[Diabetes-Talk] what am I doing wrong?

[d m gina]

I remember the first meeter I had wow, it was so big long and there was 
no way I could lift it in the same way I do this one.
Was glad when they got smaller.

Original message:
> Jamie, I pick up my meter. I was told not to do that by a CDE, but in my
> experimenting I found I had more control that way and ultimately more
> success in getting blood on the strips. I started testing pre the Prodigy
> Voice and it was infinitely harder to use previous meters. From my
> perspective, if we all went by what sighted people thought we could or
> couldn't do we'd be sitting home in rocking chairs. With patience,  you will
> get this.

> Jeanette

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Diabetes-Talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
> Jamie Gurganus via Diabetes-Talk
> Sent: Tuesday, January 01, 2019 2:01 PM
> To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
> Cc: jamielgurganus at gmail.com
> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-Talk] what am I doing wrong?

> 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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>> panix.com


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--Dar
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