[Diabetes-talk] questions from a fairly new list subscriber

[Chanelle Hill]

Dear List Members,

I read an article about insulin pumps that someone from NFB wrote several
years ago, and so I thought I would join this list to see if anyone has had
improved accessibility with the pump and for other diabetes issues. I am a
Type I diabetic, and I have been using the Minimed Paradigm 512 insulin pump
and the Prodigy Voice meter. I know that NFB is heavily involved in
advocacy, but what has been done to inform insulin pump companies of the
need for more accessible pumps? Is there any way to become involved in
advocating for better accessibility? It would be wonderful to use the new
Minimed Continuous Glucose Monitoring system, but the meter needed to
calibrate the pump doesn't talk. It seems like that could easily be fixed
since there are already talking glucometers. I spoke with a rep from Minimed
about upgrading my pump and asked if Minimed was working on a pump that
would be more accessible. She thought that the company was, but no one has
gotten back to me.

It sounds like someone is having problems with the Prodigy Voice meter on
this list? After calling and waiting a few weeks to get some more strips, I
found out that Homecare Solutions is no longer carrying the strips for
Prodigy Voice and that they are carrying a new meter that is supposedly like
the Prodigy called the Clever Check. Have any of you heard of this new
meter? Hopefully it has all of the audible features and more accessible
software (that's almost too much to ask :-) ).

Finally my last question. I am checking out state rehabilitation centers in
Minnesota-one of which is Blind Inc. On the CD that SSB sent me containing a
BLIND cyber brochure, a class for diabetes management was mentioned. Do you
know if that is still taught? Apart from that, have any of you had
experience with the training programs at Blind Inc.?

Thanks in advance for answering my questions.

 

Chanelle