| The everyday management of diabetes, both | | | | undergo expensive prophylactic treatment and a |
| type 1 and type 2, involves a whole lot of sticking | | | | long period of worry, even if you have no |
| and poking. Diabetics may use literally thousands | | | | communicable diseases. If your jurisdiction permits |
| of lancets and syringes in the course of a year, | | | | you to dispose of used diabetes supplies with |
| and the local authorities may intervene when | | | | regular garbage, be sure that's where the supplies |
| these sharps are not properly disposed of. Sharps | | | | go. |
| pose a public health hazard to workers throughout | | | | 4. Have the Right Disposal Containers: Don't store |
| the waste disposal process, from those who | | | | used diabetes supplies in glass jars that might |
| collect your trash cans on the curb to those | | | | shatter and break. Use plastic containers, such as |
| workers at the landfill. | | | | old plastic bottles, or a medical waste collection |
| Here are eight rules every diabetic needs to know | | | | unit available at your pharmacy or a medical |
| about the safe, and lawful, disposal of diabetes | | | | supply house. |
| supplies: | | | | 5. Know the Law: Some cities have specific rules |
| 1. Don't Get Stuck: You aren't going to give | | | | concerning disposal of medical waste. Your local |
| yourself a communicable disease, but you can | | | | trash department or public works office can |
| cause yourself a painful injury with a used lancet | | | | provide details. |
| or syringe. Either clip the sharps off your lancets | | | | 6. Mark Containers Clearly: Label the container as |
| and syringes for separate disposal, or put the cap | | | | 'medical waste"... make sure anyone who comes in |
| back on the sharp or syringe after use so you | | | | contact with your used diabetes supplies knows |
| won't suffer injury. | | | | they are medical waste. Keep used sharps out of |
| 2. Don't Leave Used Supplies Lying Around: As | | | | reach of children and pets. |
| soon as you use a sharp, place it in the disposal | | | | 7. Seal Disposal Units Securely: Don't toss used |
| container. Don't let used sharps accumulate waiting | | | | sharps in the trash without being sure they will |
| to be thrown away. | | | | stay in their disposal container. |
| 3. Dump as Directed: Even if you recycle metal | | | | 8. Talk with Your Pharmacist: Some companies |
| and plastics, you don't want to put your used | | | | have mail-back container exchange programs who |
| lancets, syringes, or test strips out with your | | | | will accept used supplies for proper disposal. Ask |
| recycling. Recyclables are sometimes hand-sorted, | | | | your pharmacist or diabetes educator about |
| and a worker accidentally stuck with your used | | | | programs that may be available to you. |
| diabetes supplies can cause them to need to | | | | |