[Diabetes-Talk] meters
joystigile at gmail.com
joystigile at gmail.com
Tue Jan 19 05:08:11 UTC 2021
Hi Maurice,
I have pasted below a thread from the Diabetes -talk list serve from last
week that should answer your question about another accessible meter that is
sold in the United States. The web site follows in another couple of emails
in this thread
Warmly, Joy
Sent: Wednesday, January 13, 2021 1:53 PM
To: mota1252 at gmail.com; 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
<diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: gary-melconian <gmelconian619 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-Talk] meters
The clever choice voice hd is the one that you want with voice prompts.
The entire kit with test strip and meter cost me about $50.
-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-Talk <diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Milton
via Diabetes-Talk
Sent: Wednesday, January 13, 2021 10:31 AM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind' <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Milton <mota1252 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-Talk] meters
I found this URL to the Clever Voice meter at the following:
https://simplediagnostics.com/blood-glucose-monitors/clever-choice-voice-hd
There was no price mentioned.
-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-Talk <diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Greg
Wocher via Diabetes-Talk
Sent: Wednesday, January 13, 2021 12:17 PM
To: Diabetes Talk for the Blind <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Greg Wocher <gtwocher at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-Talk] meters
Hello,
There is also the Clever Choice Voice HD meter. It requires a bit less blood
than the Prodigy. It is also completely accessible like the Prodigy.
Greg Wocher
> On Jan 13, 2021, at 11:10 AM, Sandi Ryan via Diabetes-Talk
<diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>
> I haven't noted that anyone is touting anything. And I'm glad you get
> excellent readings from your Prodigy, but I have had problems, and so
> have others. I went to using a One-Touch Verio about four years back.
> I have to have sighted help with it, but I do all the work and my
> husband reads the result. It's not accessible, and not the best
> answer, but it works for me far better than the prodigy.
>
> If I'm not mistaken, the Prodigy requires more blood than many of the
> more current meters. That might be a reason to upgrade and update it.
> And there may be others. But no one is trying to take your prodigy
> away, we're just discussing other things that are out there with their
> pros and cons. Your mention that the app with the newer one gets a 1
> rating would certainly give me pause!
>
> Sandi
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Diabetes-Talk <diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of
> Alan Lemly via Diabetes-Talk
> Sent: Wednesday, January 13, 2021 12:10 AM
> To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind' <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Cc: Alan Lemly <walemly at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-Talk] meters
>
> Well, I've had no problem with the quality of my Prodigy meter and I'm
> much more interested in a meter's accessibility than where it shows up
> in reviews by most who are not concerned with accessibility. And I'm
> curious what sort of updates you expect for a meter that does what
> it's designed to do and is fully accessible. I've been using glucose
> meters for years and I don't recall any of them getting updated like a
> smart phone or smart phone app. It would be nice to have a meter that
> could transfer its readings to a well-designed app that was fully
> accessible and allow review of past scores as well as transfer of
> those scores to medical professionals. I see that the ReliOn that
> you're touting has an app but 70% of its reviewers give it one star so
> it has problems. I like that I can upload my Prodigy Autocode readings
> to
Diasend where I can print the reports my endocrinologist needs.
>
> Alan Lemly
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Diabetes-Talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Dorothea Martin via Diabetes-Talk
> Sent: Tuesday, January 12, 2021 9:04 AM
> To: diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org
> Cc: Dorothea Martin
> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-Talk] meters
>
> Hello, Ed and Everyone,
> To go on with what Ed said, the ReliOn Pro Voice is easily available
> though hardly as accessible as the Prodigy Voice. However,
> accessibility is not the whole story, since the quality of the meter
> itself must be considered. The ReliOn meters show up near the top of
> reviews, while Prodigy courts the bottom. We must also keep in mind
> that the Prodigy meters, including the Voice, have not been updated in
> years and are getting long in the tooth. I'm beginning to think that
> if we must continue to use those inexpensive little glucometers with
> small memories, we will also keep on having to face a trade-off
> between the device's actual quality as a meter and its accessibility.
