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Sterile, or not?

Lastly, we touch upon sterile and non-sterile swabs and

difference between the two types.

Cotton gauze dressings are among the oldest medical

supplies, with evidence of its use dating back as far as

Ancient Egypt. They are typically a strip of woven or

unwoven cotton fabric that serves to clean and protect

wounds in first aid and medical settings. These nonadherent

first aid items are versatile and come in many

forms like swabs, buds, rolls, sponges and sterile/nonsterile pads.

"Sterile dressings undergo a thorough sterilisation

process to achieve their designation. They are guaranteed

to be free from germs, bacteria or dirt, making them

suitable for use on open wounds. The sterility of the

bandage reduces the risk of infection after the wound has

been cleaned.

To protect wounds from contaminants and to maintain

sterility, sterile dressings come individually wrapped

and sealed.

Non-sterile dressings haven't been through the strict

process of sanitisation that sterile dressings have. As

sterility can't be guaranteed with these dressings, they

shouldn't be used on open wounds. They are better

suited for closed wounds, like bruises, or to secure other

dressings in place.

Non-sterile dressings don't require special storage and

tend to be cheaper than sterile ones, making them more

convenient and economical to use.

The difference between sterile and non-sterile

dressings is described nicely by www.firstaid.co.uk, to

read the article, click HERE.

The charity has a number of regional Facebook groups

in addition to the central Facebook page with lots of

information and opportunities to take part in events

and discussion and feedback your experiences. Tap in

Diabetes UK and put your region into your search bar to

find the right group for you.

Spotting an

infection

Clear signs -- sore, itchy = keep an eye on

it. If it starts to feel hot, you need a doctor's

appointment in person for a visual check and

potentially an immediate prescription for

antibiotics and keep a really good eye on the

site. If anything else changes then, get back to a

doctor ASAP.

EDITOR'S NOTE

Check with the supplier of your product as to the

details of the swab that should be used to clean

your product if it being cleaned to then be used

again. The content of alcohol can vary (expressed

as a percentage) and the higher ones can damage

plastic over time on, say, a transmitter.

*Stoma, stoma surgery: A stoma is where a

section of bowel is brought out through an

opening on your stomach area (abdomen). Poo

(waste) is collected in a bag attached to the skin

around your stoma. A stoma can be temporary or

permanent. A temporary stoma is formed to allow

the bowel to heal after surgery.

need to know

Useful links

Several general websites also sell forms of adhesive,

adhesive removers and swabs. For example, Amazon offer

a wide variety of adhesives for major brands at varying

prices.

Abbott

Abbott, which supplies the various FreeStyle Libre CGMs,

advises using an alcohol wipe after you have washed the

area. To see more, click HERE.

Dexcom

Head over to the Dexcom site to have a look at

information and where to purchase the barrier film