[Diabetes-talk] gestational diabetes have some questions abouta talking glucose meter

Fri Dec 6 05:56:04 UTC 2013

There are many here who can speak with more wisdom and experience, but
having just had a baby 15 months ago, I understand your concerns. The
best way to deal with this though is to relax, follow what your doctor
prescribes and be in communication with your doctor. Stress actually can
mess your glucose levels, and you're already pregnant, so try to relax
and be positive. Be aware and educate yourself, but don't get caught up
in the what-ifs.

Three things that helped me were frequent testing, exercise and eating
super healthy. Don't do anything without discussing it with your doctor
first, but these things helped me control blood sugars and just helped
with pregnancy in general. And oh, drink a ton of water, grin. Will help
with blood sugars as well as pregnancy in general. I drank about 120
ounces of water a day when pregnant, smile.

Bridgit

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Star Gazer
Sent: Thursday, December 05, 2013 2:25 PM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk]gestational diabetes have some questions
abouta talking glucose meter

Thank you Mike. I'm just trying to do what's best for my baby as
effectiently as possible. Since you're not a mom, and have never been a
mom, you probably don't grasp this, at least not until any children you
have are actually born. 
They told me that one of the risks with gestational diabetes is that my
baby could get too big. I'm planning and hoping to delivery vaginally
and trust me, I don't want to attempt this with a too big baby. I also
don't want my baby to be too big without her systems being mature. If
she's too big, then she's got to come out whether or not her systems are
ready. I'm trying for her sake to keep this from happening. 
You're right though, I'll get this figured out. 

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Mike Freeman
Sent: Thursday, December 05, 2013 3:17 PM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] gestational diabetes have some questions
abouta talking glucose meter

One more thing: while I understand why you might be worried about this,
I think you're obsessing a bit over this. Relax. You'll get the hang of
things and it will all work out. You may be frustrated at first but the
best advice is the usual saw: practice, practice, practice and then
practice, practice, practice some more.

Also, read the booklet I sent you. There's an article by the late Ed
Bryant in there on finger-sticking techniques.

Incidentally, each bottle of strips has a "desicant", i.e., a drying
agent, in it to wick up excess moisture. I suspect that your
difficulties were more lack of practice than bad strips although bad
strips are a possibility. You can't reclaim strips; they work by
chemical action, that is, the strip reacts with the blood you to produce
a small current that your meter reads.

As I say, you'll get the hang of it.

Mike Freeman

P.S. anyone else is welcome to chime in here; all the wisdom in the
Universe didn't arrive when I came on the scene. (big grin)

Happy Holidays, everyone!
-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Star Gazer
Sent: Thursday, December 05, 2013 11:34 AM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] gestational diabetes have some questions
abouta talking glucose meter

I know this. The strips I had came in the mail. Is there any way to make
strips happy? At the time I got the meter, I didn't have a prescription
to get more strips. Once I got the meter, CVS told me they were out of
strips. I could get more but at the time I had to make a decition, I had
no confidence that meter would work. 
So, since my new meter is coming via mail, and it will come with strips,
is there any way I can keep the strips happy if they decide to barf? 
And if no, then why are these strips sent via mail when they won't be in
a climate controlled environment? Why not include a voucher to pick up
strips v. sellingstrips with the meter?

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Mike Freeman
Sent: Thursday, December 05, 2013 1:46 PM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] gestational diabetes have some questions
abouta talking glucose meter

Sure. If you're buying your own strips, you can buy as many as you wish.
If your insurance is buying them, you and your doctor will together
determine how many you usually use or should use each day and the
insurance will assist in paying for the number of strips needed to get
to that goal.

Mike

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Star Gazer
Sent: Thursday, December 05, 2013 10:31 AM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] gestational diabetes have some questions
abouta talking glucose meter

Could be. I didn't have an extra bottle of strips, do they even make
"extras? 

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Mike Freeman
Sent: Thursday, December 05, 2013 1:27 PM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] gestational diabetes have some questions
abouta talking glucose meter

Nope; just try another bottle of strips. However, I suspect it was a
case of technique not matching the meter.

Mike

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Star Gazer
Sent: Thursday, December 05, 2013 10:20 AM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] gestational diabetes have some questions
abouta talking glucose meter

Hmm, interesting. We'd had the meter in the house for awhile. 
So you're saying it may have been bad strips? When the nurse I was
working with on Monday suggested this the rep at ILaA said the strips
were fine, didn't even want to consider the possibility. We couldn't get
more strips so we have no idea if it was bad strips or what. Your theory
is a good one. Is there a way to fix bad strips?

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Mike Freeman
Sent: Thursday, December 05, 2013 12:58 PM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] gestational diabetes have some questions
abouta talking glucose meter

I understand. However, you should know that in most instances, it is
*not* the meter that is at fault when one gets erroneous readings or
can't get a reading but, rather, the strips, assuming you've allowed the
meter ten or twenty minutes to settle down to a working stable working
temperature, i.e., haven't brought it in from outdoors or are just using
it in the house.