> Dotty Martin
>
> _______________________________________________
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>
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-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-Talk <diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of maurice
mines via Diabetes-Talk
Sent: Monday, January 18, 2021 11:31 AM
To: Diabetes Talk for the Blind <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: maurice mines <maurice at maurice-amines.com>
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-Talk] meters
hello, I have an interesting and perplexing situation. I have the prodigy,
but I'm beginning to think that it's results may not be accurate. I am
wondering if the prodigy be only solution out there?
Because I certainly am going to talk to my doctor about possibly pursuing a
different but hopefully accessible option. This is timely because according
to my HMOs rules I'm eligible to get a new meter next month. So I'm starting
the research now. Any good suggestions? And for those who do know me
personally, if you've got specific suggestions please feel free to email me
directly in terms of off list. Thank you for any suggestions in advance you
may have.
Please note that I've dictated this message to the computer by means of
dictation software. So there may be unforced errors in the text above.
If there's something written that you truly do not understand, please reach
out to me and asked me what my original intent was? I'll make every effort
to clear up any potential misunderstandings that may occur as a result of
the text above.
Note number two the above message gets of a personal nature it does not
connote approval disapproval endorsement or anything else on behalf of the
national Federation of the blind, or the national Federation of the blind
deaf blind division.
A final thought here's hoping you all are having an outstanding Martin
Luther King Junior day. Thinking about the dream, and how to continue moving
it forward on this day.
On 1/18/2021 11:09 AM, Jeanette Kutash via Diabetes-Talk wrote:
> It is crazy that some doctors don't realize that not all sight loss is
caused by diabetes; and to say that testing twice a week gives anyone good
control is just not true.
>
> Jeanette
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Diabetes-Talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Lisa Belville via Diabetes-Talk
> Sent: Monday, January 18, 2021 1:12 PM
> To: Veronica Elsea via Diabetes-Talk
> Cc: Lisa Belville
> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-Talk] meters
>
> Veronica, I think my doctor would take my concerns more seriously if I
> actually lost my vision due to diabetes. As it stands now, she
> insists that her Type II diabetic patients only test an average of
> twice a week and manage to control their diabetes. I seriously do not
> get this, because I know I and others on this list are not the only
> ones dealing with fluctuating sugar levels or stress or what types of
> foods work best for our bodies. Guidelines are fine, but that doesn't
> take into account that someone like my dad who has been a Type II for
> years can eat French fries with no issues while my sister who has been
> a type II for a year or so can't even think about fries without her
> sugar shooting up. How are we supposed to find what works for us if
> we don't have the information. Absolutely crazy, and the mixed
> results regarding accessibility don't help. I'm glad there is
> technology out there, but I want to be someone benefiting from it the same
as everyone else.
>
>
> Lisa Belville
>
> missktlab1217 at frontier.com
>
> On 1/17/2021 9:28 PM, Veronica Elsea via Diabetes-Talk wrote:
>> Hi Lisa.
>> Right back at you. Thank you for making me feel better, just by telling
me that I'm not the only one getting really stressed out about this diabetes
stuff partly because it's piled on top of everything else. I really
appreciate it.
>> I definitely do think there should be a rule passed somewhere to allow
all people who are blind or visually impaired to get a CGM in place of an
old-fashioned, inaccurate meter. Let me know how it goes. Hang in there and
thanks again.
>>
>> Veronica
>>
>>
>> "Guide Dogs, First Hand", Veronica Elsea's classic album is now available
on iTunes, along with other music from her and from the Guide Dog Glee Club.
>> To learn more, visit:
>> http://www.laurelcreekmusic.com
>> Veronica Elsea, Owner Laurel Creek Music Designs
>> Santa Cruz, California
>> Phone: 831-429-6407
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Diabetes-Talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf Of Lisa Belville via Diabetes-Talk
>> Sent: Sunday, January 17, 2021 7:51 AM
>> To: Veronica Elsea via Diabetes-Talk
>> Cc: Lisa Belville
>> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-Talk] meters
>>
>> Hi, Veronica.
>>
>>
>> thank you so much for explaining this to me. I have been getting
>> horrible results with my prodigy; Often the meter beeps to indicate
>> it is testing and comes back with a blood sample is not enough message.
