[Diabetes-talk] Legislation

Mike Freeman k7uij at panix.com
Tue Apr 6 03:41:30 UTC 2010 

The problem is that averages depend upon when the readings were taken. To 
truly get a scientifically valid idea of averages, you'd either need 
reliable continuous bg readings over a long time period (currently not 
doable in most cases) or a set of averages consisting of averages before 
each meal, a bedtime average and an overall average and even to get this 
right, one would need to have all meals eaten (that is, no skipped meals) so 
all the averages would be taken from an identical number of readings. Some 
meters for the sighted allow averages to be broken out by time but 
accessible meters haven't gotten there yet and only a meter not available 
here in the U.s. allows one to delete erroneous readings from the averages.

Still, an average gives a *very* rough idea of how one is doing but I don't 
believe it is nearly as meaningful as many think it is.

BTW, my doctor never looks at averages; just the overall pattern.

Different strokes ...

Mike

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "cheryl echevarria" <cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com>
To: "Diabetes Talk for the Blind" <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, April 05, 2010 7:19 PM
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Legislation


> no actually the averages are what the doctors look at, A pattern and see 
> when the sugar are going higher and lower.  Because like you have said 
> before the numbers are never accurate anyway so we get an about or average 
> no.  So yes averages are good or they wouldn't be there in the first 
> place.
>
> Cheryl Echevarria
> Independent Travel Consultant
> http://Echevarriatravel.com
> 1-866-580-5574
>
> http://blog.echevarriatravel.com
> Reservations at echevarriatravel.com
> Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Montrose Travel 
> CST-1018299-10
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Mike Freeman" <k7uij at panix.com>
> To: "Diabetes Talk for the Blind" <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, April 05, 2010 10:09 PM
> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Legislation
>
>
>> Eileen:
>>
>> Thank you for the additional information. One opinion and one piece of
>> information:
>>
>> Opinion: I believe that no assumption should be made as to preferred 
>> lancet
>> type depending upon vision. Put another way, I believe that ADS should 
>> offer
>> the normal spring-loaded lancet for everyone unless requested otherwise.
>>
>> Information: The Prodigy Voice also has a "control mode" wherein a 
>> reading
>> won't get counted in the averages.
>>
>> I think it's cool that the Solo has a "before " or "after meal" notation.
>> Although averages mean less than most people think, I do wish we could 
>> get
>> talking meters available here in the U.S. to allow us to delete selected
>> readings from the memory. Only the SensoCard Plus, available in the U.K.
>> allows this.
>>
>> Mike
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "eileen scrivani" <etscrivani at verizon.net>
>> To: "Diabetes Talk for the Blind" <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Monday, April 05, 2010 2:44 PM
>> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Legislation
>>
>>
>> > Hi Vinny:
>> >
>> > I spoke to Tina this afternoon.  Perhaps it was something I over looked 
>> > or
>> > did not even hear her say when I spoke with her last week.  If I
>> > understood Tina today, the single use pressure lancets are what they
>> > offer/provide to their visually impaired customers.  If I knew last 
>> > week
>> > that I'd be getting them with the shipment, I would have told her to 
>> > leave
>> > them out.  I told her today I can't stand them so she's sending me some 
>> > of
>> > the more traditional style lancets.  So, yes, you're correct no one is
>> > forced to use them.  I was for a short time afraid that these were the 
>> > up
>> > & comeing new trend in lancing supplies.  If anyone else is going for 
>> > the
>> > Solo, just tell them you'd prefer thestandard lancets & auto type 
>> > pens --
>> > if that's what you in fact want.
>> >
>> > So far so good with the Solo, but I only did two test this afternoon. 
>> > will
>> > get back after a few more days of use.  The storage/carrying case is
>> > fantastic!  Holds every thing -- meter, lancing device, control 
>> > solution,
