[Diabetes-Talk] Your new president...
Jamie Gurganus
jamielgurganus at gmail.com
Tue Jan 3 13:51:11 UTC 2017
Veronica,
I am a new subscriber to this site and found it while searching for other
diabetics who are blind and use insulin pumps. Much like you, I have been
independently using an insulin pump for 18 years. I am currently using the
Accucheck Spirit, but Roche suddenly chose to not sell any of their
Accucheck pumps any more. And, like your Cosmo, my Spirit has about a month
left before completely shutting down on me. I did visit my Diabetic
Educator and looked at the options for pumps. I also decided that the
Animas products would be the best, although not the perfect solution for me.
I also use the Dexcom G5, which my two teenagers help me use. Even though
it is inaccessible to me, I need to use it to help me detect my llow blood
sugars. I use my iPhone to know what my blood sugar is when it alarms me.
So, you and I are going to be learning how to use the Vibe together! It
will be a true test of how well I can memorize things at my age! I hope
that we can keep in touch and share our experiences of how we are
conquering our new pumps! The Animas rep assures me that they have other
individuals who are blind or visually impaired and successfully using their
pumps. However, he could not tell me how I could contact these people. I
am hoping to find help through Diabetes Talk.
Jamie
-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-Talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Bernadette Jacobs via Diabetes-Talk
Sent: Tuesday, January 03, 2017 7:15 AM
To: Diabetes Talk for the Blind <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Bernadette Jacobs <bernienfb75 at gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-Talk] Your new president...
Thanks Veronica!!!
I certainly have to say, you and Bridgit have both taught me so very much.
I can't imagine myself using a KNFB reader for something like that.
Although I do love my KNFB reader, it doesn't come without its limitations
either. And, believe me I had to practice using it to make it work for me.
I'm not perfect yet. I can use it to read some of my mail and the kids'
notices they bring home in their bookbags.
But, I'm not sure I'd attempt to use it fore reading an insulin pump?
I think I'd rather have something a bit more fool-proof. I'm not that
brave. Especially when my survival is at stake. Scary.
Talk soon my friend and thank you so much for your vote of confidence.
This means a lot.
Bern
On 1/2/17, Veronica Elsea via Diabetes-Talk <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
wrote:
> Bern, I echo the bitter-sweet congratulations. I assure you that we do
> not expect you to be Mike. <grin> I look forward to seeing how this
> list and organization will grow under your leadership. And yes, a
> definite group effort.
> I also look forward to seeing what the new technology will do. In the
> meantime, I am checking out the current pumps as my beloved Cozmo
> finally shrieked out its last system fault alarm. Yikes! Someone here
> mentioned awhile back that there was a blind person using an OmniPod
> with some sort of app. I found out that he was actually using a KNFB
> reader to try and read the screen. I'll probably end up with the
> Animas Vibe but I'm struggling to get around that notion of how much
> I'm losing compared to what I had.
> As for the artificial pancreas, I hope the technology it's based on is
> more accurate than what we have now. Eventually it would be nice to
> have to interact less with stuff, but I'm not so sure I want to be in
> the first round. <grin> Never say never though.
> In the meantime, boy do I appreciate having a place to share
> knowledge, to vent, to brag, to whine and to help each other. I really
> do appreciate all of you and look forward to accomplishing as much as we
can together.
> Onward,
> onward! Count me in!
> Veronica
>
>
> "Guide Dogs, First Hand", Veronica Elsea's classic album is now
> available on iTunes, along with other music from her and from the
> Guide Dog Glee Club.
> To learn more, visit:
> 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 Bernadette Jacobs via Diabetes-Talk
> Sent: Monday, January 02, 2017 8:45 AM
> To: Diabetes Talk for the Blind
> Cc: Bernadette Jacobs
> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-Talk] Your new president...
>
> Oh Bridgit!
>
> Thank you so kindly for your vote of confidence!! You're like a breath
> of fresh air!
>
> Only trouble is, for Medicare patients, I think that these things are
> so hard, as a matter of fact, too hard to get. You shouldn't have to
> go through denials and appeals and denials and appeals. Too bad the
> system is so broken!! We should not have to fight this hard to
> survive. Just makes me sick!! However, I will be anxious to hear more
> about the artificial pancreas. I'm always anxious to hear more when
> it comes. Talk very soon.
>
> Bern
>
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Jan 2, 2017, at 9:50 AM, Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter via
>> Diabetes-Talk
> <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>>
>> Bernie,
>>
>> Congrats, even though it's a bittersweet congratulations. You will do
>> a fantastic job.
