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

[Mary Sanders]

Hi Amber,
To preface, don’t apologize for asking questions. We are here to help each other!
Regarding your questions here are my responses.
1. I use the clever choice meter which is extremely accessible.
2. To this day I have trouble getting enough blood on the strip. Thus, receiving false readings. I am not successful pricking the sides so I have to prick my finger pass. Then I attempt to squeeze my finger to get a little more blood. I am totally blind myself, keep in mind it’s trial and error whether new or experienced. Once you put your finger to the tip of the test strip it should beep then tell you your glucose level. Everyone has their own goals and we are here to support each other.
I am pretty new to diabetes myself, please reach out for moral support.
Best,
Mary Sanders 

Sent from my iPhone

> On Dec 29, 2018, at 7:56 PM, Amber Wallenstein via Diabetes-Talk <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> 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!
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