[Diabetes-Talk] what am I doing wrong?

[d m gina]

Yes I remember that one as well.
I still have a meter where the volume can be turned up or down.
After that the meter is so loud you want to get a micro phone to let 
all know your umbers smile.

Original message:
> 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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>>> 0
>>> 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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-- 
--Dar
skype: dmgina23
  FB: dmgina
www.twitter.com/dmgina
every saint has a past
every sinner has a future