A Blood Glucose Meter for the Visually Impaired

Ann Bartlett is savoring life! Living With It Wellness Center Owner, living with type 1 I have lived with juvenile diabetes since I was 5 years old. My... Send Message Subscribe: Ann Bartlett

Thursday, October 22, 2009
View All of Ann Bartlett's Posts

For people living with diabetes, complications are a factor to be considered in doing everyday tasks. For someone with diabetic retinopathy, a simple task like reading your blood sugar could be frustrating, thus leading to bigger problem of skipping testing. The need to care for your bloo...

Hide Comments | Add comment

Untitled Comment
Molly
Thursday, October 22, 2009 at 03:14 PM

I wish they would make a meter to go with the medtronic paradigm pump that would have a light or voice...I think that they assume that you're young and can see great when you have an insulin pump!! It's all sooo small (writing).

Thank you to Prodigy for making the device.

re: Untitled Comment
Ann Bartlett
Thursday, October 22, 2009 at 05:31 PM

Hi Molly,

I think, eventually, the pump companies will realize the need for options for low vision patients! There are add ons for some meters to make them audible, but from the reviews I read, some are good and some are not so hot.

I think that Prodigy will take over the market easily, because it's cost effective product for patients and simpler to use because you are not having to hook it up to an external device.

Did you switch to a Prodigy? Or are you ordering one?

Retinopathy and meters
Massagemaniac
Friday, November 13, 2009 at 01:47 AM

I will never understand why my father's doctor did not prescribe him a meter for low vision. My elderly father had retinopathy, and could no longer read or drive. When his meter broke, he stopped testing because he couldn't see the numbers. I found out about this in his medical records after he died. His average A1c was a whopping 9 to 10, and my sister neglected picking up some of his meds including his nitroglycerin which was not being picked up at all, and it seems his betablocker elapsed. My father had documented heart disease and had a cardiologist, and they did not put him on a statin. Between the neglect of care and manipulation of meds by my sister that was not being disclosed to me, and the lack of concern for my father's needs -- that he could not read the meter, not being put on a statin, and not being seen by the cardiologist in 4 years, what can I say ??? I'm not suing anyone, but I feel his care was horrendous. SAD. Of course, just as I was going to bring him down here for a winter to get him the RIGHT care to meet his needs, he died of cardiac arrest, and his neighbor knew he had pains for five days before his death, and my sister also knew --- but she wanted to cash in ! Retinopathy should be taken very seriously. There were also serious discrepancies in my father's accounts discovered after his death ! I would like to say that the new meters will be a great thing for those that will suffer in the future from retinopathy/low vision to help in the control of their diabetes.