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Insulin
Dependent
Diabetes
Trust
.
No blood glucose meters available for blind and visually impaired people
People with diabetes need to regularly check their blood glucose levels at home in order to obtain blood glucose control. A small amount of blood is obtained from the fingers, placed on a strip which is then inserted into a small meter and a blood glucose reading is obtained.
Until a few
years ago meters were available in the UK that had a synthesised voice
system providing results that blind and visually impaired could hear.
The manufacturers of these meters discontinued supply in the UK,
apparently for ‘lack of demand’. ‘Talking meters’ are available in the
US and IDDT has lobbied to try to enable these meters to be available in
the UK. We have so far failed to succeed in helping this vulnerable
group to maintain their independence.
At LAST A TALKING BLOOD GLUCOSE METER!July 2005
In April 2005 a new talking meter was launched for visually impaired and blind people. IDDT and other organisations have been lobbying government and manufacturers to try to make sure that this very vulnerable group of people are able to reliably measure their blood sugars, maintain good control and just as importantly, their independence.
The SensoCard Plus meter is the size of a credit card and costs £149.00 and from 1st June 2005, the test strips should be available free on NHS prescription. Prior to June they are available from the company, CDx Ltd, for £23.50.
The important meter details are:
· Results in less than 5 seconds
· Memory stores the last 150 results with built in 7-14-28 day period average calculation
· Only small blood sample required
· Easy to operate - automatic operation on strip insertion
IDDT member, Alison Blackburn who is registered blind has tested the meter says:
"The meter is fantastic. Without it, I would have been really stuck on a solo trip to Japan and China. This meter will, quite literally, be a lifesaver for blind and visually impaired people."
To order or for further information about the SensoCard Plus meter contact:
Cunningham Diagnostics Ltd, Stansfield Business Centre, Sunderland SR2 8BL
Tel
0191 564 2036 e-mail
bcdx@aol.com website
www.cdx.uk.com