[Diabetes-Talk] Newly diagnosed with blood sugar testing concerns

[Amber Wallenstein]

Hello all:
I am newly diagnosed with diabetes and am looking for an effective method of testing blood sugar.  I am totally blind. I worked with a diabetes educator for a while and am waiting for my OWell talking meter by Prodigy to arrive. It should arrive tomorrow.  Some questions:
1.  Are there instructions on how to set up this meter independently?  I looked at the manual online but it didn’t look very clear.  I have no one around who is sighted to help with the meter if it is not talking.
2.  What are effective methods of getting the blood on the test strip?  I worked with the diabetes educator in the hospital, but we didn’t really come up with any solutions.  My problem is  knowing when a sufficient amount of blood is on my finger and getting it to the exact spot on the test strip before the meter times out.  
I also have a question about continuous glucose monitors.  My endocrinologist recommended Libre.  It takes your blood sugar every few minutes and is supposed to show your numbers in an app on the IPhone.  Does anyone use this method with voice over on the IPhone, and if so is it accessible?  Right now I have an Iphone 6 and it’s not compatible with that, so I would need to upgrade my phone.
I’m sorry for all the questions… This is only my third day of taking insulin shots and I just got out of the hospital yesterday so my brain is buzzing.
If you want you can reach me on my personal email:
amber.wallens at gmail.com <mailto:amber.wallens at gmail.com>
Thank you!