Guest guest Posted May 16, 2002 Report Share Posted May 16, 2002 There are devices available to assist a totally blind person in drawing insulin from the bottle in measured doses. I will contact my friend, who is totally blind, and she will tell me about them and I or she will let you know about it, hopefully , soon by tomorrow, if she is not on a trip some where. I'm new to the group > Hello everyone, > > I just joined the list to help my Mom out. She is a diabetic > for over 30 years and is on insulin. She just had bleeding behind > the eye and has lost her sight in the middle of the vision. She is > very independant and wants to still live on her own. She can give > herself shots, but drawing the correct dose of insulin is a problem. > She is on medicare and medicad. Can someone tell me what I can do for > her and what is out their? > > Thank you. > > Fionna > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 16, 2002 Report Share Posted May 16, 2002 Hello Fionna, Your mom is going through the same thing I experienced 9 years ago. Sounds like Diabetic Retinopathy. I have been legally blind for just over 9 years now. I still have about 5% of my vision in one eye. Doesn't sound like much, but it's amazing how humans adapt, y'know? Anyway, welcome to the list, and God bless your mom. I hope she handles it okay. It's really only as devestating as you let it be. It'll only stop her or slow her down, if she let's it, because there are tools and techniques out there to help her with all of her needs, I do believe. Please go to http://www.nfb.org and look for a few different sections. The first is the " Voice of the Diabetic " link. This is a totally free quarterly newspaper-style magazine. It can be subscribed to for free, and is available in either cassette or print, which I *think* is large-print, formats. You can also order as many copies as you'd like, in case you want to help distribute it in your area, to places like doctor's offices and hospital waiting rooms, or just to others you know who may benefit. It is also available online at the site given above, if you want to read it online. Next, on that nfb.org site, find the link for NEWSLINE. This is also a totally free phone service where your mom can read over 100 newspapers from across the nation, all through her touchtone phone. To be eligible for this great service, one needs only to be eligible for Talking Book Service, or in other words, declared legally-blind. It is through a toll- free number, and depending on where she is, there may be her local newspapers on the service already. There are also newspapers such as USA Today, the Wall Street Journal, the Chicago Tribune, and many more. This service is free to all who can no longer read regular print. All details are at the link given for NEWSLINE, at http://www.nfb.org. Now, the Diabetic Resource List at the site is huge. Find the link for the Diabetes section, and follow the links to get to the resource list. It has info on all kinds of products to allow a blind diabetic to live a full and independent life... if they choose to. ;-) There are items to help your mom fill her own syringes with insulin. They are often referred to as a " Count-A-Dose, " but are also called other names. They are wonderful. There are also talking blood testing meters so your mom can check her own blood sugar levels, no matter where she is or who she may be with, or without. If you ever have any questions, you should ask this list. There are tons of great and helpful diabetics on this list, most of whom are blind. If you ever care to for any reason, feel free to contact me offlist to ask questions, too. I'll always help if I can. My name is Everett. I live in Northeast Ohio, in the USA. I have had insulin- dependent diabetes since I was 10, and I am 32 now. Still have tons to learn, but, when I think I can help, I try to. ;-) Good luck with your mom, and God bless, Everett Everett Gavel mailto:EverettG@... At 08:25 PM 5/15/2002, you wrote: >Hello everyone, > > I just joined the list to help my Mom out. She is a diabetic >for over 30 years and is on insulin. She just had bleeding behind >the eye and has lost her sight in the middle of the vision. She is >very independant and wants to still live on her own. She can give >herself shots, but drawing the correct dose of insulin is a problem. >She is on medicare and medicad. Can someone tell me what I can do for >her and what is out their? > >Thank you. > >Fionna > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 16, 2002 Report Share Posted May 16, 2002 Good for you with joining the group to help out you mother. I am a typ 1 diabetic for 57 years-since I was less than 2 and became blind 25 years ago. As other people have told yu, the Count-a-dose is the best instrument for measuring insulin. Your mother would need 1/2 cc BD brand insulin syringe to