[Diabetes-talk] why I don't test myself

Mon Sep 2 22:14:57 UTC 2013

There are differences between type 1 and 2, some minor, some bigger, but
one common denominator is glucose testing. I find it interesting how
many diabetics, blind and sighted, type 1 and 2, who don't think they
need follow the known regimens for diabetes management. As Mike states,
like it or not, testing is a part of any diabetics daily routine, at
least if they want the tightest control possible. Even after weight
loss, testing is still crucial.

Personally, I don't have many problems with testing, but I know this is
a complaint for many, and on the occasions I do experience problems with
testing, it is frustrating. Nonetheless, this is just a part of any
diabetics routine. Just because you reach a certain level of management
and a particular A1-C, it doesn't mean you can now stop testing. This is
just a fact of life for diabetics.

Bridgit

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Mike Freeman
Sent: Monday, September 02, 2013 2:05 PM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] why I don't test myself

Julie:

One correction and one thought: the twenty-percent accuracy applies to
*all* meters, not just the talking ones. In fact, it applies to the
meters your doctor uses also. Short of paying big bucks and using a
fairamount of blood, claims of some manufacturers to the contrary
notwithstanding, virtually all meters, whether they talk or not, are
only required to be within twenty percent of lab standard.

Now then: although yourdiabetes may be controllable with diet and
exercise now, there's no guarantee that it will remain that way and,
given the seriousness of most complications, you can't afford to wait
three months to get the bad news. So, like it or not, you're playing
with fire if you don't test often, whether you choose to have someone do
it for you or you do yourself. You can't afford to be blasé or
fatalistic about this.

Mike Freeman

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Julie Kline
Sent: Monday, September 02, 2013 11:41 AM
To: diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Diabetes-talk] why I don't test myself

Hello all,

I don't mean to sound like I am gloating here, but I'd like to share my
thoughts of the messages I have seen over the past few days.  Reading
over these messages, this is exactly the reason why I don't do testing
for my own blood glucose anymore.  I have had nothing but trouble with
both talking meters and I'm sorry I spent the money on either one.  Even
having people from the diabetes centers we have here watching me, I
haven't been able to get enough blood to get enough of a sample, while
the meters at the diabetes center work just fine.  I feel that with a 20
point plus or minus accuracy that seems to come with the talking meters,
I'm not willing to continually sit there and poke my fingers for the 20
minutes it takes to finally get enough blood.  And yes, I have done the
hot water thing, massaged the finger, held it to the lancet on maximum
setting, stayed hydrated, the rubber band thing . but testing with a
talking meter just hasn't worked out for me, so I don't bother with it,
and these messages just confirm to me why.  I still do whatever lab work
or tests my doctor or diabetes center ask me to do, and I stay on top of
these tests every 3 months.  However, I found that I've lost enough
weight now and that weight loss that came from eating better, combined
with exercising an hour 5 days a week walking 4 miles a session, and my
medications, have given me 2 a1c readings of between 6 and 6.2.  When I
first learned I had diabetes, I was 83 pounds heavier and had an a1c
reading of 8.6.  I know that the approach I take won't work for
everybody, especially for people who have to take insulin.  But for
myself, I have type 2 diabetes and am not at that point yet.  At least
for myself, it has been possible to turn things around and I'd be
willing to recommend exercise DVDs that I use and found helpful if
anyone is interested.  I recognize, or at least people tell me, that
diabetes is a progressive illness.  I hope that when it does come my
time where things get worse, that they will have perfected these meters
more and maybe they can work better with people who can't generate
enough blood, but for now I have much better use of my fingers for other
things, like reading Braille.

Just my thoughts on the whole thing.

Julie

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