[Diabetes-talk] accessible Insulin pumps

Sun Jun 23 18:39:36 UTC 2013

I also use the Cosmo, which has been great. I plan to use the Animas
Ping next, though I don't like it as much as the Cosmo.

We go round and round this topic frequently. I've spoke with a few
computer programmers who believe it wouldn't take much to put text on a
pump, as opposed to icons, which many pumps use, and create a voice-over
feature that was completely accessible and wouldn't cost the reported
millions many companies and other blind people say it would. The problem
is that, like most companies with most products, they have no interest
in creating accessible products, and since blind consumers are a
minority among consumers, they don't view it as worth it.

And accessible or not, so many believe using a pump is dangerous for a
blind person, and in most cases, impossible. It's the age old discussion
that is it really blindness that's creating the problem, or is it the
lack of positive attitudes, proper training and complete accessibility
creating the problem? These opponets have a greater hold of the ear of
pump companies than those of us encouraging a solution.

Why a company like Prodigy would halt production on accessible insulin
pumps is beyond me, especially since the Prodigy talking meter is
popular and widely used among those with visual impairments.

I may be wrong, but at this point, I think the blind voice speaking out
on this issue is being done by individuals. Perhaps if a larger
collective were to take up the banner, at least a louder buzz would be
heard.

Like Veronica, I'm frustrated but choose to continue to be optimistic,
because without this concept of hope, what's left?

Bridgit

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Veronica Elsea
Sent: Sunday, June 23, 2013 12:55 PM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] accessible Insulin pumps

Hi Julie!
First, welcome to the list. This group is great at batting things around
together and anything else we need here. I've heard that Prodigy has
given up on the talking insulin pump. I can't imagine what Roche is
coming out with. But what they have now is a kind of bare bones basic
pump with all of the advanced functionality put into a remote or a PDA.
Their current pump does beep with keypad presses, but using just the
stand-alone pump puts us a good 20 years behind everyone else. No
insulin on board feature, no pump figuring anything out for you. The
trouble with many of the newer pumps or remotes is that everyone is
moving to wizards. So in order to give a simple bolus, first you have to
answer questions about what your BG is, whether or not you plan to eat,
bla bla bla. And since these pumps don't talk, it's tougher to count our
way through things. I've been using the Cozmo by Smiths Medical, but
unfortunately it's no longer available. It's not completely accessible
but does have good keypad beeps, the ability to customize menus and get
stuff I don't want out of the way, and the ability to set things in
software on my computer and then fire everything to my pump via an
infrared connection. But my warranty is up so I'm now looking at what's
out there. I'm not thrilled, for sure. 
Depending on where you live, you could take a look at a new one coming
out called The Snap Pump, which does have some audible feedback and uses
pre-filled cartridges. It's out in a few states at the moment. Mine
isn't one of them though. Probably, in a month or so I'll get back to
serious snooping. I really have no idea what I'm going to do though. But
I'll definitely call Roche and see what they say to me. But these days,
the FDA is so backed up that I don't see how any company can
realistically promise anything close to a release date. Although the
Tandem T-slim did get it done this year. That's the pump I'd get were I
sighted. It has the features I want and even has nice audible feedback.
But it's a touch-screen pump. I still checked it out and one big
show-stopper is that even filling the cartridge involves dialogs. If it
thinks you've missed some basal delivery during the process of filling
and loading the cartridge, it asks you what you want it to do. There
would be no way for us to know if that dialog appeared or not. And
loading that cartridge along with a few other basic tasks are on my list
of things I must be able to do myself if I ever want to do things like
travel away from home. So as badly as I want this pump, it can't be. 
But stick around. There are several people using pumps here and we do
share experiences, ask questions, grumble and plan in this group. So
thanks for joining the group. Veronica

Watch the video as The Guide Dog Glee Club sings "Rehab!" Yes! Yes! Yes!
http://youtu.be/JvakJ5lk6Us Then find more music from Veronica Elsea and
The Guide Dog Glee Club at: http://www.laurelcreekmusic.com
                Veronica Elsea, Owner
Laurel Creek Music Designs
Santa Cruz, California
Phone: 831-429-6407

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Julie Graham
Sent: Sunday, June 23, 2013 10:13 AM
To: Diabetes Talk for the Blind
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] accessible Insulin pumps

Vapor ware?  you don't believe these companies will release a talking or

accessible pump?  i'm not too sure about the prodigy one but i've been
told 
about the Roche INSIGHT pump by my DSN and by the Roche rep for this
area. 
Perhaps it won't talk but I was told they were working on something to
be 
released next year which was designed with blind people in mind
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Freeman" <k7uij at panix.com>
To: "Diabetes Talk for the Blind" <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Sunday, June 23, 2013 6:06 PM
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] accessible Insulin pumps

>I consider all the examples you cite below complete vapor ware. More 
>later.
>
> Mike Freeman
>
>
> On Jun 23, 2013, at 7:58, "Julie Graham" <orvil_7 at yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
>
>> I've only just joined this mailing list and was wondering if anyone 
>> had
>> any info on the IQ pump by prodigy?  when it's to be released or how
it 
>> works?  Also Roche are to release a new pump in 2014 which has been 
>> designed with the blind and partially sighted in mind or so i'm told.
>>
>> Driving me crazy when I get no answer from the companies.
>>
>> Any information would be greatly appreciated.
>>
>>
>>
>> Julie Graham
>> _______________________________________________
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