From k7uij at panix.com  Wed Dec  3 22:49:28 2014
From: k7uij at panix.com (Mike Freeman)
Date: Wed, 3 Dec 2014 14:49:28 -0800
Subject: [Diabetes-talk] Prodigy Count-a-dose and Syringes
Message-ID: <00c801d00f4b$6581beb0$30853c10$@panix.com>

Question: does use of viles and syringes with the Prodigy Count-a-dose
require longer needles than the shorties now most commonly used by everyone?
If so, I have some evidence that the Prodigy Count-a-dose *may* be becoming
obsolete because companies like B&D are no longer making the longer needles.

 

I use insulin pens (as do a vast majority of insulin-takers these days) so
do not have first-hand knowledge on the subject.

 

T I A!

 

Mike

 



From joystigile at gmail.com  Thu Dec  4 04:52:24 2014
From: joystigile at gmail.com (Joy Stigile)
Date: Wed, 3 Dec 2014 20:52:24 -0800
Subject: [Diabetes-talk] Prodigy Count-a-dose and Syringes
References: <00c801d00f4b$6581beb0$30853c10$@panix.com>
Message-ID: <B95FE40E776842C3A302388DACF805A2@DBTOA000>

Hi,
I still use the same length
of needle that I was using when I bought my first Count-A-Dose back in early 
90's.  I either get them from Costco or a mail order company named Rite 
Source.

Joy
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Freeman via Diabetes-talk" <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
To: "Diabetes Talk for the Blind" <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2014 2:49 PM
Subject: [Diabetes-talk] Prodigy Count-a-dose and Syringes


> Question: does use of viles and syringes with the Prodigy Count-a-dose
> require longer needles than the shorties now most commonly used by 
> everyone?
> If so, I have some evidence that the Prodigy Count-a-dose *may* be 
> becoming
> obsolete because companies like B&D are no longer making the longer 
> needles.
>
>
>
> I use insulin pens (as do a vast majority of insulin-takers these days) so
> do not have first-hand knowledge on the subject.
>
>
>
> T I A!
>
>
>
> Mike
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Diabetes-talk mailing list
> Diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/diabetes-talk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> Diabetes-talk:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/diabetes-talk_nfbnet.org/joystigile%40gmail.com 




From bernienfb75 at gmail.com  Thu Dec  4 14:25:42 2014
From: bernienfb75 at gmail.com (Bernadette Jacobs)
Date: Thu, 4 Dec 2014 09:25:42 -0500
Subject: [Diabetes-talk] Prodigy Count-a-dose and Syringes
In-Reply-To: <B95FE40E776842C3A302388DACF805A2@DBTOA000>
References: <00c801d00f4b$6581beb0$30853c10$@panix.com>
	<B95FE40E776842C3A302388DACF805A2@DBTOA000>
Message-ID: <33D3A947-F117-43C5-A477-4371E6513153@gmail.com>

You mean to tell me nobody has heard anything I have said the last two years question question question this is just exactly what I have been saying. I it's been harder and harder for him for me to get needles with the right links for the count it does. I have been saying thatnow, four, I can't tell you how long. Anyway, that's okay. At least now, I am not the only one who realizes this. Have a great day gang. Burn

Sent from my iPhone

> On Dec 3, 2014, at 11:52 PM, Joy Stigile via Diabetes-talk <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi,
> I still use the same length
> of needle that I was using when I bought my first Count-A-Dose back in early 90's.  I either get them from Costco or a mail order company named Rite Source.
> 
> Joy
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Freeman via Diabetes-talk" <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
> To: "Diabetes Talk for the Blind" <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, December 03, 2014 2:49 PM
> Subject: [Diabetes-talk] Prodigy Count-a-dose and Syringes
> 
> 
>> Question: does use of viles and syringes with the Prodigy Count-a-dose
>> require longer needles than the shorties now most commonly used by everyone?
>> If so, I have some evidence that the Prodigy Count-a-dose *may* be becoming
>> obsolete because companies like B&D are no longer making the longer needles.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> I use insulin pens (as do a vast majority of insulin-takers these days) so
>> do not have first-hand knowledge on the subject.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> T I A!
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Mike
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> Diabetes-talk mailing list
>> Diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/diabetes-talk_nfbnet.org
>> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Diabetes-talk:
>> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/diabetes-talk_nfbnet.org/joystigile%40gmail.com
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Diabetes-talk mailing list
> Diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/diabetes-talk_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for Diabetes-talk:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/diabetes-talk_nfbnet.org/bernienfb75%40gmail.com



