[Diabetes-Talk] what am I doing wrong?

Tue Jan 1 19:00:53 UTC 2019

I totally agree with Bridget, and here is my soap box speech to those who
don't think blind individuals can do things like sighted people.

I lost my sight in 1986 in my senior year of nursing school.  I didn't let
that stop me and went on to obtain my BSW and Master's in Counseling.  And,
much of my time in college was using "ancient" forms of technology (i.e.
tape cassettes, dictating papers to have them typed, etc.)  Fortunately for
me, I met a man at Penn State who asked me if I would be willing to test out
the first talking computer.  I took off from there.

Don't let anyone tell you that you can't do something.  Check out Kevin
Frost, the deaf/blind speed skater, Mike May, a totally blind record-holding
downhill speed skier and  Erik Weihenmayer, the first blind man to climb Mt.
Everest.  Now, those are things that I would not even want to try blind or
sighted, but I have mastered a lot of things that many didn't think a blind
person could do.  For example, having two kids, being a foster parent, being
a good cook and  having a huge vegetable garden, etc.  My biggest pet peeve
was when people would ask me on the bus who helped me take care of my baby.
With the support of other blind parents, I learned how to do things for my
children on my own.  And, I raised a child who was born extremely premature,
has low vision and autism.  He is now a very brilliant college student.  I
also had both of my children reading at high levels when they entered
kindergarten.  

Today's technological advances makes it even easier to be blind in a sighted
world.  It is hard to imagine, but I used to draw up my insulin using
brailled strips on the syringe to know how far back to draw it up.  No one
even uses syringes today with the invention of the pens.  So, you will get
this.  It takes time and patience, but you will get it and then wonder why
you couldn't in the beginning.  I have used every device invented to
independently do my own blood sugars.  Each one had its challenges in
getting blood on the strip, but today's meters are so much better.  No one
else has mentioned doing this, but I have found it easier to pick up the
meter and touch the end of the strip to my finger.  I put a tissue down,
poke and then milk my finger and then pick up the meter and bring the strip
to my finger.  I have the most trouble getting my fingers to bleed when they
are cold, so I always wash my hands in warm water and milk the finger I plan
to poke under the water.  

Good luck and Happy New Year!

				Jamie

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-Talk <diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Bridgit
Kuenning-Pollpeter via Diabetes-Talk
Sent: Tuesday, January 1, 2019 9:33 AM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind' <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter <bkpollpeter at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-Talk] what am I doing wrong?

Plenty of totally blind people test their blood sugars with success every
day. Even sighted people can struggle in the beginning with testing; nurse
educators don't just see blind patients, grin. Sight can make it more
convenient in the beginning, but I don't think it's necessarily a sight vs.
blindness thing. Some of us don't have many problems testing nonvisually,
and some of us need more practice and patience. But it's the same for
sighted diabetics; I speak with experience here, grin. So, it's very much an
individual situation here and not always specific to how much or little we
see.

Amber, I'm sorry it's so frustrating right now. Perhaps using the highest
setting on the lancer is giving too much blood? Just keep practicing and try
as many methods you can think of. When you go to the endo office, they wipe
the finger after poking then squeeze again to try to avoid smearing, so,
maybe try that.

Bridgit

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-Talk <diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Jude
DaShiell via Diabetes-Talk
Sent: Tuesday, January 1, 2019 9:19 AM
To: Amber Wallenstein via Diabetes-Talk <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Jude DaShiell <jdashiel at panix.com>
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-Talk] what am I doing wrong?

My guess is you smeared the strip.  The blood needs to drip through the air
onto the strip in order for you not to smear the strip.  This is why
Medicare doesn't recommend totally blind people do their independent blood
sugar testing.  Much easier for those with sight to do this.

On Tue, 1 Jan 2019, Amber Wallenstein via Diabetes-Talk wrote:

> Date: Tue, 1 Jan 2019 09:54:30
> From: Amber Wallenstein via Diabetes-Talk <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
> To: Diabetes Talk for the Blind <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Amber Wallenstein <amber.wallens at gmail.com>
> Subject: [Diabetes-Talk] what am I doing wrong?
>
> I got my meter on Sunday. Sunday and yesterday I did OK with it.  
> Today,
however, no matter what I do it says my blood sample is not enough.  It
beeps like it?s going to test, and does it really quickly like I got enough
of a sample on the strip but no matter what it won?t do a reading.  I know
there is plenty of blood because I can feel it on my skin.
> Is something defective or am I doing something wrong?  Like I said I 
> did
fine yesterday.
> I am finding the meter super frustrating to be honest.  But I want to 
> be
able to use it successfully when needed.
> Amber
> _______________________________________________
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> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
Diabetes-Talk:
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> panix.com
>

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