[Diabetes-talk] What About Prodigy Working with Insulin Pumps?

Tue Feb 4 18:33:54 UTC 2014

Thank you Bridgit! My problem with mike's attitude and the attitudes of
those who say "We've tried that, it didn't work, we can only do it with
Congress," is the assumption that anyone who has a new idea or even wants to
try something else is just making waves.  Mike is not the only person in the
world who might have an idea how to make this happen, and his way is not the
only way!  I totally agree we need to think of new approaches, ways we can
use existing laws, maybe sitting down with the manufacturers and FDA and
talking the situation through, enlisting help from health professionals,
etc.--I don't have a settled idea yet because I'm in the beginning
stages--but I reserve the right to think, to think critically, and to do
things that were done years ago because things have changed, to find new
ways to approach the thing.

Is this a war?  Well, it can be.  During a certain phase of NFB, everything
was war.  But the NFB has successfully used other techniques, too, and maybe
one of them can work.  I will say definitely that going to Congress is the
very last thing I think would work.  Then we have years of their arguments,
appeals, court tests of the law--I'm not going to live long enough to take
all that time.  But I happen to believe there are things that haven't been
tried, and while I am new to this, I'm starting to work on those ideas.
When we passed our resolution last fall, Mike was not at all encouraging.
But Dr. Maurer, who attended our convention, told us he would welcome our
bringing it national, which would provide a chance for the entire
organization to work on this issue, and helped directly with wording.  If
it's war, fine--I'm there.  What I'm not there for is saying "We just can't
do it and maintaining the status quo."  The status quo is not good enough! 

I'm not forcing anyone to do anything, but the Iowa DAN and I are figuring
out ways to network with others interested in this issue, generate support,
and if possible, work with manufacturers instead of coming out of the gate
fighting and demanding. 

I know I'm a woman and a newby, but I have a brain, and this is the issue I
choose to work on--in a positive, hopeful way, at least at first.  
So shoot me!  Take me off the list!  Whatever.  I'm not stopping!

Sandi

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Bridgit Pollpeter
Sent: Tuesday, February 4, 2014 1:40 AM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] What About Prodigy Working with Insulin Pumps?

Okay, I sincerely think Mike has a point, but so do Sandy and Veronica and
the rest in favor of being more positive about the issue. When has changed
ever happened when people lay down and give up? I'm not saying we are quite
there yet, but I see a lot more comments implying this issue will never
budge so why waste the time. The reality is that blind people have been
working and fighting for decades for all manner of issues, and while we've
paved a lot of roads, there's still so much we are waiting to change.
Nonetheless, while I don't always agree with a particular course of action
the Federation takes at times, I do know that the Federation, and blind
people in general, are good at being inventive  and innovative. What I
equally observe is that sometimes we have difficulty trying new things at
first. Maybe our veteran and up and coming great minds need to collaborate
and think up new, creative ways to go at the issue of accessible technology.
Just saying. It's also 1:30 am here, so maybe none of this is coherent,
grin.

Bridgit

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Sandi
Sent: Monday, February 03, 2014 5:58 PM
To: 'Bill Lewis'; 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] What About Prodigy Working with Insulin Pumps?

Perhaps you need to say more.  Things change, and in this world of small
technology and much-improved speech, I think it's likely that it wouldn't
have to cost as much.  And if they built it into each meter and charged a
couple of extra bucks to everyone, instead of heaping it all on us, I think
it could be done reasonably.  Or at least I think we need to check it out.
Things that are don't remain static.  

Sandi

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Bill Lewis
Sent: Monday, February 3, 2014 5:01 PM
To: Diabetes Talk for the Blind
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] What About Prodigy Working with Insulin Pumps?

Sandy, do you remember several years ago, when someone talked with a rep
from Abbott Laboratories about voice-added on meters, and was told that to
break even on cost, other expenses, and make it economical, they would have
to sell 20,000 units per day.  Need I say more?  --  Bill Lewis

-----Original Message-----
From: Sandi
Sent: Wednesday, January 22, 2014 6:51 PM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] What About Prodigy Working with Insulin Pumps?