From everett at everettgavel.com  Thu Dec  4 14:36:38 2014
From: everett at everettgavel.com (Everett Gavel)
Date: Thu, 4 Dec 2014 07:36:38 -0700
Subject: [Diabetes-talk] Prodigy Count-a-dose and Syringes
References: <mailman.39.1417694401.25013.diabetes-talk_nfbnet.org@nfbnet.org>
Message-ID: <7C2B6B7FDE4745EDB2E31DB053AABF4F@Lisa>

Hi Mike, and all,

Until I got my medtronic pump several months ago, 
I used the syringes with shorter needles with my 
count-a-dose every day for many years without 
issues. I don't know if the language the 
manufacturer uses *requires* longer syringes, but 
the shorter ones worked fine for me for years. 
They were still long enough to get into the 
insulin bottles.

Problem I found with the shorter needles is that 
they sometimes seemed to not get the insulin deep 
enough into me to get past the scar tissue, if I 
wasn't careful as to where I injected.


Strive On!
Everett


----- Original Message ----- 
"Question: does use of viles and syringes with the 
Prodigy Count-a-dose require longer needles than 
the shorties now most commonly used by everyone?"






From thegems at dslextreme.com  Fri Dec  5 17:00:46 2014
From: thegems at dslextreme.com (Grant Metcalf)
Date: Fri, 5 Dec 2014 09:00:46 -0800
Subject: [Diabetes-talk] BD 50 unit 1/2 inch needle syringes
References: <mailman.29.1417780801.27756.diabetes-talk_nfbnet.org@nfbnet.org>
Message-ID: <000f01d010ad$0468d470$0301a8c0@GrantPC>

Regarding BD 50unit, half inch needle syringes:
This morning I spoke with a customer service representative who told me the 
following:
The syringe is still available in the United States and at present there is 
no plan to discontinue this syringe. You should be able to purchase the 
syringe from any medical supply business or drug store who carries or can 
and will order BD products.
It is true that this BD syringe is no longer available in Canada.
If you wish to confirm this for yourself, the contact information via 
telephone is:
Becton-Dickinson Customer Service, phone: 888-232-2737
Cordially yours,
Grant Metcalf
Bartimaeus Alliance of the blind, Inc.
Website: http://bartimaeus.us/
Desk phone: 650-754-4207 (magicJack)




From k7uij at panix.com  Fri Dec  5 17:29:21 2014
From: k7uij at panix.com (Mike Freeman)
Date: Fri, 5 Dec 2014 09:29:21 -0800
Subject: [Diabetes-talk] BD 50 unit 1/2 inch needle syringes
In-Reply-To: <000f01d010ad$0468d470$0301a8c0@GrantPC>
References: <mailman.29.1417780801.27756.diabetes-talk_nfbnet.org@nfbnet.org>
	<000f01d010ad$0468d470$0301a8c0@GrantPC>
Message-ID: <006701d010b1$0226fdf0$0674f9d0$@panix.com>

Thank you, Grant.

Mike Freeman


-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Grant Metcalf via Diabetes-talk
Sent: Friday, December 05, 2014 9:01 AM
To: diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Diabetes-talk] BD 50 unit 1/2 inch needle syringes

Regarding BD 50unit, half inch needle syringes:
This morning I spoke with a customer service representative who told me the 
following:
The syringe is still available in the United States and at present there is 
no plan to discontinue this syringe. You should be able to purchase the 
syringe from any medical supply business or drug store who carries or can 
and will order BD products.
It is true that this BD syringe is no longer available in Canada.
If you wish to confirm this for yourself, the contact information via 
telephone is:
Becton-Dickinson Customer Service, phone: 888-232-2737
Cordially yours,
Grant Metcalf
Bartimaeus Alliance of the blind, Inc.
Website: http://bartimaeus.us/
Desk phone: 650-754-4207 (magicJack)


_______________________________________________
Diabetes-talk mailing list
Diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/diabetes-talk_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
Diabetes-talk:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/diabetes-talk_nfbnet.org/k7uij%40panix.com




