[Diabetes-talk] [SPAM] Re: insulin pumps

Wed Apr 8 22:12:27 UTC 2009

Hello Ed and Chanelle,

I'd like to welcome anyone interested in providing me feedback about
current pump technology as well as what you'd like incorporated into a
talking pump to be sent to me in a bullet point e-mail.  EX;  list of
features you'd like incorporated or a Pro's and Con's list.

I have forwarded your information below to our engineers and CEO.  I
have also promised to keep a file of all information gathered to help
assist us in the design of the pump.

In closing, DDI is committed to providing accessible diabetic products
and continues to strive to implement the recommendations of end-users.  

Don't hesitate to contact me with questions and suggestions!

Best Regards,

Kelly Massaro
Senior Marketing and Sales Account Representative
Diagnostic Devices
9300 Harris Corners Pkwy Suite 450
Charlotte NC  28269
Direct: 704-285-6425
Main: 800-366-5901
kellym at prodigymeter.com
www.prodigymeter.com

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-----Original Message-----
From: diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Ed Bryant
Sent: Wednesday, April 08, 2009 5:57 PM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] [SPAM] Re: insulin pumps

Hi Chanelle,

I am also very glad that Diagnostic Devices Incorporated is working on a
talking insulin pump. Maybe Kelly will round all the facts up that is
some
of the problems you have with the pump and other data so we can send
them to
Barbara Pierce who is editor for The Monitor. 

I know that Barbara would love to publish info about a talking pump for
the
blind which would be the first ever. 

Chanelle I am sure that Kelly is keeping notes on everything she can
find
regarding a talking insulin pump. Again, this will be GREAT information
for
The Monitor, which will reach thousands of people many of them being
diabetic.

Regards,
Ed Bryant

-----Original Message-----
From: diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Chanelle Hill
Sent: Wednesday, April 08, 2009 7:51 AM
To: Diabetes Talk for the Blind
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] [SPAM] Re: insulin pumps

Dear Kelly,
I would also be interested in participating in a study or answering
questionnaires regarding insulin pump development. One of the reasons
I  joined this list was to find out more about accessible insulin
pumps. I have been using the Paradigm 512 from Minimed since 2004. I
wish that I had not decided to upgrade my pump a few weeks ago now
knowing that DDI will be coming out with an accessible one. The tasks
I am able to do independently include filling reservoirs, priming the
pump, using the easy bolis feature, and setting and stopping temporary
basal rates. If the easy bolis feature were not available, using my
pump would be nearly impossible without sighted assistance; however,
it can be tedious to press in the correct number of beeps for how many
units I want to give and then to listen to make sure they are correct
(for me, four units of insulin is 40 beeps or 20 if I change the
setting for one beep to equal 0.2 units instead of 0.1). When setting
a temporary basal rate or priming the pump, I rely on my memory for
the correct button pushing sequences. If a button is not pressed
firmly enough or if I have forgotten the sequence, I could end up in a
menu where I don't want to be. Pressing escape or escape and then act
several times gets me back to the main screen, but there is always
some worry that I have accidentally changed a setting. I have
experienced the same challenges as Dave pointed out: needing sighted
assistance to adjust pump settings and not being able to take
advantage of the pump's more complex features like the bolis wizard.
Another challenge is not being able to know what the error messages
are saying; they are only indicated by a few beeps. I usually try to
figure out what they might be indicating (e.g., if I have not changed
an infusion set or replaced the battery in a while), but if I don't
have a sighted person around, which is frequently the case and the
error message is saying something else, this creates serious problems.
In addition, sometimes after replacing the battery the pump somehow
decides that the time and date need to be reset. Without sighted
assistance, this is impossible. Despite the inaccessibility of the
pump, I would still rather be using it than going back to taking
shots. I am totally blind, so I would need some audio prompts to guide
me in using the pump. Thank you for posting to the diabetes list this
good news of an accessible insulin pump being developed. Please let me
know if there is any way I can be of assistance in this process.

