LIVINGLIVING
TEE2+ is a reliable, easy-to-use glucose meter, with
a large, clear display and a sleek design. The meter
incorporates meal-time flagging, a test averaging
tool and a strip expiration date indicator. Only a small
blood sample is required and results are shown in just
5 seconds. The meter meets the latest standards for
accuracy while offering value to the NHS. CareSens
Dual is a combined glucose and ketone meter, with all
the benefits of TEE2+ but also with the ability to test for
Ketones, using a specific strip. Both meters are Bluetooth
enabled, and link to SmartLog, a diabetes management
software that helps patients and healthcare professionals
view, analyse and share blood glucose data. The program
provides useful pictorial views of blood glucose levels
showing trends, patterns, and statistics. It also records
information such as diet, exercise, medication and insulin
injections. It also has a camera function, so patients can
take photographs of their meals!
www.spirit-health.co.uk
SPIRIT HEALTHCARE
Editor's comment
As time moves on things change, including
language. Now 'testing' is recognized as
being a potentially contentious way to talk
about - well, blood tests. Comes across
as a test, an exam, a judgement, instead of
being a way to gain insightful information.
So it's now more often being referred to
as blood checking or blood monitoring.
The full term is self-monitoring of blood
glucose, or SMBG. This joins another
term that gets used when talking about
the condition, which is PWD (people with
diabetes) or even PLWD (people living
with diabetes). Another word that gets
people's backs up is 'compliance', which
may now become more often called
'medical adherence'.
Some of us are rather stuck in our
ways, and see no issue with calling
To 'test' or not to test, that is a question
ourselves 'diabetic'. I tend to use whatever
term the person who is speaking prefers.
'Diabetic' is simply shorter than 'person/
people living with diabetes'. Plus, I worry
that I may be using acronyms that people
new to the magazine might not know
them. Just because certain phrases do
the rounds on social media does not
mean everyone knows what they are,
or that they will remain in circulation.
#Languagematters, of course, so I try to
be aware of issues to with people feeling
alienated by certain terminology, but not
everyone is in agreement, so it's a bit like
trying to nail jelly to the wall.
Language evolves, therefore it is
something of a moving feast. A feast
because our language is so rich, but in
healthcare the message is often from one
to many, and the message can get lost if
core words are not agreed and used with
consistency. I hope that this magazine
helps to bring useful information in away
that causes no offence to anyone.
- Sue Marshall
#whateverworksforyou