>> > strips and no risk of the thing turning on when you are traveling with 
>> > it.
>> > Its about the size of a paperback novel we might have thrown into a 
>> > pocket
>> > book when we could see to read!
>> >
>> > Meter also came with a USB cable for connecting to a computer. 
>> > Software &
>> > users manual are available on the www.solometer.com web site for 
>> > download.
>> > So far so good.
>> >
>> > I like the fact too that before you test or run a control, you can note
>> > for that one test if it is a Control solution test (it won't be 
>> > included
>> > in your averages), you can mark tests of your choice as either a before 
>> > or
>> > after meal test if that is something you want called out for the 
>> > doctor's
>> > notice. Just have to get the software and play with that for a bit too.
>> >
>> > Eileen
>> > ---- Original Message ----- 
>> > From: "Vincent Chaney" <vgc732 at optonline.net>
>> > To: "Diabetes Talk for the Blind" <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> > Sent: Monday, April 05, 2010 4:52 PM
>> > Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Legislation
>> >
>> >
>> >> Eileen, Joyce and anyone who may be miss understanding...
>> >>
>> >> The ADS company is offering a single use lancets which is in my
>> >> experience,
>> >> very new. They are even a little too light for me to use during the 
>> >> cold
>> >> months in New Jersey with my nearly 48 years with diabetes. Jordan 
>> >> Benis
>> >> and
>> >> his company were offering these to us and they were going to cover the
>> >> expense but we did not have to take these. The ADS company would 
>> >> actually
>> >> save money if we choose one of the pen loaded versions of the lancets.
>> >> So, just to repeat, no one has to receive, use or be forced into using 
>> >> a
>> >> very simple lancet but you may wish to try.
>> >>
>> >> I hope this settles everyone as to the lancets. Should anyone have any
>> >> other
>> >> questions, please feel free to write to the list or me directly at:
>> >> vgc732 at optonline.net
>> >>
>> >> Vinny
>> >> Vincent Chaney Jr
>> >> NFB Diabetes Action Network (DAN) Board
>> >> NFBNJ Diabetes Division President
>> >> NJAGDU Division President
>> >> NFBNJ Technology Division Vice President
>> >> NFBNJ.ORG Webmaster
>> >> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> >> From: "eileen scrivani" <etscrivani at verizon.net>
>> >> To: "Diabetes Talk for the Blind" <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> >> Sent: Monday, April 05, 2010 9:40 AM
>> >> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Legislation
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> My doctor was going to write a prescription for these types of 
>> >> lancets,
>> >> but
>> >> I did not and still do not want them.  It reminded me of the 
>> >> spear-like
>> >> lancets that were around when I was first introduced to home glucose
>> >> monitoring.  I like the lancet devices that when you push a button it
>> >> sticks
>> >> your finger for you.  I don't have it in me to purposefully push my
>> >> finger
>> >> onto a needle.  I hope we don't get forced into using the manual 
>> >> method.
>> >> Because a few people that have strong voices say they are fine and
>> >> usable,
>> >> doesn't make them the lancette of choice for everyone.  My tendancy is 
>> >> to
>> >> pull away from these when trying to stick my own fingertips.
>> >>
>> >> The nurse in my doc's office uses them for finger sticks, but she's a
>> >> nurse
>> >> and doesn't have problems jabbing at people.  I, for one, do not want 
>> >> to
>> >> use
>> >> the single-use, pressure-activated lancets.
>> >>
>> >> Eileen
>> >>
>> >> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> >> From: "cheryl echevarria" <cherylandmaxx at hotmail.com>
>> >> To: "Diabetes Talk for the Blind" <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> >> Sent: Sunday, April 04, 2010 5:52 PM
>> >> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Legislation
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>> no.
>> >>>
>> >>> It is a throw away lancet, you take one take off the plastic top 
>> >>> which
>> >>> comes right off, the you figure your finger so that its up against 
>> >>> the
>> >>> place where you want it, and then press, it doesn't just go off by
>> >>> itself,
>> >>> very safe.
>> >>>
>> >>> Cheryl Echevarria
>> >>> Independent Travel Consultant
>> >>> http://Echevarriatravel.com
>> >>> 1-866-580-5574
