{"id":48923,"date":"2018-04-21T10:42:54","date_gmt":"2018-04-21T14:42:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/?p=48923"},"modified":"2018-04-21T10:42:54","modified_gmt":"2018-04-21T14:42:54","slug":"earth-day-and-recycling-diabetes-supplies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/asweetlife.org\/?p=48923","title":{"rendered":"Earth Day and Recycling Diabetes Supplies"},"content":{"rendered":"

After three decades with type 1 diabetes, with fifteen years of pumping tens of thousands of blood sugar checks, I\u2019ve certainly generated my share of diabetes-related garbage.\u00a0 All the little syringe caps and infusion sets, bottles of insulin, and dead strips, I feel like my diabetes is managed but my waste is out of control<\/p>\n

But it doesn\u2019t all have to be tossed in the trash.\u00a0 There are ways to cleverly recycle diabetes supplies.\u00a0 And since Earth Day is this weekend, we\u2019re looking at ways to reduce, reuse, and recycle our diabetes trash in ways that go a little greener.\u00a0<\/p>\n

We can always reduce<\/strong>the trash we\u2019re generating, if we are consciously working at it.\u00a0 Buying low blood sugar treatments in bulk and then breaking them down into properly pre-portioned\u00a0 travel sizes<\/a>in reusable containers is one way to reduce waste.\u00a0But reducing can be challenging when it comes to the medical supplies that are necessary to diabetes management.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Which is why recycling<\/strong>is awesome.\u00a0 You can definitely recycle the boxes that your insulin comes in, along with gobs of paperwork that comes shoved inside each box.\u00a0 Same goes for boxes of test strips, or CGM receivers, or pump supplies \u2013 these can all be broken down and tossed into the cardboard recycling bin.\u00a0 Check the boxes for the recycling symbol so you know which items are ready for recycling.<\/p>\n

While certain electronic items can be recycled, finding the right place to drop off your old Dexcom receivers or other devices can be tricky.\u00a0 Check out Earth911.com to search for the proper drop-off spot for your techy bits (and to help declutter your bathroom cabinet museum of moldy old diabetes devices).<\/p>\n

When it comes to reusing\u00a0<\/strong>diabetes supplies, the art world knows how to make diabetes trash into treasure<\/a>.\u00a0 The art created on Diabetes Art Day has been nothing short of amazing.\u00a0(Check out this article from Diabetic Living<\/a> that features some of that art!) \u00a0\u00a0And this article lists several diabetes art projects<\/a>that you can create on your own, like a diabetes robot or a superhero comic book.\u00a0 Test strips themselves can be a versatile medium, allowing artists to create portraits with used test strips<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Even the jewelry artists think upcycling has a nice \u201cring\u201d to it; evidence found in this amazing test strip ring<\/a>created by a talented T1D.\u00a0And if you\u2019re looking for some spangly-dangly diabetes to grace your ears with, check out these earrings made from insulin pump supplies<\/a>(also comes with instructions on how to make your own).<\/p>\n

Are you an insulin bottle hoader?\u00a0 You can take those empty bottles of Humalog or Fiasp<\/a>and make your own insulin bottle lights!\u00a0Some careful assembly required for this conversation starter, but the end result is enlightening<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

When it comes to the things we can\u2019t recycle or reuse, properly disposing of used sharps (pen needles, lancets, syringes, etc), is important to make sure you\u2019re responsibly managing that waste.\u00a0 Check out SafeNeedleDisposal.org<\/a>to see how and where sharps can be disposed of in your town.\u00a0<\/p>\n

And lastly, but most importantly, if you have unexpired insulin, glucose meters, test strips, lancing devices, pen needle tips, glucagon, ketone strips, and other diabetes supplies that you are willing to donate<\/a>, Insulin For Life in the US accepts donations by mail.\u00a0 They have a shipping form you can download<\/a>to make things easier, and you\u2019ll just need to bring your supplies to the post office.\u00a0 \u00a0(Note:\u00a0they do not accept insulin pump supplies at this time.)<\/p>\n

Oh, and today would also be a great day to remember to turn off the lights when you leave a room, and to make sure you aren\u2019t leaving the faucet running while you brush your teeth.\u00a0Because it\u2019s not just your diabetes that needs a little love here and there.\u00a0 The Earth could use a hug these days, too.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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