Access For Sight Impaired ConsumersAccess For Sight Impaired ConsumersOver the years, we have received numerous request to assist in locating accessible medical devices. Such requests have ranged from talking blood pressure cuffs to talking thermometers, and everything in between. Many of the vendorrs listed under our Consumer Products page provide many of these items and it is likely you will find the accessible medical device you are seeking by reviewing the vendor links on that page.
One of the most significant challenges that Diabetics who are living with a vision loss encounter each day is the ability to independantly perform and record the results of blood glucose testing. We have received several inquiries requesting assistance in locating an accessible glucometer and are pleased to share the results of our research with you. While Access for Sight-Impaired Consumers does not endorse any one product over another, we have found the "Prodigy Voice" meter to offer greater ease of use. It was also less expensive despite the additional exchange rate between the US and Canadian dollar at the time we posted this page. We provide the following two web sites so that you can make your own informed choice:
Roche Diagnostics Canada offers several Accu-Chek blood glucose monitors. Their Accu-Chek meters web page offers a quick and simple on-line questionaire which assists you in selecting the most appropriate meter to meet your needs, including meters with either large text displays or speech output. The following links will assist you in reviewing the various Accu-Chek meters:
Diagnostic Devices Inc., domiciled in Charlotte, North Carolina manufacture the Prodigy line of blood glucose meters. Prodigy Diabetes Care (PDC) an affiliate company of Diagnostic Devices, Inc. is an innovative company committed to providing the newest technology by offering high quality diabetes products with great features at an affordable cost to help people manage their disease. This passion to go above and beyond when creating our diabetes products resonates from the company’s president, as well as other top management who have diabetes. They realized there was a lack of technology that addressed the needs for people who are blind, sight-impaired, the Latino community and children who have diabetes. With this realization, they created the Prodigy product line that serves ALL diabetics including these unique, niche markets.
PDC has worked closely with the National Federation of the Blind in designing a meter that caters to the needs of the blind and sight-impaired diabetic. This need was brought to the attention of the large manufacturers and PDC was the company that rose to the challenge with the creation of the Prodigy Voice. The NFB has recently awarded the Prodigy Voice Meter with the Access Plus Award. It is given to a product that affords people who are blind the same conveniences and features available to everyone else and is awarded only to those products and services that meet the highest standards of accessibility. Team Prodigy, is extremely honored to have received this exclusive award and to have finally helped blind and sight-impaired diabetics.
Diagnostic Devices Inc. does not sell directly to the public, but rather through US distributors. Unfortunately, Health Canada has yet to approve the Prodigy meter for sale or distribution north of the border, pending certification by the International Standards Organization (ISO). However, US distributors may supply Canadian consumers, subject to the correct completed paperwork, by shipping directly to Canadian addresses.
Advanced Diabetic Solutions of Alanta, Georgia is but one distributor of the Prodigy line of blood glucose meters. Their toll-free telephone number is 888-377-6382. Alternatively, You may wish to purchase your Prodigy meter from LS & S of Buffalo, New York. Their toll-free telephone number is 800-468-4789.
Given the amazingly simple procedure that is required to perform a blood glucose test with the Prodigy Voice, the minimal quantity of blood that is required and the speed and efficiency of producing audible results, we include a real-time audio sample of a Prodigy Voice blood glucose testundertaken by a totally blind user.
Should you have additional questions regarding any of the Prodigy glucometers, please feel free to contact the Canadian representative for Prodigy Diabetes Care via e-mail for further assistance.