[Diabetes-talk] Inconsistent Readings with the Prodigy

[NCBootman]

Lucy,

Tell the lady that Prodigy is made to national standards and is reliable. 
Any meter will give a wrong reading from time to time. How you feel is far 
more important than a number coming out of a machine. At 25, she felt very 
awful! In that case, check again and see how similar the two readings are. 
Also, she needs some information about care of the strips. I use a Clever 
Check but had the same problem with the Prodigy. Extreme hot or cold is 
damaging to strips. I have learned from trial and error that if I pack my 
meter in my bag, put it in the trunk of the car and take a trip in summer, 
those strips will not give valid readings and I need to open a new vial and 
discard those. But, the solution is quite simple. When I travel, my meter is 
now on my belt. If the temperature is ok for us humans, it's ok for strips. 
Nobody told me this but I've learned it. Also, have the lady take her meter 
to her doctor. Test with doctor's meter and immediately test with Prodigy. 
It Will not be the same number. But, it will be within points even 10 or so. 
That much won't harm a person and whose meter is right? We simply don't 
know. It surely would catch a 25 to 70 difference.

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Lucy.Alexander Mercer" <Lucy.Alexander.Mercer at tn.gov>
Sent: Tuesday, November 02, 2010 2:22 PM
To: <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
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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