[Diabetes-talk] Accessible insulin pumps.

Fri Oct 26 23:40:22 UTC 2012

Me too, and I started as a little skinny, scrawny four-year-old, sad
face. Not much meat to pad the pokes; still don't have much meat padding
the old fingers, and during my recent pregnancy, I was testing 12 to 15
times a day, ouch!

Sincerely,
Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter
Read my blog at:
http://blogs.livewellnebraska.com/author/bpollpeter/

"History is not what happened; history is what was written down."
The Expected One- Kathleen McGowan

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of cheryl echevarria
Sent: Friday, October 26, 2012 3:35 PM
To: Diabetes Talk for the Blind
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Accessible insulin pumps.

I have been poking myself for over 30 years, it gets easier.

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22

> From: sjryan2 at gmail.com
> To: diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org
> Date: Fri, 26 Oct 2012 15:26:18 -0500
> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Accessible insulin pumps.
> 
> I'd sure be interested in that product.  I've been poking myself for 
> two
> years now, and it still seems pretty much a miracle when I hit the
strip 
> right the first time.  And I do so hate poking myself more than I have
to!
> 
> Sandi
> 
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jerry Munden" <JerryMunden at carolina.rr.com>
> To: "'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'" <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Friday, October 26, 2012 1:25 PM
> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Accessible insulin pumps.
> 
> 
> > Hello NFB DAN Members:
> >
> > I saw your email about accessible insulin pumps and glucose meters 
> > and I
> > wanted to ask a question.  My name is Jerry Munden and I had the
privilege 
> > of working with the top NFB accessibility experts and Prodigy
several 
> > years ago to develop the Prodigy Voice meter which received the NFB
+ AFB 
> > Access Awards.  I am no longer working with Prodigy but I have
recently 
> > received a patent pending on a new product I developed to help a
blind 
> > person apply blood to the test strip quickly, easily, and
consistently. 
> > Does a product like this, selling for $10 or $12 sound like
something that 
> > would be helpful and you would use?  I have not produced it yet so
this is 
> > not a sales pitch - I just want your feedback on accessible
products.
> >
> > I am working on several blind accessibilty projects and as the 
> > recipient
> > of the 2011 NFB Bolotin Award I appreciate your feedback as I seek
to help 
> > increase independence for people that live with blindness.
> >
> > Thank you,
> >
> > Jerry Munden
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Bridgit Pollpeter" <bpollpeter at hotmail.com>
> > To: "'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'" <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
> > Sent: Friday, October 26, 2012 11:55 AM
> > Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Accessible insulin pumps.
> >
> >
> >> Linda,
> >>
> >> Welcome.
> >>
> >> First, Prodigy makes a fully accessible meter that allows you to 
> >> independently test, repeat if you didn't hear it, set all the 
> >> settings and peruse past glucose records. There's the Prodigy 
> >> Voice, which is the better one, and another Prodigy meter that 
> >> talks as well, but I do not find it as blind-friendly even though 
> >> it's been made with blind people in mind.
> >>
> >> As for accessible insulin pumps... I've been on a pump for almost 
> >> ten years, and I love it. However, there's no fully accessible 
> >> pump. For years, companies have teased us with potential accessible

> >> pumps, but as of yet, it's still a pipe-dream. At best, you use a 
> >> pump with audio features, not talking, but beep sounds, that allow 
> >> you to navigate menues. Here's how I use mine, and keep in mind 
> >> that I'm totally blind:
> >>
> >> Each time I press a button, there is a beep. This lets me know I 
> >> have indeed pressed the button. I have either memorized certain 
> >> menus or I follow written directions to access the proper menus. I 
> >> simply count, and it isn't as tedious as it sounds. My particular 
> >> pump, which unfortunately is no longer manufactured, has four 
> >> buttons: left, right and up, down. There's also a bolus button on 
> >> the side of my pump which I use for meals.
> >>
> >> This probably doesn't make much sense in written form. Pumps are 
> >> not for everyone, and some doubt the ability to function a pump 
> >> that's not fully accessible in terms of a talking pump, but from my

> >> personal experience, I have had the best control of glucose levels 
> >> since using a pump, and I've never had problems with the pump due 
> >> to my own inability to function it.
> >>
> >> Things I have sighted people help with are filling the cartridges, 
> >> which can be done when blind, and some people do including myself 
> >> when necessary, I just prefer sighted help for this. I also need 
> >> help setting my basal rates, which are the rates set up throughout 
> >> the day delivered hourly, or however my doctor and I establish 
> >> them. During my recent pregnancy, I had various rates set 
> >> throughout the day to accommodate for my increasing glucose levels 
> >> due to the pregnancy. Setting the basal rates is a bit tedious 
> >> without sighted help. Beyond these two functions though, I do 
> >> everything else on my own.
> >>
> >> Two pumps I have played with that are good are the Medtronic and 
> >> the Animas. There are other pumps on the market, but since I 
> >> haven't had the opportunity to play with any of them, I can't speak

> >> to their accessibility or general functioning.
> >>
> >> Sorry if none of this makes sense. I've been up with a spitty baby 
> >> for a few hours now and not quite awake, grin! There are others on 
> >> the list who may be able to better answer your question.
> >>
> >> Sincerely,
> >> Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter
> >> Read my blog at: 
> >> http://blogs.livewellnebraska.com/author/bpollpeter/
> >>
> >> "History is not what happened; history is what was written down." 
> >> The Expected One- Kathleen McGowan
> >>
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On 
> >> Behalf Of limestone lady
> >> Sent: Friday, October 26, 2012 9:51 AM
> >> To: diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org
> >> Subject: [Diabetes-talk] Accessible insulin pumps.
> >>
> >>
> >> My name is Linda, and I live in Canada, and hope to find some other

> >> canadians here. A friend of mine told me about this list, and that 
> >> I might be able to find answers to my questions here.
> >> the subject line says it all I guess. I'm looking for info about
blind
> >> friendly insulin pumps, which can be had in Canada.
> >> I may not have to go that route, but if I do, I want to be armed
with
> >> as much information as I can get.
> >> I know that a few years ago, there was a review of a talking pump
in
> >> access world, but I guess it was too buggy, and must have been
pulled
> >> from the market.
> >> Sure hope to get info here, and maybe, info about talking
glucometers
> >> available in Canada. I have one but it isn't completely accessible.
> >> Linda.
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
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> >> for
> >> Diabetes-talk:
> >>
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> >> hotmail.com
> >>
> >>
> >> _______________________________________________
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> >>
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0carolina.rr.com
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
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> > 
> 
> 
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