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

Sun Dec 30 03:55:41 UTC 2018

Amber,

First, welcome to the list. Glad you found it.

You will get a lot of great advice here with a lot of different way to do things. For any diabetic, it's finding out what works best for you. Here's what works for me:

I've been type 1 for more than 30 years, and I've been blind for 15 years of that. I'm totally blind too.

I've never heard of the Oh Well Prodigy. I know of the Autocode and the Voice by Prodigy. The Autocode is not fully accessible, but the Voice is. The Voice is able to be set up completely independently by blind people. For me, I've not struggled much with getting blood on the strip, but what I do is poke my finger, usually right below the pad or just off the side of it. With my other hand, I bring the meter to my poked finger, placing the strip where I felt the poke. Then I do a circular motion, and when it notifies me that it has accepted the blood, I hold my finger there a second longer before removing it. For me, the Prodigy Voice has worked out well, but there is another fully accessible meter I know others here prefer, the Clever Choice.

As for CGMs, they are amazing for several reasons, not just that you don't have to poke yourself as much. Right now, for blind people, there is Dexcom or Libre that are able to be used with the smart device app. Dexcom operates via Bluetooth whereas the Libre requires contact. I use Dexcom and don't know much about Libre. I have an iPhone 7, so don't actually know if it works or doesn't with a version 6.

Dexcom has the G5 and G6 models, both accessible for blind people when using the app. I'm currently using the G5, and the only difference is that the G6 sensor is supposed to be easier to insert, but personally, I don't find the G5 that difficult.

So, with Dexcom, you have a receiver, transmitter and sensor. The receiver looks like an iPhone, and this is the device reading out all the info. It's completely inaccessible, so, blind people use the app, which you just download in the app store, and it's free. The sensor is a sticker-like patch, a little smaller than a half dollar that you wear on your body and change every 7 days if using the G5 and every 10 days if using the G6. The transsmittor locks into the sensor. The transmitter is about the thickness of a thumb and about an inch in length.

You still have to calibrate by poking your finger and inputting the reading into the app. With the G5, you have to test 4 times a day and with the G6, I think it's only once a day. Not only does Dexcom constantly check your glucose levels, like every second, but it lets you know if you're staying constant, raising or lowering, and at what speed you're raising/lowering. It can track trends and alert you if you go too high or drop too low. You can input carbs, insulin, exercise and health right onto the app, and with the Dexcom Clarity app, your doctor can have direct access to your Dexcom.

I love Dexcom, and in the month I've been using it, it's really helped me better track, especially realizing what carbs do to my glucose levels at various times of the day. It's great having to test less often manually, but as I said, you still have to calibrate so, you still need a regular meter and need to know how to use it. Plus, you want back-up in case your tech fails, which is possible.

I hope this helps, and if you have more questions, please let me know. I know others will chime in here too.

Bridgit

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-Talk <diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Amber Wallenstein via Diabetes-Talk
Sent: Saturday, December 29, 2018 8:57 PM
To: diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org
Cc: Amber Wallenstein <amber.wallens at gmail.com>
Subject: [Diabetes-Talk] Newly diagnosed with blood sugar testing concerns

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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