>> >>>
>> >>> http://blog.echevarriatravel.com
>> >>> Reservations at echevarriatravel.com
>> >>> Affiliated as an Independent Contractor with Montrose Travel
>> >>> CST-1018299-10
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> >>> From: "Mike Freeman" <k7uij at panix.com>
>> >>> To: "Diabetes Talk for the Blind" <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> >>> Sent: Sunday, April 04, 2010 5:40 PM
>> >>> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Legislation
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>>> What is a single-use, pressure-activated lancet? If it's what I 
>> >>>> think
>> >>>> it
>> >>>> is,
>> >>>> wouldn't it present a problem of activation while one was still
>> >>>> positioning
>> >>>> the lancet device?
>> >>>>
>> >>>> Mike
>> >>>>
>> >>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> >>>> From: "Jordan Benis" <jbenis at advanceddiabeticsolutions.net>
>> >>>> To: <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> >>>> Sent: Thursday, April 01, 2010 10:14 AM
>> >>>> Subject: [Diabetes-talk] Legislation
>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>> > Cheryl,
>> >>>> >
>> >>>> >
>> >>>> >
>> >>>> > You are right. 'Pure-Play' Medicare will reimburse for 
>> >>>> > fully-audible
>> >>>> > glucometers. However, with Medicare Advantage Plans, even our
>> >>>> > Medicare
>> >>>> > patients are now being affected. From the commercial insurance 
>> >>>> > side
>> >>>> > of
>> >>>> > the
>> >>>> > business, it is really driven by the policy itself. You are right
>> >>>> > again.
>> >>>> > At
>> >>>> > ADS, our hands are tied behind our backs; however, we will do
>> >>>> > everything
>> >>>> > we
>> >>>> > can to open up access. Many times ADS is told just 'NO'. 
>> >>>> > Individuals
>> >>>> > with
>> >>>> > visual impairment have to use whatever meter is on formulary. Many
>> >>>> > times
>> >>>> > my
>> >>>> > team gets lucky, after jumping through hoops, and having 
>> >>>> > physicians
>> >>>> > fill
>> >>>> > out
>> >>>> > 'Medical Necessity' forms. Luckily, we have the team and resources 
>> >>>> > to
>> >>>> > devote
>> >>>> > to this cause. And we will continue to devote time, resources, and
>> >>>> > money
>> >>>> > to
>> >>>> > open up access because it is the RIGHT thing to do.
>> >>>> >
>> >>>> >
>> >>>> >
>> >>>> > It is the same way we offer the single-use, pressure activated,
>> >>>> > lancets
>> >>>> > to
>> >>>> > our customers with visual impairment. Again, they are reimbursed 
>> >>>> > at
>> >>>> > the
>> >>>> > same
>> >>>> > rate as the generic lancets, but it is the right thing to do. I 
>> >>>> > also
>> >>>> > feel
>> >>>> > strongly that any kind of audible meter needs to have an audible
>> >>>> > 'error'
>> >>>> > message warning. If a blind individual uses a talking or fully
>> >>>> > audible
>> >>>> > meter
>> >>>> > today, except for SOLO, and they don't obtain a large enough blood
>> >>>> > sample,
>> >>>> > the meters will display an E4 error message or they give you a 
>> >>>> > FALSE
>> >>>> > low.
>> >>>> >
>> >>>> >
>> >>>> >
>> >>>> > It is critical to the safety of individuals with visual impairment
>> >>>> > that
>> >>>> > they
>> >>>> > are notified audibly they have not received enough blood on the
>> >>>> > testing
>> >>>> > strip. If a meter gives a blind individual a FALSE LOW test result
>> >>>> > because
>> >>>> > they did not obtain enough blood, think about the ramifications 
>> >>>> > this
>> >>>> > can
>> >>>> > an
>> >>>> > individual if they take action on this test result. Just something 
>> >>>> > to
>> >>>> > think
>> >>>> > about.
>> >>>> >
>> >>>> >
>> >>>> >
>> >>>> >
>> >>>> >
>> >>>> > _______________________________________________
>> >>>> > Diabetes-talk mailing list
>> >>>> > Diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org
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>> >>>> > for
>> >>>> > Diabetes-talk:
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>> >>>>
>> >>>>
>> >>>> _______________________________________________
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>> >>>>
>> >>>
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>> >>
>> >>
>> >> _______________________________________________
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>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
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>> >
>> >
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