Chanelle

On 4/7/09, Kelly Massaro <kellym at prodigymeter.com> wrote:
> Hello Eileen and David,
>
> I'd like to thank you both for your feedback regarding the pros and
cons
> of pump usage as a blind diabetic.  Additionally, thank you for
> expressing your desire to help us with the design of the talking
insulin
> pump.
>
> I have forwarded your feedback to our CEO and Vice President and will
> contact you when and if they would like you to participate.
>
> I'm excited about our new products in the pipeline.  We have a lot
more
> to come after the insulin pump, so I'll keep everyone posted!
>
>
> Best Regards,
>
> Kelly Massaro
> Senior Marketing and Sales Account Representative
> Diagnostic Devices
> 9300 Harris Corners Pkwy Suite 450
> Charlotte NC  28269
> Direct: 704-285-6425
> Main: 800-366-5901
> kellym at prodigymeter.com
> www.prodigymeter.com
>
>
> PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL: The information contained in this
> electronic message and any attachments are confidential property of
the
> sender. The information is intended only for the use of the person to
> whom it was addressed and should not be used in any manner not
> authorized by the sender. Any other interception, copying, accessing,
or
> disclosure of this information is prohibited. The sender takes no
> responsibility for any unauthorized reliance on this information. If
you
> have received this message in error, please immediately notify the
> sender and purge the message you received. Do not forward this message
> without permission.
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
> [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Eileen Scrivani
> Sent: Tuesday, April 07, 2009 10:14 AM
> To: Diabetes Talk for the Blind
> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] [SPAM] Re: insulin pumps
>
> David & Kelly:
>
> first to Dave -- I want to thank you for your very honest critique of
> using
> your insulin pump as a blind diabetic!  I'm tired of getting rave
> reviews
> about products from many in the blindness community about how
wonderful
> certain diabetic devices are while at the same time, totally
neglecting
> to
> state the problems and challenges they have encountered.  I am very
glad
> you
> let the list know your experience with the pump.  As you know, I have
> been
> wanting to switch to a pump, but have been hesitant because of the
lack
> of
> accessibility built into them. Reading your message below, I am glad I
> have
> held off and not been pushed into it.
>
> To Kelly --  Like David stated there was a mention a while back on
this
> list
> about asking people for input into the development of a pump.  I did
at
> that
> time also contact the person looking for participants.  If at all
needed
> I
> am still more than willing to participate in any type of testing,
> questionnaires or studies as a person who is blind and has never used
a
> pump, but is insulin dependant and administering one's own insulin
> injections and BG testing without any sighted assistance.
>
> Kelly, feel free to contact me if you or DI is looking for people to
> facilitate this type of work.
>
> Thank you both.
>
> Eileen
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "David Anspach" <danspach at tampabay.rr.com>
> To: "'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'" <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, April 06, 2009 8:50 PM
> Subject: [SPAM] Re: [Diabetes-talk] insulin pumps
>
>
>> Hello Kelly,
>> As a long-time and perhaps long-suffering insulin pump user, this is
>> definitely great news!  I am a long-time Minimed Paradigm insulin
pump
>
>> user.
>> While using a pump definitely has great advantages over taking
insulin
> via
>> injection, it is nearly impossible as a blind diabetic to use a pump
>> without
>> someone to act as a sighted backup. Sure I can change out the pump
> i.e.
>> change the reservoir and tubing plus insert the canula into a new
> site,
>> but
>> there is just no way that I can, as a blind diabetic, take full
> advantage
>> of
>> all of the features of my pump. About all I can do is take a bolus
> before
>> each meal and any time I want to eat a snack. I've been a person in
> the
>> past
>> who really would rather be in total control of my diabetes. But with
> this
>> pump, I'm afraid I simply cannot. I can't change the most simplest of
>> things, such as my own basal rates, as I simply cannot access the
> pump. I
>> have to wait for someone who is familiar with my pump to come to my
> house
>> or
>> my employer and help me adjust it then.
>>
>> It is probably the most frustrating thing I have ever faced as a
blind
>> diabetic. In fact, I have considered time and time again just
throwing
> my
>> pump into the trash and going back to taking insulin via an
injection.
> I
>> know that we here in the NFB have written about how using a pump as a
>> blind
>> person is possible. But I just go back to the same issue, you must
> have
>> someone sighted who can help you adjust the more complex settings on
> your
>> pump such as basal rates. I know there are some who have managed to
do
>
>> some
>> of the more complex things such as setting a temporary basal rate,
but
> I
>> honestly don't trust not being able to see the screen to ensure I
have
>
>> done
>> the right thing or pressed the various buttons the correct amount of
> times
>> to get to the setting I want to change.
>>
>> Sometime ago, there was a call to anyone interested in taking part in
>> helping develop an accessible insulin pump to respond via this very
> e-mail
>> list. At that time, the folks at DDI were going to be producing the
> pump,
>> as
>> you have now shown in your message below. But, I volunteered and
never
>> really heard much more. So, are you actively seeking anyone who can
> lend
>> advice etc. to the development of such a pump? If so, then I am
> definitely
>> very interested in contributing in any way I can. I would love to
have
> the
>> ability of at least offering my input into such a pump and its
design.
>>
>> Thanks for reading my rather lengthy e-mail message :). If you would
> like
>> to
>> talk with me further, please don't hesitate to write to me at:
>> danspach at tampabay.rr.com
>> Or at work via:
>> DavidA at FreedomScientific.com
>>
>> Have a great evening,
>>
>> Dave
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
>> [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Kelly Massaro
>> Sent: Monday, April 06, 2009 1:43 PM
>> To: Diabetes Talk for the Blind
>> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] insulin pumps
>>
>> Currently there are no pumps on the market for the visually impaired
>> however
>> DDI has a talking insulin pump in the pipeline that should be
released
>> within a year.
>>
>> Best Regards,
>>
>> Kelly Massaro
>> Senior Marketing and Sales Account Representative Diagnostic Devices
> 9300
>> Harris Corners Pkwy Suite 450 Charlotte NC  28269
>> Direct: 704-285-6425
>> Main: 800-366-5901
>> kellym at prodigymeter.com
>> www.prodigymeter.com
>>
>>
>> PRIVILEGED AND CONFIDENTIAL: The information contained in this
> electronic
>> message and any attachments are confidential property of the sender.
> The
>> information is intended only for the use of the person to whom it was
>> addressed and should not be used in any manner not authorized by the
>> sender.
>> Any other interception, copying, accessing, or disclosure of this
>> information is prohibited. The sender takes no responsibility for any
>> unauthorized reliance on this information. If you have received this
>> message
>> in error, please immediately notify the sender and purge the message
> you
>> received. Do not forward this message without permission.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
>> [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of cheryl
> echevarria
>> Sent: Monday, April 06, 2009 1:38 PM
>> To: Diabetes Talk for the Blind
>> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] insulin pumps
>>
>> there aren't any.
>>
>> Cheryl Echevarria
>>  ----- Original Message -----
>>  From: catdancing<mailto:catdancing at sbcglobal.net>
>>  To: Diabetes Talk for the Blind<mailto:diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
>>  Sent: Monday, April 06, 2009 10:29 AM
>>  Subject: [Diabetes-talk] insulin pumps
>>
>>
>>  has anyone on here ever heard of an insulin pump for the visually
>> impaired? if so could u let me know what it is and where to find it.
>>  a friend of mine also a type 1 said a place called ammis. com made
> them
>> but i couldn't find any such item on their web page.
>>  has anyone any ideas?
>>  Debbie
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