Talking Blood Glucose Monitors
Blood glucose monitoring is an important part of your diabetes self-management plan. Your numbers can show you the effect of food, activity and medication on your blood sugar. Also, checking your blood sugar can confirm when it is too low and you need to take action. Your healthcare team will use the blood sugar numbers you gather at home to determine if changes in your treatment plan are needed.
If you have experienced vision loss, you may find it difficult to independently use typical blood glucose meters. The good news is there are several talking meters on the market. So keeping your diabetes under control can still be in your control!
Medicare Part B and many private insurance policies will cover the cost of talking blood glucose meters for people who meet the criteria for legal blindness. You will likely need documentation of your vision status from your eye doctor and a letter of medical necessity from the doctor who cares for your diabetes. Contact your insurance provider and ask which talking meters are covered and what documentation is needed. Be persistent. This process may take some time and effort. If you need assistance, ask your diabetes educator or doctor for help.
The Prodigy Voice, manufactured by Diagnostic Devices Inc. (DDI), is the first completely non-visually accessible talking blood glucose meter. More information about the Prodigy Voice can be found at DDI's Web site. The Prodigy Voice is available through many mail order pharmacies and by special order at your local pharmacy.
One of the greatest challenges faced by people with vision loss when checking blood sugar is applying blood to the strip. For techniques you may find useful when using the Prodigy Voice and other meters, check out this Voice of the Diabetic article.
The ACCU-CHEK Voicemate blood glucose monitoring system, manufactured by Roche Diagnostics, is no longer in production because essential meter components became unavailable from their suppliers. However, retailers will continue to sell systems that are in their inventory. Roche has committed to keep producing the ACCU-CHEK Comfort Curve test strip that works with the ACCU-CHEK Voicemate. View a comparison between the Prodigy Voice and the Accu-Check Voicemate. Roche has a new talking glucose monitoring system under development.
An additional comprehensive article on talking blood glucose meters is available at the Diabetes Self-Management Web site. Regardless of which talking meter you choose, you will likely find it helpful to have additional information about managing your diabetes with vision loss. Voice of the Diabetic and the Diabetes Action Network (DAN) are excellent resources for you. For more information, visit the Diabetes Action Network Web page. If you have any further questions about talking blood glucose meters, feel free to contact educator@diabetes.nfb.org.