I agree, Bridget.  It would be handy to have at least the Diabetes Action
Network working on putting a face to the problem.  I know what the
manufacturers think, and all their excuses for not making technology
accessible.  I also know we're a minority.  But there are people out there
who care that everyone has access to health care, and I think we could act
as a collective and accomplish something.

Sandi

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Bridgit Pollpeter
Sent: Wednesday, January 22, 2014 1:58 PM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] What About Prodigy Working with Insulin Pumps?

But what also are we doing about it? I mean, as far as I know, there's no
real initiative, no organized group of us going out there and giving a voice
to this problem. I'm not so naïve to think that if we act more as a
collective on this issue medical devices, including pumps, will magically be
developed with accessibility in mind, but it puts a face and a voice to the
issue. I understand this is not the most important issue blind people face,
so groups like the NFB don't take it up as an individual cause or action,
but when we face similar issues, often task forces are developed, or we
connect with other organizations to create a louder voice. Braille,
websites, education, employment, other types of technology, the Federation
is pretty good about taking action and as a collective, we present our case
to the group or company in question. I'm not saying this need become a a
Federation cause the entire organization acts upon, but right now,
especially in terms of accessible pumps, it seems like individuals are
taking up the torch and we are not working as a collective in any shape or
form. I don't know the answers or even how to make this suggestion a
reality, but if we had more of a collective voice showing up to medical
conferences, visiting with companies and the medical community, doing it on
a somewhat larger scale than we currently are, perhaps we will at least be
listened too. When we do this as a single person, it doesn't make very big
ripples in the pond, but if we had more manpower behind us, maybe a bigger
splash will be noticed. Just talking, or writing rather, out loud, grin.

Bridgit

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Mike Freeman
Sent: Wednesday, January 22, 2014 11:59 AM
To: 'Everett Gavel'; 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] What About Prodigy Working with Insulin Pumps?

Hi, Everett.

I'm afraid the likelihood is damned near nil. You may remember that Prodigy
was supposedly working on an accessible insulin pump a few years ago but,
for all practical purposes, dropped the project. I suspect the reason was
very simple: the development process plus the cost of getting a pump FDA
510(k) certified so that it could be marketed/sold in the U.s. was too great
for the number of accessible pumps that might be sold.

Moreover, there is in prototype already such a device -- the Pump-mate,
developed by James Kubel of Access Solutions (we gave him a Bolotin award
last year). Take a look at http://www.pump-mate.com to read about it. At one
time, Medtronics engineers were working with him to perfect the device but
said engineers are no longer working for Medtronics and it won't give Mr.
Kubel the time of day anymore. I suspect the reason is exactly the same --
too costly to develop and get a system certified for the revenue that would
be generated.

I realize that no one wants to hear/read this but I think we should confront
reality head-on: this is part of what it means to be a minority (remember,
we've said from the days of Kenneth Jernigan onward that the blind are a
minority).

I wish things would change but there's no easy fix.

Mike Freeman

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Everett Gavel
Sent: Wednesday, January 22, 2014 9:19 AM
To: diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Diabetes-talk] What About Prodigy Working with Insulin Pumps?

Hi Mike, and all,

I've signed on recently for a Medtronic pump, though the actual name escapes
me as i write this. Sorry about that. However, despite the beeps and bops it
makes audibly, it's not, of course, actually accessible as we know
accessibility.

It comes with it's own glucose meter, and my question (if not more a
suggestion to the industry) is, what is the likelihood of Prodigy, which
makes an accessible, talking glucose meter (which I absolutely love),
working with pump makers to incorporate their prodigy meter to work with
pumps instead of these inaccessible models now being used?

Just an idea to throw out there, I guess.

Strive On!
Everett

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