Diabetes and Visual Impairment: An Update on Accessible Blood Glucose Meters
By Burton, Darren; Lilly, John; Enigk, Matthew; Kirkendall, Ricky; Access World, Volume 13, Number 2Publication Date: February 2012
Product review evaluates four glucose meters with comprehensive speech output. The meters reviewed are The Prodigy Voice from Prodigy Diabetes Care, the Solo V2 from BioSense Medical Devices, and the Fora V20 and V22 models from Fora Care, Inc. Each meter was evaluated in the following areas: (1) obtaining a blood glucose measurement, (2) accessing past readings in memory, (3) settings, (4) software, (5) documentation, (6) warnings and error messages, and (7) low vision accessibility. While all meters were found to be usable by people with vision loss, the testers in the AFB Tech labs found the Prodigy Voice to be the most accessible of the four. All models were found to (a) speak test results in only 6 or 7 seconds and automatically work with their strips, (b) have accessible memory functions that are supported by speech output, (c) feature an accessible process for adjusting various settings, (d) have free software available for transferring test results to a PC, (e) have manuals available in an electronic format that is compatible with screen reading software, (f) speak the warnings and error messages that are occasionally displayed on their screens, and (g) feature monochromatic displays with large fonts. The reviewers caution that, although these glucose meters are more accessible to people with vision loss than the most popular models, such as the Accu-Chek Compact and the One Touch Ultra 2, the latter models are far more likely to be prescribed by physicians and covered by insurance carriers.
Assistive Products Discussed: ACCU-CHEK COMPACT PLUS METER SYSTEM
PRODIGY VOICE BLOOD GLUCOSE METER
Published by: AFB Press (Website:http://www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=46)
American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) (Web Site: http://www.afb.org )
Link to text: http://www.afb.org/afbpress/pub.asp?DocID=aw130204
