by Ed Bryant
Includes Photo: Caption: Ed Bryant
In the last Voice issue, Volume 17, No. 3, I discussed how the insulin pump may be the best and most natural way at this time for an insulin-using diabetic to achieve good self-management. Thousands of Americans use insulin pumps. Diabetes is the leading producer of new blindness among working-age Americans, and a great many insulin-using diabetics are blind or losing vision -- but still could make good use of the insulin pump to control the condition and reduce the risk of its complications.
Many blind diabetics already use insulin pumps, but far more could, if the manufacturers would make their products more tactile, and if they would provide audiocassette instructions for new blind users. I should point out there are experienced blind insulin pump users ready and willing to assist in the making of such instructions.
I first contacted Medtronic, maker of the Minimed line of insulin pumps, several years ago, about this project. I reached Mr. Ray Hoese, in their marketing department, and we discussed the idea of audiotape instructions. He delivered the information to his company's Education Department, and there, for a time, things sat.
Recently, Mr. Hoese contacted me again, by e-mail and phone. He asked for names and addresses of blind pump users who could help with audiocassette instructions. Although there is not yet any final commitment, he sounds interested in moving the project forward.
I hope this happens. There are a lot of blind diabetics ready to benefit from the insulin pump, and any manufacturer that takes their special needs into account will be helping both them, and its own market share.
Next issue, Voice Volume 18, No. 1, Winter Edition 2003, I will publish a review of all the insulin pumps now available in the United States. And I will keep on pushing the pump manufacturers to make their pumps, and their pump's instructions, more blind-friendly.