[Diabetes-talk] Inconsistent Readings with the Prodigy

Tue Nov 2 21:58:20 UTC 2010

Vince has great suggestions although warm water helps me.  I'd also suggest your client set her lancet device to maximum penetration.  It'll sting but she'll know she got enough blood.

Mike

On Nov 2, 2010, at 14:08, "Lucy.Alexander Mercer" <Lucy.Alexander.Mercer at tn.gov> wrote:

> Thanks so much.  I really did not feel that the meter was the issue but just did not have enough knowledge to trouble shoot this situation.  She has stopped using the Prodigy, which scares me because her husband seemed to have dementia and her son, who lives with them and is sighted, may not always be around when she needs to test.  Two diabetic comas in six months and no trust in a meter would terrify me.  I have no idea how long she has been diabetic.  Again, I appreciate your suggestions and will pass them along to her.  
> 
>>>> 
> From:    Vincent Chaney <vgc732 at optonline.net>
> To:    Diabetes Talk for the Blind <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Date:    11/2/2010 3:53 PM
> Subject:    Re: [Diabetes-talk] Inconsistent Readings with the Prodigy
> 
> Lucy,
> 
> May I offer an answer to your question from the details you have provided.
> With all blood glucose meters, the first step to testing is to wash your 
> hands in warm water. You are not supposed to use hot water. *If you do not 
> wash your hands, you may get false readings higher than your true blood 
> glucose level. If you have hand cream on, have touched food, glue or 
> anything chemically that could elevate your level, your result would be off 
> and likely high. You mentioned your client has been blind for six months but 
> not how long a diabetic. If she is able to recognize a low-sugar episode and 
> does not have hypoglycemic unawareness, you need to believe in the tingles, 
> muscle twitching or sweating you may have if you may not have remembered to 
> wash or able to properly think in the testing due to your sugar level. This 
> would not be due to the accuracy from the meters.
> If I can offer an example of not washing my hands prior to a test...
> Once at work I got a reading in the mid 300s, but did not feel like I was 
> high. I was actually a little puzzled and thought through what may have 
> caused my reading. With no true cause, I was thinking while I began to sip 
> my morning coffee. Hmm, did I touch something? I went to the rest-room and 
> returned to my desk to find my sugar at 150. I then realized I had gotten 
> milk on my finger tips when I was getting my coffee. This was one of many 
> examples I have found to give high levels when testing.
> 
> Vinny
> Vincent Chaney Jr
> NFB Diabetes Action Network (DAN) Board of Directors
> NFBNJ Diabetes Division President
> NJAGDU (NFBNJ Association of Guide Dog Users) Division President
> NFBNJ Technology Division Vice President
> NFBNJ Resolutions Committee Member
> NFBNJ.ORG Webmaster
> Mail: vgc732 at optonline.net 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Lucy.Alexander Mercer" <Lucy.Alexander.Mercer at tn.gov>
> To: <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, November 02, 2010 3:22 PM
> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Inconsistent Readings with the Prodigy
> 
> 
> Hi, list!  I work as a Rehabilitation Instructor and from time to time 
> purchase talking glucometers for clients.  Our agency policy is that 
> Instructors do not teach clients how to use these devices but ask that home 
> health or nurses or other med professionals provide that type of 
> instruction.  I also do not have diabetes; thus, although I have some 
> appreciation for the effort needed to manage diabetes, I cannot sympathize 
> and am still in the learning process.
> Recently, I met a lady 70+ years-old who has lost her vision during the past 
> six months due to episodes of extremely low blood sugar.  She got a reading 
> of 70 with the Prodigy when the actual reading was 25.  She ended up 
> hospitalized in a coma and is now scared the Prodigy is not accurate and 
> will not use it.  How often do meters give incorrect readings?  Has anyone 
> had this issue with the Prodigy?  what can be done to minimize such events? 
> I would really like to be able to offer her some genuine assurance that the 
> Prodigy or other accessible glucometer will provide accurate info on a 
> consistent basis.
> 
> Thanks,
> Lucy
> 
> 
> 
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