>> Or, more commonly, it will beep as it should then there is an extra
>> long pause and it comes back with a reading that I know can't be
>> correct: 20 or 35 or 54. I know this is dangerously low, but I'm
>> conscious and coherent, so I immediately doubt the readings and try
>> the process again on a different finger. This whole procedure is
>> time consuming, painful and frustrating. I know there's blood. I
>> have my lancing device set for the sharpest stick and my fingers are
>> bloody and I feel like the table I'm using is a crime scene. What's
>> worse is my fingers are getting rough, and that's effecting my sense
>> of touch. I thought it was something I was doing wrong, or maybe a
>> bad batch of strips or low batteries. But your description below is
>> probably why things aren't working for me.
>>
>>
>> I have an A1C test tomorrow, and a week later I'll be seeing my doctor.
>> I'm going to push hard for an CGM, probably the Libra because it
>> seems to be cheaper. This whole thing has been stressing me out and
>> things are already stressful enough without this process being more
>> difficult than it has to be.
>>
>>
>> Thanks again for making me feel better about this process.
>>
>>
>> Lisa Belville
>>
>> missktlab1217 at frontier.com
>>
>> On 1/15/2021 4:35 PM, Veronica Elsea via Diabetes-Talk wrote:
>>> Here's the problem with the Prodigy. First, it requires twice the
>>> amount of blood as do the current meters used by sighted people.
>>> And here's the main issue. When you touch your finger to the strip,
>>> the blood has to not only go straight in but it has to follow a
>>> channel around a corner. If you don't have a lot of blood, it won't
>>> go around that corner and your reading will be way off. Way off! The
>>> reason I know this is because my hubby and I took strips apart. My
readings could vary more than 150 points.
>>> This is a disaster when one is making insulin decisions based on
>>> that reading. It's not fair to just call something user error when
>>> we have no way of knowing that this had happened. In the
>>> instructions put out by the NFB it says, no visual verification
>>> needed. But in the print instructions that come with the meter, item
>>> number 3 says that the user must verify that the yellow window is
>>> full of blood. It's sad that in those early days, the NFB was more
>>> concerned about having its name on the meter than the results given
>>> by that meter. I have been using a FreeStyle Lite meter for 15 years
>>> now. No, it's not accessible but my hubby and I made our own box. So
yes, I'm spoiled. But I can trust what it says.
>>> And I'm not just randomly trying to trash the NFB. I was told by the
>>> NFB that the reason they hadn't lobbied more aggressively to get the
>>> Prodigy covered by Medicare was that they couldn't really push for
>>> coverage of a device with such a low level of efficacy.
>>> So our organizations should advocate for CGM's for anyone who is
>>> blind on the grounds that we have almost no good options for
>>> accurate accessible meters. Just my opinion. Thanks.
>>> Veronica
>>>
>>>
>>> "Guide Dogs, First Hand", Veronica Elsea's classic album is now
>>> available on iTunes, along with other music from her and from the Guide
Dog Glee Club.
>>> To learn more, visit:
>>> http://www.laurelcreekmusic.com
>>> Veronica Elsea, Owner Laurel Creek Music Designs
>>> Santa Cruz, California
>>> Phone: 831-429-6407
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Diabetes-Talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>> Behalf Of Alan Lemly via Diabetes-Talk
>>> Sent: Wednesday, January 13, 2021 1:34 PM
>>> To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
>>> Cc: Alan Lemly
>>> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-Talk] meters
>>>
>>> Hi Jeanette,
>>>
>>> While I agree one needs to use a glucose meter that gives accurate
>>> scores, I'm not going to condemn a meter that several folks on an
>>> email list have said gave them variable scores. The fact is that
>>> blood glucose scores can vary widely depending on what the person
>>> testing has consumed and their other behavior. Never mind that
>>> operator error can also enter into each person's experience. I don't
>>> know how many times I've read about problems on numerous technology
>>> lists dealing with both hardware and software where the ultimate issue
ended up being operator error by the person posting.
