Insulin Pens For The Blind

Diabetes is a threat only if it is not managed properly and the more accurate discreet and easy to use insulin pens should be made accessible for people with vision loss.

Insulin pens for the blind.

A non reusable insulin pen has a prefilled cartridge as well as the whole pen is discarded when the cartridge is vacant. The pens come in two standard kinds. Although we found the insulin pens to be relatively easy devices to use especially compared to using an insulin pump they all still have serious accessibility barriers that get in the way of a person who is blind or has low vision using them independently as part of his or her diabetes care regimen. Are insulin pens accessible accessworld vol.

It s not hard to figure out. Most pens nowadays are preloaded at the factory. If you re on u 100 pens there is one click per unit. The biggest weakness of any insulin pen is the inability to mix your own insulins.

You either use one of the few insulin pre mixes already prepared like 70 30 or else you use two different pens and take two shots. Using a syringe to inject. Despite the resounding evidence that blind people can use insulin pens safely and effectively. Gently tap the pen to move air bubbles to the top of the pen.

Disposable as well as multiple use. Many blind diabetics successfully use insulin pumps. The cost per shot is a bit higher than with syringes but the pens enjoy wide acceptance. Monitor your blood glucose and take your insulin.

This can be easier for people with visual impairment and for people with hand movement problems. Magnifiers are available that fit on to the pen. There are pre filled disposable pens available for some brands of insulin and this means that you do not have to re load the pen when a cartridge runs out. Lots of diabetics both blind and sighted use insulin pens which combine insulin drawing and dosing functions.

Easy to see or talking blood glucose meters are available if your sight problems make it difficult to read the display ask your diabetes nurse for more information. A test shot of one to two units is dialed in and the delivery button of the pen is pressed filling the needle with insulin. All the pens click so i can hear how much insulin i m drawing up and how it s being delivered. Press the injection button.

Many insulin pens have audible clicks so that you can count the clicks to know how many units you are injecting. Reusable pens allow you to replace the insulin cartridge when it s vacant. You should see a drop of insulin on the tip of the pen. With any pen a new pen needle must be screwed onto the end of the pen for each injection.

If you do not see a drop change the needle and repeat this step. Insulin pen for blind. Hold the pen and point the needle up. Many people with low vision use insulin pens instead of syringes.