use this device. I used from the time it came out about 12 years ago. I now have an insulin pump. I am totally blind. I don't know what State your mother lives in, but all States have Department of Rehabilitatin services especially for newly blind. A counselor-teacher-or some States call them, Home teachers, can give a lot services for independent living and diabetic counseling. Actually the services varies somewhat in quality fofthe counselor, but considering aobut 30 percent of newly blinded people are diabetic, most counselors have a pretty good knowledge of what is available for diabetics. You can write to me off line if you like. I was also an R.N. before becoming blind and am a counselor-teacher in Pasadena, CA. This list has taught me alot about type 2 diabetics as it differant in many ways from type 1 insulin dependent diabetes. I'm new to the group Hello everyone, I just joined the list to help my Mom out. She is a diabetic for over 30 years and is on insulin. She just had bleeding behind the eye and has lost her sight in the middle of the vision. She is very independant and wants to still live on her own. She can give herself shots, but drawing the correct dose of insulin is a problem. She is on medicare and medicad. Can someone tell me what I can do for her and what is out their? Thank you. Fionna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 16, 2002 Report Share Posted May 16, 2002 Hi again, Just for the record, last I knew, which wasn't all that long ago, the Count-A-Dose was able to be bought in either a 1/2 or 1-cc syringe size. I have pieces of both here in my house. Only one works. *smile* Thanks, Everett At 10:56 PM 5/15/2002, you wrote: >Good for you with joining the group to help out you mother. I am a typ 1 >diabetic for 57 years-since I was less than 2 and became blind 25 years ago. >As other people have told yu, the Count-a-dose is the best instrument for >measuring insulin. Your mother would need 1/2 cc BD brand insulin syringe >to use this device. I used from the time it came out about 12 years ago. I >now have an insulin pump. I am totally blind. I don't know what State your >mother lives in, but all States have Department of Rehabilitatin services >especially for newly blind. A counselor-teacher-or some States call them, >Home teachers, can give a lot services for independent living and diabetic >counseling. Actually the services varies somewhat in quality fofthe >counselor, but considering aobut 30 percent of newly blinded people are >diabetic, most counselors have a pretty good knowledge of what is available >for diabetics. You can write to me off line if you like. I was also an >R.N. before becoming blind and am a counselor-teacher in Pasadena, CA. This >list has taught me alot about type 2 diabetics as it differant in many ways >from type 1 insulin dependent diabetes. > > I'm new to the group > > >Hello everyone, > > I just joined the list to help my Mom out. She is a diabetic >for over 30 years and is on insulin. She just had bleeding behind >the eye and has lost her sight in the middle of the vision. She is >very independant and wants to still live on her own. She can give >herself shots, but drawing the correct dose of insulin is a problem. >She is on medicare and medicad. Can someone tell me what I can do for >her and what is out their? > >Thank you. > >Fionna > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 16, 2002 Report Share Posted May 16, 2002 Hi Fionna, my name is LaWanda, I am a blind diabetic who has been on insulin since 1995. I live with my husband, also blind, and give myself shots as well as make my own syringes. I really like the Count-a-Dose, that might be how it is written I don't know because I haven't seen it but that's what it's called. As far as I know, the thing is not covered by either Medicare or Medicaid and costs $50. I always try to keep two on hand, just in case one gets lost or I drop one and break it or to take with me when I travel. There are also a couple of audible glucometers for reading one's sugar, I use the Freedon 2 and have since 1991. Kaiser paid for mine, but I don't know about any other insurance. Most talking glucometers have drawbacks, including mine which is bigger and bulkier than I want to carry, but they do at least allow us to test our sugars. I hope this helps and I wish your mother the best with this disease, and I will keep her in my prayers. Regards, LaWanda At 12:25 AM 5/16/02 +0000, you wrote: >Hello everyone, > > I just joined the list to help my Mom out. She is a diabetic >for over 30 years and is on insulin. She just had bleeding behind >the eye and has lost her sight in the middle of the vision. She is >very independant and wants to still live on her own. She can give >herself shots, but drawing the correct dose of insulin is a problem. >She is on medicare and medicad. Can someone