>>>
>>> My own experience with the Prodigy Autocode meter has been excellent
>>> for the years I've used it. And I never said I didn't care where a
>>> meter's rating is. What I said was that I'm more interested in how a
>>> meter is rated in terms of accessibility by those dealing with the
>>> same accessibility issues I am and this is seldom possible. And I
>>> used a couple of different meters during the years I was not
>>> visually impaired and those meters were not updated. I personally
>>> think the Prodigy Voice is the only meter that is fully accessible
>>> and can be independently set up by a blind person and I believe
>>> those meters do well what they were designed to do and don't require
>>> updating. Your interpreting this statement to infer that I mean
>>> leave well enough alone where accessibility is concerned is spurious
>>> reasoning and incorrect. I believe our efforts would be much better
>>> employed by working to get a fully accessible insulin pump than by
arguing for updated Prodigy glucose meters.
>>>
>>> Alan Lemly
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Diabetes-Talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>> Behalf Of Jeanette Kutash via Diabetes-Talk
>>> Sent: Wednesday, January 13, 2021 1:43 AM
>>> To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
>>> Cc: Jeanette Kutash
>>> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-Talk] meters
>>>
>>> I've had such variability in my numbers that I don't trust the
>>> Prodigy any more, and I know I am not the only one who says this.
>>> But this not caring where it is rated bothers me. We need both;
>>> better meters that get updated like those sighted people use, and
>>> greater accessibility. This "leave well enough alone" is so often
>>> why people may not take us seriously when we ask for greater
accessibility.
>>>
>>> Jeanette
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Diabetes-Talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>> Behalf Of Alan Lemly via Diabetes-Talk
>>> Sent: Wednesday, January 13, 2021 1:10 AM
>>> To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
>>> Cc: Alan Lemly
>>> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-Talk] meters
>>>
>>> Well, I've had no problem with the quality of my Prodigy meter and
>>> I'm much more interested in a meter's accessibility than where it
>>> shows up in reviews by most who are not concerned with
>>> accessibility. And I'm curious what sort of updates you expect for a
>>> meter that does what it's designed to do and is fully accessible.
>>> I've been using glucose meters for years and I don't recall any of
>>> them getting updated like a smart phone or smart phone app. It would
>>> be nice to have a meter that could transfer its readings to a
>>> well-designed app that was fully accessible and allow review of past
>>> scores as well as transfer of those scores to medical professionals.
>>> I see that the ReliOn that you're touting has an app but 70% of its
>>> reviewers give it one star so it has problems. I like that I can upload
my Prodigy Autocode readings to Diasend where I can print the reports my
endocrinologist needs.
>>>
>>> Alan Lemly
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Diabetes-Talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>> Behalf Of Dorothea Martin via Diabetes-Talk
>>> Sent: Tuesday, January 12, 2021 9:04 AM
>>> To: diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org
>>> Cc: Dorothea Martin
>>> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-Talk] meters
>>>
>>> Hello, Ed and Everyone,
>>> To go on with what Ed said, the ReliOn Pro Voice is easily available
>>> though hardly as accessible as the Prodigy Voice. However,
>>> accessibility is not the whole story, since the quality of the meter
>>> itself must be considered. The ReliOn meters show up near the top of
>>> reviews, while Prodigy courts the bottom. We must also keep in mind
>>> that the Prodigy meters, including the Voice, have not been updated
>>> in years and are getting long in the tooth. I'm beginning to think
>>> that if we must continue to use those inexpensive little glucometers
>>> with small memories, we will also keep on having to face a trade-off
>>> between the device's actual quality as a meter and its accessibility.
>>> Dotty Martin
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Diabetes-Talk mailing list
>>> Diabetes-Talk at nfbnet.org
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/diabetes-talk_nfbnet.org
>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
>>> for
>>> Diabetes-Talk:
>>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/diabetes-talk_nfbnet.org/walemly%4
>>> 0gmail.c
>>> om
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info
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>>> Diabetes-Talk:
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>>> %40comca
>>> st.net
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>> om
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>> Diabetes-Talk:
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>>> 40laurel
>>> creekmusic.com
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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Diabetes-Talk:
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>>> 1217%40frontier.com
>> _______________________________________________
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>>
>>
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--
Maurice Mines, Board Member National Federation of the Blind Deafblind
Division Email: board4 at nfbdeaf-blind.org Website: www.nfbdeaf-blind.org Live
the life you want. The National Federation of the Blind Deafblind Division,
a proud division of the National Federation of the Blind, is a community of
members and friends who believe in the hopes and dreams of the nation's
blind. Every day we work together to help blind people live the lives they
want.
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