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

Thu Jan 23 00:52:30 UTC 2014

We have been working on these issues, we have resolutions in place and have been trying to work out the issues. 
President Freeman, do we have any legislation in place  so maybe NFB as a whole can work on these issues.
Cheryl

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> From: sjryan2 at gmail.com
> To: diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org
> Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2014 18:51:01 -0600
> 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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