tell me what I can do for >her and what is out their? > >Thank you. > >Fionna > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 17, 2002 Report Share Posted May 17, 2002 Thank you LaWanda. I check into both of those that you mention and I plan on telling my mother about them. Next month I go for my checkup for diabetes. I have one every year because my father had it, my mothers 2 sisters and one brother had it and she has had it for the last 30 years. So far I have been lucky and it has not shown up. I am going to get in better health now, before it's too late. Blessings, Fionna On Wed, 15 May 2002 20:23:18 -0700 lawanda ezell writes: Hi Fionna, my name is LaWanda, I am a blind diabetic who has been on insulin since 1995. I live with my husband, also blind, and give myself shots as well as make my own syringes. I really like the Count-a-Dose, that might be how it is written I don't know because I haven't seen it but that's what it's called. As far as I know, the thing is not covered by either Medicare or Medicaid and costs $50. I always try to keep two on hand, just in case one gets lost or I drop one and break Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 17, 2002 Report Share Posted May 17, 2002 That's probably a very good idea, getting in better health, since diabetes is so prevalent in your family. Best to you and to your mother, LaWanda At 05:37 PM 5/16/02 -0500, you wrote: >Thank you LaWanda. I check into both of those that you mention and I >plan on telling my mother about them. Next month I go for my checkup for >diabetes. I have one every year because my father had it, my mothers 2 >sisters and one brother had it and she has had it for the last 30 years. >So far I have been lucky and it has not shown up. I am going to get in >better health now, before it's too late. > >Blessings, > >Fionna > >On Wed, 15 May 2002 20:23:18 -0700 lawanda ezell >writes: >Hi Fionna, my name is LaWanda, I am a blind diabetic who has been on >insulin since 1995. I live with my husband, also blind, and give myself >shots as well as make my own syringes. I really like the Count-a-Dose, >that might be how it is written I don't know because I haven't seen it >but >that's what it's called. As far as I know, the thing is not covered by >either Medicare or Medicaid and costs $50. I always try to keep two on >hand, just in case one gets lost or I drop one and break > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 17, 2002 Report Share Posted May 17, 2002 Everett, The company stopped making the 2 unit count-a-dose. I'm new to the group > > >Hello everyone, > > I just joined the list to help my Mom out. She is a diabetic >for over 30 years and is on insulin. She just had bleeding behind >the eye and has lost her sight in the middle of the vision. She is >very independant and wants to still live on her own. She can give >herself shots, but drawing the correct dose of insulin is a problem. >She is on medicare and medicad. Can someone tell me what I can do for >her and what is out their? > >Thank you. > >Fionna > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 17, 2002 Report Share Posted May 17, 2002 Well, hell, I guess I won't bother replacing my broken one then. *smile* Thanks for the update, Out-Of-Touch Everett At 10:20 PM 5/16/2002, you wrote: >Everett, The company stopped making the 2 unit count-a-dose. > > I'm new to the group > > > > > >Hello everyone, > > > > I just joined the list to help my Mom out. She is a diabetic > >for over 30 years and is on insulin. She just had bleeding behind > >the eye and has lost her sight in the middle of the vision. She is > >very independant and wants to still live on her own. She can give > >herself shots, but drawing the correct dose of insulin is a problem. > >She is on medicare and medicad. Can someone tell me what I can do for > >her and what is out their? > > > >Thank you. > > > >Fionna > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 17, 2002 Report Share Posted May 17, 2002 Hi Everet and List, I like the Count-A-dose that measures one unit at a time because I am on a sliding scale, and it is much easier for me to get it right than it would be if it were two units at a time. I'm new to the group > > > > > > > > >Hello everyone, > > > > > > I just joined the list to help my Mom out. She is a diabetic > > >for over 30 years and is on insulin. She just had bleeding behind > > >the eye and has lost her sight in the middle of the vision. She is > > >very independant and wants to still live on her own. She can give > > >herself shots, but drawing the correct dose of insulin is a problem. > > >She is on medicare and medicad. Can someone tell me what I can do for > > >her and what is out their? > > > > > >Thank you. > > > > > >Fionna > > > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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