>>
>> On a sidenote, speaking of sharing and learning from each other, I
>> just
> want
>> to say that my doctor continues to bring up the artificial pancreas
>> and
> how
>> it will be available on the market within the year to all diabetics.
>> He believes this will revolutionize diabetes even more than insulin
>> pumps
> have.
>> He's eager and excited for the technology and for me to have the
> opportunity
>> to transition to one. Of course, I'm concerned about accessibility,
>> but nonetheless, this is exciting news, and I'm sure many of us are
>> excited about this technology.
>>
>> The device will use a CGM to constantly monitor blood sugars. As it
>> does this, it will automatically adjust insulin as needed. Little
>> interaction will be necessary for the device.
>>
>> More info about this is available online, but as I learn more, I will
>> continue to share.
>>
>> Happy New Year; may 2017 be fruitful for everyone.
>>
>> Bridgit
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Diabetes-Talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>> Behalf Of Bernadette Jacobs via Diabetes-Talk
>> Sent: Sunday, January 01, 2017 1:26 PM
>> To: diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org
>> Cc: Bernadette Jacobs <bernienfb75 at gmail.com>
>> Subject: [Diabetes-Talk] Your new president...
>>
>> Good Afternoon Everyone!!!
>>
>> Happy New Year!!!
>>
>> Firstly, I'd like to begin by telling you a little bit about myself
>> for those of you who don't know me. I'm aware, however that most of you
do.
> I
>> am Bernadette Jacobs, formerly, about 18 years ago, Bernadette Krajewski.
> I
>> have been first vice-president now since, I believe, about 2007.
>> Don't hesitate to correct me if somebody out there finds me to be
>> wrong. At any rate, I did have a one-year break while Sandy Ryan
>> served just last year--2015-2016. Thank you Sandy.
>> Since the unfortunate passing of our illustrious and fearless leader
>> Mike Freeman's passing, I will do my best to serve you as our
>> Diabetes Action Network's president and your list moderator.
>>
>> I will warn you. I can't do this all alone, however. I need all of
>> you
> to
>> work with me and teach me as you have done about our conditions for
>> the
> past
>> so many years. Most of what I have learned about my own diabetes,
>> I've learned from all of you. You've been so gracious. But that's
>> what we're
> in
>> this thing for. Right???? Helping each other and taking care of
>> each other. So, I'd like to say, Welcome home and Happy New Year!!!
>>
>> I was diagnosed as a type II diabetic in about March of 1985. This,
>> of course, was before the age of "pre-diabetes." I have been insulin
> dependent
>> since 1999 when My husband Bill and I were first married and I became
>> pregnant with the baby we lost in miscarriage. I have been a member
>> of
> the
>> Diabetes Action Network, (DAN) since its inception in 1985.
>>
>> My mother was a diabetic and I lost my mother to complications of
>> diabetes at the tender age of 13. She, herself was only 47. She had
>> three heart attacks, the third of which, resulted in her passing. I
>> remember it as if were Yesterday. When I came into DAN, I told it's
>> then president, Ed Bryant, that my mother was a diabetic and died of
>> complications. He gave
> me
>> that gentle kick in the seat of the pants, "And you are diabetic too..."
> Of
>> course, he also recognized I was in that old familiar river, "Denial???"
> Ed
>> Bryant, the gentle man he was, took me under his fatherly wing and we
> worked
>> together up until his passing. Mike came in and we all continued on.
>> I must say, that his passing on December 24, shocked and deeply
>> saddened me just as it has everyone else.
>>
>> Now, everyone, I'd like to take this time to thank you!! For, it's
>> all of you who've taught me so much about the conditions that we
>> share together.
>> Taught me about insulin pumps, complications, and the heartaches
>> we've suffered together as well as foo the positive bits of news.
>> There are so many of you that I simply can't wait to hear about
>> something new you've learned, discovered and/or whatever else. It
>> simply warms my heart to the moon and back to hear from you as I feel
>> like we're such a great big
> family.
>> Isn't it wonderful??? I think it's phantabulous!!! SQUEEEEEZE!!!!!
>> i DO hope that all of you will continue to write in with all your
>> things, both good and bad so that we can all continue to share,
>> learn, and work
> together.
>> I'll miss you if you don't!!
>>
>> Until next time, take care and have a great day!!!
>>
>> Below, I'll be posting my Email, so that you can write me offlist for
>> anything strictly confidential you might need help with. I will then
> share
>> my cell phone with you that we may continue our work together.
>>
>> Very Warmly,
>>
>> Bernadette M. Jacobs, (Bernie, Bern).
>>
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>>
>>
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>
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>
>
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