 applicators x 83 mg per year yields 27 football fields of waste in cubic foot boxes containing 18 applicators. I would not complain without offering a solution: license the medtronic multi use applicator that uses the same method but produces only 4mg of waste. I had one Medtronic applicator for four years (equivalent of 144 Dexcom applicators.

      3
      1 year ago Log in to Reply
    40. Mary Hennessey

      I recycle the plastic packaging from my Dexcom sensors

      1 year ago Log in to Reply
    41. dave hedeen

      WA has a jerk for governor, to not discriminate against those less fortunate, sharps no longer require a sharps container. Regular garbage is fine and does not discriminate against those who can not afford container

      1 year ago Log in to Reply
    42. Kim Rehtus

      I recycle the paper boxes for all of my supplies. The one that I struggle with the most is that each one of my Dexcom transmitters comes with an entire printed book and an oversized box. ALL of that gets recycled each time but it is a HUGE waste IMHO.

      2
      1 year ago Log in to Reply
    43. NAK Marshall

      some when I can

      1 year ago Log in to Reply
    44. Elizabeth T.

      Medical companies need to use more recyclable materials for sure. I recycle everything that is recyclable but am dismayed at how much has to go in trash.

      1 year ago Log in to Reply
    45. Cheryl Seibert

      I recycle all the paper packaging and product safety inserts. I was recycling the Dexcom plastic packaging but it does not have a recycle code on it, so I now throw it away. I would recycle the paper backing but I use those for notes on CGM and site insertion should I need to order a replacement.

      1 year ago Log in to Reply

    Do you recycle any of the trash from your T1D supplies? Share your tips for reducing T1D waste in the comments! Cancel reply

    You must be logged in to post a comment.

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.




    11 Avenue de Lafayette
    Boston, MA 02111
    Phone: 617-892-6100
    Email: admin@t1dexchange.org

    Privacy Policy

    Terms of Use

    Follow Us

    • facebook
    • twitter
    • linkedin
    • instagram

    © 2023 T1D Exchange.
    All Rights Reserved.

    © 2022 T1D Exchange. All Rights Reserved.
    • Login
    • Register

    Forgot Password

    Registration confirmation will be emailed to you.

    Skip Next Finish

    Account successfully created.

    Please check your inbox and verify your email in the next 24 hours.

    Your Account Type

    Please select all that apply.

    I have type 1 diabetes

    I'm a parent/guardian of a person with type 1 diabetes

    I'm interested in the diabetes community or industry

    Select Topics

    We will customize your stories feed based on what you select here.

    2019 Publications

    0 Stories Related

    2020 ADA

    9 Stories Related

    2020 ADCES

    0 Stories Related

    2020 ATTD

    0 Stories Related

    2020 EASD

    0 Stories Related

    2020 ISPAD

    7 Stories Related

    2020 Publications

    0 Stories Related

    2021 ADA

    11 Stories Related

    2021 ADCES

    0 Stories Related

    2021 ATTD

    4 Stories Related

    2021 ISPAD

    8 Stories Related

    2021 Publications

    22 Stories Related

    2022 ADA

    11 Stories Related

    2022 ADCES

    4 Stories Related

    2022 ATTD

    10 Stories Related

    2022 ISPAD

    0 Stories Related

    2023 ATTD

    6 Stories Related

    ADA

    5 Stories Related

    ADCES

    0 Stories Related

    Advocacy

    21 Stories Related

    ATTD

    16 Stories Related

    Blood Sugar

    0 Stories Related

    Conditions

    7 Stories Related

    COVID-19

    14 Stories Related

    EASD

    0 Stories Related

    General Publications

    73 Stories Related

    Get Involved

    11 Stories Related

    Insulin & Meds

    15 Stories Related

    ISPAD

    1 Stories Related

    Journal of Diabetes

    21 Stories Related

    Lifestyle

    12 Stories Related

    Lifestyles

    0 Stories Related

    Meet the Expert

    17 Stories Related

    Mental Health

    11 Stories Related

    News

    35 Stories Related

    Our team

    25 Stories Related

    Partner Content

    7 Stories Related

    Press Release

    6 Stories Related

    Question of the Day

    24 Stories Related

    Research

    66 Stories Related

    Stories

    18 Stories Related

    T2D

    1 Stories Related

    Technology

    23 Stories Related

    Uncategorized

    1 Stories Related

    We're preparing your personalized page.

    This will only take a second...

    Search and filter

    • Clear All
    • Sort By

    • Select Category