Earlier last month I had to have a ton of lab work ran. Two of them were for my blood sugar levels. Imagine my horror when both came back sky high, as well in repeated tests, and I was diagnosed as a Type 2 Diabetic. I have a few family members that are diabetic, but I was hoping that I would dodge this bullet. While I don't have to have insulin injections, yet, I do have to check my blood sugar three times a day. Enter in BD Individually Foil Wrapped Alcohol Swabs.

I'm lucky to some extent. My Primary Care Physician and the Diabetic Nurse at the Naval Clinic that I am assigned to, put together a "kit" for me, at the Navy's expense, which included the BD Individually Foil Wrapped Alcohol Swabs. For some reason it would have never dawned on me to pick them up. After all, it's just a poke on the finger, right? Wrong! Any time you intentionally stick something into your skin, be it for an injection or a lancet, you should always clean the area first to help prevent infection, especially if you are doing it several times a day. I was also told that I could wash my hands in warm, soapy water, which also would bring the blood to the surface of my fingertips, but lets face it. You aren't always next to the sink! My kit goes with me so that if we happen to be out when it comes time to check my blood sugar levels, I can still get a reading without having to chase down a sink.

The BD Individually Foil Wrapped Alcohol Swabs, the ones that I received anyway, come in a box of 100 swabs. They are fastened together in sets of 2, which can easily be seperated by the perferation. The foil pouches are only 2 1/4" wide by 1 3/4" high, and not much thicker than paper thin. They are big enough to do the job, but small enough to easily fit in my monitor case or in the pocket of my jeans or purse. I keep 10 or so in my case at all times. You simply tear open the foil packet, remove the alcohol swap and wipe the area! Use a little care if it is on a scrape or cut as it is a alcohol swab so it could, and probably will, sting.

The BD Individually Foil Wrapped Alcohol Swabs, as the name suggests, are foil lined to keep the swabs from drying out. The active ingredient is Isoprpyl Alcohol, 70% v/v, so they are very effective in cleaning your skin not only for injections but also for cleaning any minor cuts or scraps. If you have a child, or are yourself accident prone, these are wonderful to have in your medicine cabinet for any boo-boos that come along. Lets face it. These little packs are less intimidating that a bottle of alcohol and a wad of cotton balls, not to mention they don't leave residue like cotton balls sometimes do!

If you have a First Aid Kit, not to mention a kit for checking your blood sugar or giving insulin, they wouldn't be complete without BD Individually Foil Wrapped Alcohol Swabs. They clean without leaving the area soaked and are small enough to carry anywhere!


Related Reviews:

Accu-Chek Advantage Blood Glucose Meter Kit

Accu-Chek Comfort Curve Blood Glucose Test Strips

Accu-Chek Soft Touch Blood Glucose Lancet Device

MPD Ultra Thin Purple Lancet


Recommended: Yes