[Diabetes-Talk] Got my Talking Glucometer, now What?

Sun Mar 8 16:29:26 UTC 2020

Hi Lisa!  I have both a Prodigy Voice and Auto Code, since some company sent me the Auto Code for free at some point.  You can use it, but only to get your blood sugar.  It was my spare meter that I kept downstairs, so I didn't have to go upstairs to check a blood sugar if needed.  I would recommend that you find out why you were sent the Auto Code and not the Voice and try to make a switch.  For someone needing to be totally independent of sighted help, you will want the Voice.  The repeat key is worth getting the Voice for, since you have no way of knowing what your test result  is if you miss hearing it on the Auto Code.  Believe me, that has happened to me, and it is frustrating to have to do your test over.

I saved an e-mail that was sent to the list that had a phone number for contacting a company that helps blind diabetics get the Prodigy Voice and strips.  I'll find it and send you the information.

					Jamie

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-Talk <diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Lisa Belville via Diabetes-Talk
Sent: Sunday, March 8, 2020 10:11 AM
To: Diabetes Talk for the Blind <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Lisa Belville <missktlab1217 at frontier.com>
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-Talk] Got my Talking Glucometer, now What?

Hi, Alan, yes, that's it.

Is this meter newer than the Voice model others are describing? I was really hoping to be able to handle most of the functions without sighted help.  Just this morning the meter told me I didn't have enough blood for a sample, then it went silent.  I held it close to my ear and could hear a slight hum, so I know the speaker was still on.  I assume there was some kind of error code generated, but since it didn't talk, I didn't know if I had to turn the meter off, reset it or what.  I waited until it shut off, then inserted a new strip and was able to get a reading.

I have Seeing AI and AIRA on my iPhone SE, but handling the meter, the strip and a bloody finger first thing in the morning is a bit of a dilemma for me at this point.

Lisa

Lisa Belville
missktlab1217 at frontier.com

On 3/7/2020 2:54 PM, Alan Lemly via Diabetes-Talk wrote:
> Lisa,
>
> Your below description matches the Prodigy AutoCode glucose meter which is what I use. At least your description of removing the battery compartment to get to the button where things like time and date are set matches the AutoCode. With the LCD screen of the AutoCode face up, the bottom edge is more curved than the top edge and the mini USB port is in the middle of the bottom edge.
>
> I hope you're able to get the Prodigy voice.
>
> Alan Lemly
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Diabetes-Talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
> Behalf Of Lisa Belville via Diabetes-Talk
> Sent: Saturday, March 07, 2020 10:47 AM
> To: diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Lisa Belville
> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-Talk] Got my Talking Glucometer, now What?
>
> Hmm, it sounds like I got the wrong meter.  This one is almost oval-shaped, except one end is more square.  There's a USB port at the squared off side.  The slot for the strips is at the front, and there's a round button above it that turns the meter on if no strip is inserted.  The options to change voices and set the time, etc. have to be accessed by removing the battery compartment on the meter's underside and pressing a small button next to the batteries.  I do not know if there is another button on the side; I've held the meter and I don't feel any such button.
>
>
> This meter speaks English, French, Spanish, and another language I can't recall just now.  The box does say Prodigy Voice, so I'm a little confused as to how this mistake could have happened.
>
>
> Lisa
>
>
> Lisa Belville
> missktlab1217 at frontier.com
>
> On 3/7/2020 9:40 AM, Jamie Gurganus wrote:
>> Hi Lisa! Do you know if you have the Prodigy or Prodigy Voice? The Voice is totally accessible, so you should have been able to set it up yourself. That makes me believe you didn t get that one. I know that you can hold down the set button to access the menu of readings, but I am not sure how to do it on the Prodigy without the voice. Perhaps, someone else on this list will be able to talk you through it.
>>
>> As for the Lansing device, there are many to choose from that can be purchased at a drugstore or from Amazon. Several have adjustable settings for the depth of the lancet. I like using the one that is called the Soft Click. Like you, I have found that washing my hands in warm water and milking the finger that I plan to use under that water really helps get a good drop of blood. I don t have much problem finding the drop of blood on my finger, but it just takes practice. I have been testing my blood sugars since they came out with testing meters in 1983!
>>
>>       Jamie
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>>> On Mar 7, 2020, at 9:08 AM, Lisa Belville via Diabetes-Talk <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>>
>>> ?Hi, all.
>>>
>>>
>>> I finally got my talking glucometer working.  I wound up using my sighted, but reasonably informed about blindness diabetic family member to set up the meter and show me how to work the injector.
>>>
>>>
>>> I have a few questions which probably seem very basic to you guys, 
>>> so bear with me.  <smile>
>>>
>>>
>>> First, I'm still working out the process of getting blood to the test strip reliably and quickly.  I've realized that the lower my blood sugar is, the quicker I can draw blood and have enough to do the test.  I've also found, through trial and error, that running my hands under warm water seems to help as well.  Are there any other tricks for helping make this process more efficient?
>>>
>>>
>>> Secondly, Is there a way for me to review past readings with the Prodigy Voice?  It speaks when I press the on button, and it prompts me to insert a strip, but it doesn't seem to allow a totally blind person to repeat the last reading, or independently adjust settings like language, volume or time, so I just wanted to verify whether or not this could be done.
>>>
>>>
>>> Finally, Are there other types of injectors that make it easier to adjust the sharpness of the needle?  I can take apart the pen and remove and replace the needle, but apparently, the sharpness setting gets reset once the injector is opened and the top is replaced.  I don't know what brand of injector this was, it was all bundled with the Prodigy meter, but if there's another model which would let me do this with more independence and accuracy I'd sure like to find out about it.  I live alone, so I like to do as much for myself as possible.
>>>
>>>
>>> Any thoughts or ideas would be appreciated, and again, I apologize for probably asking questions you all have heard before.
>>>
>>>
>>> TIA for the help
>>>
>>>
>>> Lisa
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Lisa Belville
>>> missktlab1217 at frontier.com
>>>
>>>
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