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

Fri Dec 6 14:31:51 UTC 2013

Hello Star,

The information Mike shared is correct - he has a great knowledge about
diabetes!  I worked for five years as Vice President at Prodigy Diabetes
Care.  I have also been a Type I diabetic for over 40 years and have done
over 60,000 blood sugar tests on myself with all of the major meters.   The
Prodigy test strips are very stable and are as accurate, or more so, than
any meter on the market. (This has been proven with a Duke Medical
University study)

Most all of the meter and strip companies say that the strips should be used
within 90 days after opening the vial.  The vial is to be kept sealed at all
times except when removing a test strip. They should be stored at room
temperature between 30F to 104F.  They are not to be stored in direct sun
light.

If you follow those guidelines you should have accurate testing with your
Prodigy Voice meter.   I recently started buying my diabetes supplies from a
mail order company, www.totaldiabetessupply.com, that sells Prodigy strips
for $8.89 per bottle of 50.  I do not work for Prodigy or Total Diabetes
Supply but I saw your questions and I thought this information might help.

All the best,

Jerry Munden, "Recipient of the 2011 NFB Bolotin Award"

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Star Gazer
Sent: Thursday, December 5, 2013 2:34 PM
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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> 
> 
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