[Diabetes-talk] Inconsistent Readings with the Prodigy

[Lucy.Alexander Mercer]

Thanks to all who have offered opinions and suggestions.  These are helpful.

Priscilla, I think the next reading was taken at the hospital but am not sure.  I got the impression that not much time elapse between the home reading and the trip to the hospital due to unconsciousness.  And, now that I said that, I am not sure that the next reading was not taken with another meter in the home.  I went to her home with the purpose of conducting an independent living assessment to determine if she required services and the meter was a small part of our conversation.  I realized quickly that with my current knowledge, I was not going to be very helpful to her, but I knew whom to ask.  Congrats, list!

I did tell her that a meter will not give an exact reading every time and encouraged her to take a second reading if she believes the first to be inaccurate.  she has an inaccessible meter that she uses now with her son's assistance.  I suggested two tests and comparing the results between meters.  I am hoping she will see that they are similar more than they are not and use the Prodigy.

Thanks so much!
Lucy 

>>> 
From: 	Priscilla McKinley <priscilla.mckinley at gmail.com>
To:	Diabetes Talk for the Blind <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
Date: 	11/2/2010 5:06 PM
Subject: 	Re: [Diabetes-talk] Inconsistent Readings with the Prodigy

I've had the Prodigy be wrong on a glucose, but never on the high
side.  Ordinarily, I can tell when the meter is going to be off when I
don't get enough blood right away and it takes a couple of minutes to
get enough blood to set off the meter.  The glucose will be on the low
side when I don't have enough blood right away.  I always recheck in
this case, and the glucose is always higher the second time.


So if she checked the sugar and it was 70, who checked it the second
time?  The glucose could drop from 70 to 25 in a matter of minutes if
she had just taken her insulin.

Priscilla



On 11/2/10, Lucy.Alexander Mercer <Lucy.Alexander.Mercer at tn.gov> wrote:
> 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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