Hello all!


IF you've thought about an insulin pen for yourself or
someone in your family because you thought it might help
with dosing accuracy but were put off by your physician's
objection THe following may be of interest, from the July,

2010 issue of the Braille MOnitor.

THis article I reference discusses a study of dosing
accuracy conducted in a scientifically rigorous manner which prooves our contention that blind people or those with low
vision are not any more inaccurate than their sighted peers
when using these devices to deliver insulin dosages.

<<<begin quote from article>>>

Insulin pens were first invented in the late 1980s as a
convenient, easy, and accurate way to deliver precise amounts of insulin. They are the size and shape of an old-fashioned fountain pen except that instead of ink they are filled with insulin, and instead of pen tips they have disposable,
screw-on needles. To set the dose, the person using the pen turns a knob on the
end opposite the needle, which makes a small click that can be heard and felt for each unit of insulin dialed. (A few pens make a click for each 1/2 unit.) People who see well can confirm the dose set by reading a number in a small window near the knob.
Although insulin pens were not specifically designed for use by blind people, they are particularly useful for blind diabetics because a person merely needs to count the number of clicks to determine the amount of insulin dialed. Consequently, blind people with diabetes began using them almost as soon as they appeared on the market. Many blind people have used them safely for years. For a more detailed discussion of how to use an insulin pen, see an article by Tom Ley that first appeared in the Voice of the Diabetic, archived on the NFB Website at <http://www.nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/vod/vod215/vodwin0708.htm.>
Shortly after the pens were first introduced, the major manufacturers began including a disclaimer in the instructions saying that insulin pens should not be used by people with visual impairment. This disclaimer has remained in the packaging for many years, even though thousands of blind people
all over the world have used insulin pens safely. Unfortunately, the disclaimer
causes some healthcare professionals to doubt that blind people can in fact safely use insulin pens. Some doctors and other prescribers therefore refuse to
write prescriptions for insulin pens for people who do not see well.


<<<end quote from article >>>

If you think that an insulin pen may be an effective tool
for your diabetes management reference the article.
THe Braille monitor article referenced can be found on the
nfb web site, www.nfb.org, or available via FIdonet from
filegate.net and other systems as brlm0710.zip.



Regards,
Richard
--- timEd 1.10.y2k+
* Origin: (1:116/901)