[Diabetes-Talk] what am I doing wrong?

Wed Jan 2 04:08:14 UTC 2019

When I was sighted, I had a meter that was the length and width of a pen. I
loved that one because it was so inconspicuous. When I first became blind, I
had this giant one that came in an even bigger carrying case. It was so big
and clunky. I was glad when Prodigy came out and it was so streamlined and
small. In fact, the first Prodigy meter was thinner than the current
version.

Bridgit

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-Talk <diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of d m gina
via Diabetes-Talk
Sent: Tuesday, January 1, 2019 8:33 PM
To: diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org
Cc: d m gina <dmgina at mysero.net>
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-Talk] what am I doing wrong?

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
skype: dmgina23
  FB: dmgina
www.twitter.com/dmgina
every saint has a past
every sinner has a future

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