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

Wed Mar 11 22:30:59 UTC 2009

Chanelle,

I will have been on the pump for 10 years this September. My first 
interaction with someone who was blind and using the pump was with Tom Ley
in the middle of a National Federation of the Blind Convention Exhibit Hall.
Tom spoke of the positiveness of using the pump and I totally agree of the 
major improvement of control and the quality of life I have gotten with its
use.
Using the Medtronic 712 my button configuration appears different than what
Dave Anspach noted in his description, though the logic is the same to use 
the bolus wizard. I prefer not to use the bolus wizard though as what we all
have to do is a memory game and if my sugars rise above 240 the wizard in
the Medtronic Minimed (Paradigm) 712 pump gives pop-up messages that have to
be okayed before continuing. The message involves a note to check for 
Ketoacidosis and that a correction bolis may be required. In the 712, you
have to clear out the messages to continue with the bolus wizard. One other 
quick point and if anyone has a question dealing with the duration of 
insulin while using Humalog, please post any questions. The default time
setting in the bolus wizard does not match my body either. The hard set time 
factor of 8 hours in the pump for the insulin that has been delivered is not 
equal to my body's
duration of 4 hours. Quickly for everyone, the 712 pump is using 8 hours of 
time when insulin is delivered and if I require to administer through the 
wizard in less than 8 hours, the pump subtracts the amount it calculates to
be still active in my body. In this miss calculation, any pump calculation 
after 4 hours is wrong for me. The pumps after the 712, which have included
the Minimed 715 and afterward, have an adjustable setting for the time 
factor of the insulin activity.
Fortunately I'm very good with math an numbers and can calculate my bolus or
a square wave bolus accurately in my head and have done the job of the 
wizard.
Please don't let this information scare anyone away from the pump if you're 
considering to work with an insulin pump. Like any new thing we do, our 
first step with a cane, the first time you walk following a dog guide, your 
knowledge grows with every day of life.
Now to answer Chanelle's question on the square wave bolus, if I haven't 
lost everyone (smile). What I do to figure how much insulin and how long is
a procedure I use. First I consider what type of protein or slow digestion 
food I'm calculating for. If I eat chicken, turkey or fish, I know the
digestion rate is quicker than for beef and slower if for pork/ham. I 
generally use a half unit per hour for beef and ham and a 0.4 unit for fish
and poultry. The amount and length of time is relative to the quantity I 
have eaten. I usually take 2.5 units for 5 hours and sometimes 3 units for 6 
hours. But with most models of control for each of us, this is my controls 
and likely not to match anyone else. I'll also check my sugar at 2 and 4 
hours to determine where I stand. If I'm at my 100 goal at 4 hours I'll also 
check near the end of the square too if I may need to stop the square early 
or when it is done if I need to continue for any longer.
As I have had diabetes for over 46 years, and have been advised to limit my 
protein intake to the RDA amounts,
it is only in the meals with the added protein from meats or cheeses that I 
include the square wave bolus with my delivery.

Vince,
Vincent Chaney, President
Diabetes Division of the National Federation of the Blind of New Jersey

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ed Bryant" <ebryant at socket.net>
To: "'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'" <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Friday, March 06, 2009 2:42 PM
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] questions from a fairly new list subscriber

Hi Chanelle,
WELCOME ABOARD!  We all work together to provide each other support
and information.
I suggest you contact Tom Ley with your insulin pump questions.  He
is totally blind and has been on a pump for several years.  Tom lives in
Baltimore and you can reach him at: RiveraLey at Verizon.net.

Best 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, March 04, 2009 10:44 AM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] questions from a fairly new list subscriber

Dear Vince,
Thanks for replying to my email. I am grateful for the many responses I have
received from the list. I am still using the 512 but would like to upgrade
to the 522. How do you get your pump to deliver a square bolis? I use the
easy bolis feature with the beeps, but I would like to use the other bolis
options--especially since they give a person even more control. Does the
square wave bolis have to do with insulin being delivered over the course of
a few hours? I am able to fill my pump on my own. I just have a sighted
friend double check that there are no bubbles in my reservoirs. I have been
on the pump since 2004, and I went to a diabetes center in 2007 where the
nurses were willing to teach me how to draw up insulin. Before that, I
thought filling reservoirs was impossible for a blind person.
Thanks for checking on the Clever Check meter. The lady from Homecare
Solutions with whom I spoke sounded vague about it. Thanks for the
information about Advanced Diabetic Solutions! I really need that now since
I haven't gotten anywhere with Homecare Solutions. If they have already
shipped out the Clever Check today as they said they would, I will report to
the list as to what it is like.

Chanelle

-----Original Message-----
From: diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Vincent Chaney
Sent: Tuesday, March 03, 2009 9:10 PM
To: Diabetes Talk for the Blind
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] questions from a fairly new list subscriber

Chanelle,

Welcome to the list...

I too am a pumper, an insulin pump user. I am using the Medtronic Minimed
712 but require my wife to fill it due to the inaccessible menu options.
Once it is filled I work with the beeps to deliver the "Normal" or "Squared"

bolis amounts as you probably do.
Regarding the "Clever Check", I performed a "Google" search on this and
found no indication it included any accessibility feature. The Blog I also
looked at noted it worked with only one button which could be used with a
talking machine but very unlikely. I would recommend you to contact one of
the many suppliers noted on this list who carry the "Prodigy Voice Test
Strips". The company I work with is "Advanced Diabetic Solutions" and just
received new strips about 10 days ago. Their Web Site is:
http://www.advanceddiabeticsolutions.net/
Their phone number is 1-888-377-6382. Tina Rockwell, Director of Patient
Services, is whom has helped me and the members from the Diabetes Division
of the NFBNJ.

Vince

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Chanelle Hill" <chanellemh at gmail.com>
To: <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, March 03, 2009 4:27 PM
Subject: [Diabetes-talk] questions from a fairly new list subscriber

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

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