Intro and some questions

[Guest guest]

Hello folks.

I'm 61 years old and have been a type 2 diabetic for about 15 years. In the

past, I used an Accucheck talking meter and purchased a Prodigy Voice about

a year and a half ago. It's a great meter and totally accessible in every

way, but I have lots of trouble taking my readings.

My A1c was pretty much under control up until about a year ago. It's way up

there now having gone up to 9.1. My doctor added another med called Actos

and that has helped to bring my A1c down to 8.3 but I want it back down to

where it was before which was always right around 5.5 or 6. If I don't get

it under control, I will have to start using Insulin which quite frankly

scares me to death. I also need to start checking my readings but I keep

running into issues with that.

My problem with checking my sugar has already been discussed here. I have a

real problem with either knowing blood is coming out or getting enough blood

for the meter to give an accurate reading. I have no problem at all using

the meter itself and getting the reading once I know there is blood there.

I have tried the suggestions mentioned here with regard to milking the

finger and running my hand under hot water but many times it just doesn't

work and I wind up having to stick myself 2 or 3 times before I finally get

something. I'm going to try the rubber band idea to see if that will work

for me.

My questions to the list are:

1. What options are available to someone totally blind that needs to use

Insulin? How do you control the dosage?

2. I know that Insulin is covered by my insurance, but what about special

items that make it possible to insure one is taking the right dose? I'm on

Humana Gold Plus which is an HMO.

3. Do these shots hurt? (lol)

4. I have the lancing device set to the deepest setting. Would it help if

I were to purchase thicker lancet's? I noticed that the lancet's for the

device I use comes in varying thicknesses. They come in a little round

barrel shaped cartridge that holds several needles.

Thanks in advance for any answers and suggestions.

--Regards,

--Rick alfaro

--rick.alfaro@...