[Diabetes-talk] Guidance on talking glucose monitor

Sat Apr 3 06:35:54 UTC 2010

Tamera:

If you truly believe you have been put down, I hereby publicly apologize as 
I also do to Cheryl. In fact, I share the dissatisfaction that you and many 
others have with bg meters -- but I am dissatisfied with absolutely every 
one on the market. What you chose to view as "put-downs" was more a word of 
caution. I think the jury is out as to whether the solo meter is more 
accurate -- time will tell. If it is and if the firm manufacturing it has 
not infringed patents -- an allegation I am in no position either to affirm 
or deny -- I would be the first to recommend it.

Like you, I fervently hope that this list does not degenerate into personal 
attacks; neither I nor David Andrews would tolerate them. But we must make a 
distinction between expression of opinions -- even unto bluntness -- and 
personal attacks. But *all* of us must be free to express our opinions 
frankly and boldly for otherwise none of us will be in a position to learn 
new things. For instance, I just read in a post on ACB-Diabetics that the 
Solo Meter claims to have more electrodes on the strip to try to ensure that 
we don't get erroneous readings from too little blood on the strip. If this 
is so, BRAVO! I suggested something like this to DDI 2 years ago. And I also 
(like many others) pointed out that the strip ejection mechanism caused 
problems.

I am in no position to comment upon your readings. AS I say, I'm not 
satisfied with *any* meter readings of *any* meter. But my experience is 
that with enough blood on the strip (and I have my lancet set on max), my 
readings are pretty consistent. When I was trying to use a small sample, I 
had a helluva time with inaccurate readings and sent an Autocode back 
because of it before I figured out what was going on. But, like much else in 
diabetes, Your Mileage May Vary (Y M M V).

On another subject, it would be an interesting exercise to figure out if 
meters and insulin pumps are covered under HR-4533. I haven't seen the 
actual legislative language so I cannot venture an intelligent opinion.

Mike Freeman, President
Diabetes Action Network
National Federation of the Blind

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tamera" <fidano at comcast.net>
To: "Diabetes Talk for the Blind" <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, April 02, 2010 8:09 PM
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Guidance on talking glucose monitor

