Managing Your Diabetes
Self-monitoring of blood glucose is one of many strategies used to reach goals in diabetes care. Use of a daily journal or diary is important for all people with diabetes but may be overlooked by those who have a visual impairment. Information recorded in a large-print or computer-logged journal includes not only blood glucose test results, but carbohydrate content of meals and snacks, exercise/physical activity, stress, illness, and medications. The computer log can be kept in an accessible format. The journal may be shared with your health care team to provide a complete picture of how you are managing your diabetes and what changes, if any, need to be made. Successful self-monitoring for people who are visually impaired may include the following: - Use of a talking meter for independent blood glucose testing. There are several options available. The most advanced meter does not require coding, can be set up through audible instruction, includes a repeat button, and allows the user to hear previous results and averages. See AccessWorld's evaluations of the various options on the market.
- Documenting daily journal information in a format that is accessible to you. Obtain a large-print daily journal from your diabetes educator or through a low-vision catalog. A tape recorder or digital voice recorder may also be used to store journal information.
- Adapting other standard-size printed information to large print, braille, or voice recording—expiration dates of insulin, test strips, and control solution; meter name, model number, and phone number for technical support; and control solution range (used to test meter accuracy).
- Learning carbohydrate content and other nutritional information for meal planning and journal documentation. There are many books published by the American Diabetes Association that are available through Talking Books, including carbohydrate counting and cookbooks. Restaurant and fast-food nutrition information can also be obtained through the Internet.
You can find more information on management of diabetes and vision loss in the AFB Senior Site® Diabetes Guide. This tip is brought to you by Lighthouse of Pinellas, AFB Senior Site's Agency of the Month.
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