Mike

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Star Gazer
Sent: Thursday, December 05, 2013 9:46 AM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] gestational diabetes have some questions
abouta talking glucose meter

Thank you. 
My sister reminded me that when she tried Prodidgy autocode, she also
got the "not enough blood" message. She's a vet tech, and a good one and
knows how to get blood. She thought the error was odd. 
Yet more verification that meter or the one I happened to get was a
lemon. 
I have the Prodidgy Voice on order. Waiting for that sucker to get here.

I'll try your suggestion when it does. 

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Mike Freeman
Sent: Thursday, December 05, 2013 12:36 PM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] gestational diabetes have some questions
abouta talking glucose meter

I believe the timeout is either thre or five minutes. But really it
shouldn't take more than thirty seconds once you get the hang of it.

Mike
-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Star Gazer
Sent: Thursday, December 05, 2013 7:12 AM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] gestational diabetes have some questions
abouta talking glucose meter

Thank you. 
I'm waiting for the Prodidgy Voice meter to get here. 
So, I prick my finger, the lift the meter with my other hand and place
the strip on the finger I poked. 
I want to be sure I understand. 
I'll have a good two minutes from when I insert the strip until the
meter times out right? 

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Mike Freeman
Sent: Tuesday, December 03, 2013 3:33 PM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] gestational diabetes have some questions
abouta talking glucose meter

Yes; you have my suggestion right.

Please ask more questions if something doesn't make sense to you.
<smile>

Mike

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Star Gazer
Sent: Tuesday, December 03, 2013 12:32 PM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] gestational diabetes have some questions
abouta talking glucose meter

Thank you Mike. 
I had the Prodidgy Autocode, I've shipped it back and have the Voice on
order. 
I'll look over your booklet. 
You're suggesting I prick my finger, then guide the meter to my finger
using my other hand? This sounds doable.

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Mike Freeman
Sent: Tuesday, December 03, 2013 3:26 PM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] gestational diabetes have some questions
abouta talking glucose meter

I do not believe there are any meters that allow data readout via
computer; there's a data transfer protocol involved and I don't believe
any of these protocols allow on-the-fly data readout.

As for the Prodigy Voice, have you tried putting some control solution
on your finger and then touching the strip?

Incidentally, Prodigy autocode strips will work with the Prodigy Voice
and autocode strips are fairly common.

Also, I recommend that you hold your hand flat and bring the meter/strip
to your finger. Most of the time, blind persons have trouble getting
blood on the slot on the strip because the blood gets smeared; you want
a bead of blood to roll into the capillary slot on the strip. Practice
makes perfect and it may take some practice.

Under separate cover, I'm sending you a booklet NFB put out a few years
ago with articles about diabetes care as a blind person, "Bridging the
Gap". The article I wrote is a bit out-of-date in that I'm on different
insulins now than I was in the article. But the general advice is good
and there's an article on finger-sticking techniques.

Mike Freeman

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Star Gazer
Sent: Monday, December 02, 2013 1:18 PM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] gestational diabetes have some questions
abouta talking glucose meter

Thank you. 
What we couldn't figure out is how to get enough blood to keep the
Prodidgy happy. The nurse worked with me on it, said my technique was
perfect, and that meter still wasn't happy. 
We ran out of test strips and of course CVS didn't have more. 

They sent me home with a nontalking meter which I'd like if it could
talk. I should be able to plug it into my computer to get it to read
data. 

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Bridgit Pollpeter
Sent: Monday, December 02, 2013 2:04 PM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] gestational diabetes have some questions
abouta talking glucose meter

I use the Prodigy Voice and like it. Some prefer the Solace, but I
personally haven't experienced problems with the Voice.

Having been type one diabetic for 28 years, I was use to testing blood
sugars long before I lost my sight, so I didn't struggle with testing
nonvisually. Nonetheless, some recommend setting the poker on the
highest prick option so you can feel it. I don't have much meat on my
fingers, so I've never liked doing this, but if it works, great. I just
poke, hold my finger down and squeeze a few times then line the tip of
the test strip up where I felt the poke. I hold the meter to manipulate
the test strip.

Hope this helps.

Bridgit

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Star Gazer
Sent: Monday, December 02, 2013 7:31 AM
To: Diabetes Talk for the Blind
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] gestational diabetes have some questions
abouta talking glucose meter

No but this is a great suggestion!

Sent from my iPhone

> On Dec 2, 2013, at 7:17 PM, "Wanda Sloan" <wsloan118 at roadrunner.com>
> wrote:
> 
> Have you tried your thumb?
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Star Gazer
> Sent: Sunday, December 01, 2013 1:25 PM
> To: diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [Diabetes-talk] gestational diabetes have some questions 
> about a talking glucose meter
> 
> Hi folks.
> I have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Our second baby is
due in
> Feb.
> I will need to test my blood sugar levels several times a day. 
> I take my class tomorrow morning. 
> It was suggested by the diabetes doctors that I use the Prodidgy
talking
> glucose meter.
> What are others experiences with this meter? I am totally blind. I am 
> wondering if this is really what I should use, or if there is a
different
> meter.
> I've played around with testing myself, and am trying to figure out
how I
> line the test strip up with the dab of blood. Any advice? I am not
testing
> using my fingertips as I read Braille. So, I need to use a point other
then
> my index fingers. I found a spot on my hand that seems to work.
> Anybody have any advice? 
> 
> 
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