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

Wed Feb 5 10:40:06 UTC 2014

Sandy,

And this is what I mean by trying to think creatively and outside the
box. I also think what you suggest is a form of warfare too, maybe just
not as militant as other forms, and one I'm suggesting on this list. And
I think there is a way to make demands without sounding militant or
obnoxious.

And I will say this, going the legal route seems like the solution, but
look how long it took for other groups to get laws to change, and
consider how laws were adopted only to fail at the last. I mean, the
LBGTQ community is still waiting for drafted legislation to be
finalized, and even when the ink seems dry, it starts to run on the
page. And the disabled community understands this situation too. So the
legal route isn't always the most sure-fire way either.

I think Sandy has the right idea to go at this from a different
perspective, but I also think Mike's idea of a war of some kind will be
what is needed for change. I think the two of you, and those of us
invested in this issue, are just in the beginning phases of developing
new, fresh, convincing arguments. We just don't quite see how working
together will culminate in this, but I just have a feeling.

Bridgit

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Sandi
Sent: Tuesday, February 04, 2014 12:34 PM
To: 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] What About Prodigy Working with Insulin
Pumps?

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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