Medical Malpractice

Hospitals swab injection site with alcohol before giving insulin, so why not at home?

Well so far that I've read that in hospitals, the health care provider swab patients with alcohol in the injection site before giving a dose of insulin, but it is recommended that patients don't clean their injection site with alcohol before giving themselves insulin at home. I'm wondering what's the reasoning for that. I could be totally off, so please correct me if I'm wrong. Thanks!

Public Comments

1. I'd like to know that myself. Although I've never heard that it wasn't advisable.
2. It is done in hospitals were lots of germs reside and strangers are injecting. At home you are in your own environment and you give it yourself. In addition to that overuse of alcohol can break down the skin so for diabetics this is just one way to avoid more issues. Dear Gary, as the mother of a diabetic child and someone that does diabetes education I can assure you that you have been misinformed. As stated above you will find the correct information and this IS part of the diabetes education.
3. That IS part of the diabetic training. You are SUPPOSED to do it. It is NOT "recommended that patients don't clean their injection site with alcohol". Carrying in surface-borne disease and infection (especially serious infections like staph) is a very real and dangerous possibility for the patient that does not swab the injection site. but most people are too lazy.
4. Gazey is right, the doctor told me not to used alcohol because you will dry your skin out and you could get problems.
5. When I insert a new pump infusion set, I use a bactericidal IV wipe. Since my catheter stays in place for several days, I can't go without cleaning it or I put myself in a position for infection. The procedure is just like cleaning a vein area for an IV. When I did take shots, I did swab with alcohol. My doctor never said not to and I still swab my fingers when I test. Years of habit, I suppose. EMT
6. Here is why you are getting "conflicting" information about this issue: The standard "correct" instruction is to clean the area with alcohol. That is what they tell all recently-diagnosed diabetics. However, as you have heard above, some doctors instruct their experienced and clean patients to go easy on the alcohol because of skin breakdown that can occur when exposed to alcohol daily.. I have had Type I diabetes for 42 years. The first couple of years, when I had plenty of oils in my skin, I used alcohol to clean the area first, before injecting insulin. However, since I do not produce a lot of oil now, keep my skin clean, and the area I inject is most often covered with clothing, I have not cleaned my skin beforehand in about 25 years. I have never had a problem. My doctor would not recommend to anyone who had a problem with general personal cleanliness to stop wiping with alcohol beforehand. I should tell you the needle I use is very thin (31 gauge, Becton/Dicksinson) which causes a puncture so small in diameter it cannot be seen with the eyes. All insulin pump infusion sets for insulin pumps use a thicker needle. If I were on an insulin pump, I would also would have to clean with alcohol beforehand due to risk of infection at the site.