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

Tue Feb 4 19:19:30 UTC 2014

Sandi:

I'll respond off-list as this is more appropriately discussed between us.
Suffice to say for the list that I do not think you a stupid woman; in fact,
you are quite bright and I admire you and I admire your spirit. I believe
you are misinterpreting some of what I write, taking it personally in some
instances when it was not meant so.

Now then: let's get on with making it easier for blind diabetics in general
and NFB diabetics in particular.

(smile)

Mike

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Sandi
Sent: Tuesday, February 04, 2014 10:39 AM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] What About Prodigy Working with Insulin Pumps?

Mike,

I'm not just sure what it is that makes you think I'm only caring!  I am
also working--hard!  And what makes me work harder is every assumption you
make about my inability to do anything, and every assumption you make that
this or that won't work with an iPhone or this meter isn't workable--I
tested it a year ago.  Things change overnight in this world, my friend!
And some things that require change can be altered without the dysfunctional
Congress behind them.  You could help me make a case, instead of treating me
like a stupid woman.  

Sandi

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Mike Freeman
Sent: Monday, February 3, 2014 6:17 PM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] What About Prodigy Working with Insulin Pumps?

Sandi:

I am becoming increasingly frustrated at the naïve and glib manner with
which we in NFB address advocacy of speech technology in devices. Even many
of our leaders glibly assert that "it's easy and cheap to put technology in
devices". This isn't necessarily so. First, many of these devices (despite
assertions to the contrary) do *not* have underlying text engines driving
them. Bit-mapped graphics are used so that adding speech technology would
mean designing of a device-specific voice engine to interface with the
devices. And don't trot out i-devices; they are, in effect, microcomputers
that already handle arbitrary text, unlike many devices currently on the
market. Seconde, for voice technology to be cheap, it must be installed in
*many* devices, as you properly say. But the only way to compel such
installations is by legislation; as Bill says, economics won't do it. And
the climate for passage of such legislation today is, shall we say, not very
hopeful as long as the majority party in the U.S. House of Representatives
frowns on business mandates. I'm working very hard to find underlying laws
that might be used as a basis for compelling them to do something. But I've
found nothing so far. Third, with respect to CGMS systems and, to some
extent, to insulin pump systems, we, the blind, are going to have to figure
out what information we want and how it should be presented. Then whatever
company that thinks about listening to us will have to convince the FDA that
we, the blind, can interpret the information presented with sufficient
accuracy for the FDA to grant 510(k) certification to blind-friendly
devices.

None of this is to say that we shouldn't keep working; we don't stop until
we win the war. But caring won't be enough. We'll have to either figure out
a way to stimulate the lust for gain in these companies or we will have to
figure out a way to compel them to act.

Even though I know you disagree with me, I assure you that we are on the
same side. But I also assert that good will won't be enough.

Mike Freeman

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Sandi
Sent: Monday, February 03, 2014 3:58 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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