> Amen again!  I left this list 2 years ago because of  egotitistical
> opinionated response and the reason I came back inquiring about an update 
> on
> the PV, is exactly  my  complaint when it first came out and was 
> proposed...
> there were strip issues then and the  eject strip mechanism I felt was a
> problem, if not already... on waiting to happen.
> Now, Kelly was responsive in getting me updated meters, but I still have 
> to
> wonder and  have had some confirmation on the accuracy of the test results
> from the PV. I have seen plenty of  people who did not  like the
> accucheck/voice mate, but in all God's truth... my a1C's were  never in 
> the
> range I get now with the PV, and  according to it my testing's average is
> way off the A1C.
> Well, sure there can be operator  issues but I am alone much of the time
> and I have to base my results  on  just that the meter, and the results 
> are
> how I dose.
>
> What might be nice is if  a president  got some social skill training, I
> don't donate to the DAN,  but  won't either based on the  posts from 2 
> years
> ago and now. It might be a good idea for those who are  members to 
> seriously
> consider a network for diabetics is that of those who stay informed but 
> also
> know how to respond without putting you down and degrading you and a human
> being... afterall, isn't that what the NFb is supposed to stand for
> So when is the next election for the DAN officers?
> no 1 diabetic is the same, we all have various levels of experiences with
> our disease and it varies  as much with our singular lifestyles. 
> therefore..
> there is no one resolution for us all... but sure would be nice to be
> responded to as credible  human beings and  get some better 
> responsiveness, especially from our president?
>
> to developing a meter that  not only is accessible but once again... is
> accurate as  one might hopefully expect!!!!
> Tamera
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "eileen scrivani" <etscrivani at verizon.net>
> To: "Diabetes Talk for the Blind" <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, April 02, 2010 7:03 AM
> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Guidance on talking glucose monitor
>
>
>> Mike:
>> I will address 2 of your messages in this one reply.
>>
>> First, the PV was promoted all over this list as having the NFB's input
>> into the design and development of it if I am recalling correctly.  DDI,
>> if I am not mistaken, also were given some kind of acknowledgement/award
>> at a national NFB convention.  I did not say the NFB was given any form 
>> of
>> funding or monies by DDI, but if the NFB is promoting themselves as 
>> having
>> played a large part in the PV's development, doesn't it set up in the
>> minds of many people how wonderful the NFB is and that they  do so much
>> good?  It does work as an excellent public relations promotion and image
>> builder for NFB.
>> I would think, since you've been the one to bring up the subject, the two
>> images I stated could possibly prompt people to make more donations to 
>> NFB
>> chapters/divisions and that's okay because that's good smart business for
>> either a for profit corporation or a non-profit charity like the NFB. 
>> Any
>> company/organization will play these things to the utmost for their own
>> benefit & promotion.  That is, however, a very different thing than being
>> given money by the company developing the meter and I never, never said
>> that happened!  I did say it makes the NFB look good and it does.
>>
>> ACB, Huh?  What does that have to do with anything in this conversation?
>> Did I mention the ACB in any of my emails?  Do you have some kind of 
>> issue
>> with me that I am not aware of?
>>
>> Going back to some of your other remarks , you seem to have issues with
>> the new Solo meter, because it wasn't done "under your watch!"  Are you
>> the only blind diabetic??  I think not.  From what I have read here both
>> Cheryl and Vinny have had contact with ADS and would think that both 
>> these
>> people with long-term diabetes would have some excellent input on the 
>> Solo
>> meter's design/development.  They too are not the only other blind
>> diabetics, but seem to be open to giving encouragement to companies that
>> want to bring new accessible meters to us.
>>
>> Isn't it possible that other blindness organizations have had input into
>> the development of the Solo.  There are medical providers that have blind
>> patients and could have also had some good input into the development of
>> this meter.  The NFB does not know all that has gone into the design of
>> the Solo.  Frankly, so long as I have an accessible glucose meter that is
>> both accurate and easy to use I could not care less how it came about. 
>> Do
>> you know for a fact if the Solometer company has blind/vi/disabled
>> employees? Does it really matter if a blind or sighted person programmed
>> the meter? What is important is that we, the end-users of the product 
>> have
>> a quality device that does not impact our health negatively.  It would be
>> a good thing to have some say into how a meter works or what it does, but
>> I have the impression that ADS & Solo are open to input from people who
>> are using the new meter.  What more can we expect with any accessible
>> meter?
>>
>> Oh, excuse me, but since I am only a mere mortal and not an NFB Division
>> President, I'm only a diabetic of 41, almost 42, years, I can't know as
>> much as you about these issues and the frustrations a blind diabetic 
>> faces
>> in living with the disease as a blind person for the past 29 years, 
>> right?
>> And, yes, it is my personal opinion that it is a very great disgrace that
>> the number of accessible meters to blind diabetics has in the time I've
>> been blind remained at negligible numbers.  Again, diabetes is more often
>> than not promoted in numerous studies, advertisements, and articles as
>> being the leading cause of blindness.  Taking that into consideration, it
>> remains shocking to me that there's only 2, maybe 3 companies taking this
>> into account when developing meter after meter.  Sighted diabetics even
>> have choices into what color they want there glucose meter to be.  In
>> today's business world, both economic consciousness and  political
>> correctness are driving factors in what companies do and how they act.
>> Decisions to make a product that may not have high market demand,in a 
>> case
>> like this is just "good business" practice.  An accessible meter would
>> help blind diabetics to maintain good health, & reduce further
>> complications.  Thus, costs to insurance companies, medicare and tax
>> payers would also be reduced.
>>
>> Eileen
>>
>>
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