[Diabetes-talk] Responses to talking blood glucose meters and breakfasts

[Julie Kline]

Ok, here are my thoughts on talking meters and breakfast items.  I'm new to
diabetes too and I ended up with a prodigy talking meter because it was
heavily recommended by people here.  My pharmacist thought the solo was the
way to go because he said he felt it was easier than the prodigy, but it
ended up that the prodigy is what insurance paid for, so that's what I got.
The phone support for it leaves a lot to be desired, and there are no
Braille instructions for the operation of the meter itself.  I sent an
e-mail to prodigy about this issue and asked if they had directions in a
format other than print, but that was over a month ago and they never did
bother to respond.  I still have frustrations with the meter's use.  It both
upsets and amazes me that with the Braille label on the box and this 1800
number to call for staff members who are supposedly specially trained in its
use how uninformed the phone staff is and also that there are no audio
instructions for operating the meter itself.  I still don't know which
buttons do what and how to set up most of the functions.  So for technical
support or even basic questions, I've found the prodigy disappointing.
Also, getting new test strips and lancets for it proved to be a major
headache for my local pharmacy.  They kept insisting they didn't have these
materials in stock and that I needed to call the manufacturer, who told me
they didn't have it either and I needed to check with the pharmacy again.  I
finally got the new supplies but it took some doing.

Speaking of talking products, I read somewhere in bridging the gap that
Bayer makes some kind of device that doesn't make you stick your fingers and
you can still check your sugar.  Any idea if this device is accessible?  How
about any of these glucose monitors that work on a continuous basis, or
patches that go onto or under your skin.  Any idea if these are accessible
too?

Ok, on to breakfast topics.  With my busy work schedule there just isn't
time for things like making oatmeal.  I don't get up early enough for that
in the mornings to make that work and am usually rushing out the door to get
to work on time.  In saying that, I have been eating the Jimmy Dean
breakfast bowls.  I'm aloud up to 45 grams of carbohydrates at meals and
this falls under that number.  With it, I drink something like a crystal
light drink, maybe a lemonade or orange juice flavor so it's almost like
having lemonade or orange juice again.  I gave both up on my diagnosis.

Oh, and I hate skim milk!  1% is about all you'll get me to do and that's a
maybe.  My mom's funny.  She'll drink that skim milk and put ice in it.  I
asked her why she just didn't get herself a glass of water and save herself
the taste.

Ok, I guess I've run my mouth enough for one night.  Have a good evening.

Julie