[Diabetes-talk] Prodigy Meter problem.

[Mike Freeman]

Alan:

I agree with you in part. But if we apply *that* reasoning, we wouldn't
watch TV, listen to our iPods, drive our cars or much else beyond riding a
horse. Oh yes; horses become ill, too, don't they?

I don't blame you for being uncomfortable; I raised Holy Hell when I
discovered the calendar error. That one shouldn't have gotten past
alpha-testing. But have you looked at the FDA's recalls lately? Strips,
meters, lancets, even insulins have had them.

WE live in an imperfect world.k

Mike


-----Original Message-----
From: diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Alan Wheeler
Sent: Saturday, June 11, 2011 8:48 AM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Prodigy Meter problem.

Mike,
I appreciate and respect your advice here.

That said, your very reasoning is specifically why I was willing to go ahead
and trust the talking meter from Advocate. Because I keep a written record
of my blood sugar levels and don't, necessarily, "need" the memory function
of the Prodigy Voice.

Also, I realize the calendar function may not impact the reading of blood
sugar levels, but my concern is that if one thing can go wrong with a meter,
why not two...or three...or four? Okay, yes, it is slightly cynical, I
admit, but if one thing can malfunction, why should I trust it to not
malfunction in other areas? Granted, I don't seek an answer to that, it's
more a rhetorical question than anything. 

I will talk to Kelly on Monday, barring any progress on other fronts.


-----Original Message-----
From: diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Mike Freeman
Sent: Saturday, June 11, 2011 10:43 AM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Prodigy Meter problem.

Alan et al:

Yes; you are all thinking with your spleens and not your heads. In other
words, you are letting emotions get the better of you rather than thinking
this thing through. In fact, I would have told you *exactly* what the tech
support person told you. Your readings will not be affected although their
order in the meter memory will be. This is why I say over and over and over
and over that *every* meter user shouldn't trust the meter memory (or even a
computer log gained from the meter) but should keep a *by-hand* log of all
meter readings. Despite the claims of some insurers and meter manufacturers,
this has the added advantage that you can weed out erroneous readings.

All that being said, here's what happened. The chip that governs the
calendar function is probably not the one governing interpretation of meter
readings. When the prodigy Voice first came out, there was a mistake in
their calendar algorithm that didn't take account of leapyear in 1988. This
was corrected in manufactured units but didn't harm in the slightest the
ability of the test units to get accurate meter readings. This *may* be
similar to what's happening with your meter although I just checked my meter
and it didn't manifest this problem.

You should probably talk to Kelly Massaro-Neil on Monday and get a
replacement for the meter. Until the new meter arrives, however, there's no
need to panic or blow a headgasket! Just take your readings and -- gasp --
*write* *them* *down*, noting the correct date and time. And before someone
pipes up and says the Solo V2 doesn't have this problem, I'd say we'll never
know as it doesn't even *tell* you the time of readings from memory even
though the print display has them. In fairness to BioSense, however, I
understand that this problem will be corrected in the next Solo V2 meter
release.

Bottom line: relax; these are electromechanical devices with all that this
implies in terms of fallibility. Frankly, there isn't a meter on the market
(except for one that costs over $600) that is *truly* accurate -- protests
of the manufacturers to the contrary notwithstanding.

Mike Freeman, President
Diabetes Action Network
National Federation of the Blind


-----Original Message-----
From: diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Alan Wheeler
Sent: Saturday, June 11, 2011 4:53 AM
To: diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Diabetes-talk] Prodigy Meter problem.

Has anyone been having problems with their prodigy meter stating the wrong
day of the week when it says the date?

This morning when I went to test it said it was Friday, June 11, 2011
instead of Saturday. I called their technical support and they *SAID* it
shouldn't affect my results, but I have to question technology that can't
even give me a correct date. This in spite of changing the batteries to be
sure.

Any thoughts?

Alan


"Grace is getting a high five from God even when you know yourself to be a
sinner." Smuts Van Rooyen Seventh-day Adventist Kansas/Nebraska camp meeting
Psalms 33:3 Psalms 150:5


Alan Wheeler
Lincoln, Nebraska
awheeler65 at windstream.net 


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