From sjryan2 at gmail.com  Tue Dec  9 19:09:44 2014
From: sjryan2 at gmail.com (Sandra Ryan)
Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2014 13:09:44 -0600
Subject: [Diabetes-talk] Dexcom SHARE - I can read the current BG
	reading on my iPhone using Voiceover
In-Reply-To: <FAA8B3CD88314339A6C5B112F28880DA@Dell2006>
References: <21ECB79B6A9E408D8F4BE277AE7CA893@Dell2006>
	<009201cff9f8$69217640$3b6462c0$@panix.com>
	<FAA8B3CD88314339A6C5B112F28880DA@Dell2006>
Message-ID: <027c01d013e3$b1ed3080$15c79180$@gmail.com>

Hi Tom,

Would you be willing to e-mail me off-list?  I'd like to talk with you.  My
address is sjryan2 at gmail.com.

Thanks much.
Sandi


-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Tom and Eileen Rivera Ley via Diabetes-talk
Sent: Saturday, November 8, 2014 7:27 PM
To: 'Mike Freeman'; 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Dexcom SHARE - I can read the current BG
reading on my iPhone using Voiceover

Hi Mike,

Thanks. I read a little more about the Dexcom Share product on the web, and
in fact, it did require FDA approval, so I had that wrong. However, the time
was relatively short, as FDA approvals go,  about a year-and-a-half. 

If you read the following post on the Diabetes Mine web site, it provides
some interesting background, and some hints about where Dexcom hopes to go
with their fifth generation (5G) CGM. Now is the time to approach Dexcom
about accessibility in their next generation products. 

http://www.diabetesmine.com/2014/10/newsflash-dexcom-share-gets-fda-clearanc
e.html

For me, getting the current reading on my CGM via my iPhone is a game
changer. I've had the Dexcom SHARE system in place now for four days, and I
still get a little charge of excitement every time I open the Dexcom follow
app and read my current blood sugar! Then I usually just leave the app open
for a few minutes until the number is updated, which happens automatically
every five minutes. 

Tom

-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Freeman [mailto:k7uij at panix.com]
Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2014 2:33 PM
To: 'Tom and Eileen Rivera Ley'; 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Subject: RE: [Diabetes-talk] Dexcom SHARE - I can read the current BG
reading on my iPhone using Voiceover

Tom:

This is a great post! I commend you for your out-of-the-box thinking and
imaginative/innovative thought in coming up with this solution to your CGMS
inaccessibility problem!

Actually, I suspect that FDA did do some sort of certification on the iOS
apps in that their policy adopted earlier this year said they were going to
do so when apps might be used to control medical devices. But perhaps
there's the loophole right there: one is still presumed to operate the CGMS
device primarily through its visual display and the iOS apps merely enable
the readings to be conveyed in other ways.

Mike


-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Tom and Eileen Rivera Ley via Diabetes-talk
Sent: Tuesday, November 04, 2014 7:16 PM
To: diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Diabetes-talk] Dexcom SHARE - I can read the current BG reading on
my iPhone using Voiceover

Hi everyone,
 
Dexcom is one of the companies that develops and sells continuous glucose
monitoring systems (CGM). For more information on their current CGM model,
the Dexcom G4 Platinum CGM, you can visit www.dexcom.com 
 
These devices are not accessible, no matter which company's CGM you
purchase. However, I have used one for several years now. I require sighted
assistance to set up the system, and sighted assistance a minimum of twice
per day to enter a current blood glucose reading from a blood glucose meter
for system calibration. Even though they are not accessible, I use a CGM
because the CGM can be configured to alert you when your blood glucose level
goes above or below values you set. 
 
For instance, the CGM gives me an audible alert and vibrates whenever my
blood glucose rises above 160. It also alerts me (with a different sounding
tone and different vibration pattern) when my blood glucose goes below 70,
and it gives a particularly urgent alert when it goes below 55. 
 
I find this very helpful. It wakes me up in the middle of the night when my
blood glucose gets low, and let's me know when I'm going out of range on the
high side so I can take corrective action if warranted. The CGM has even
more valuable information on the screen, such as the current blood glucose
reading, an indication using arrows if the blood glucose is steady, or
rising or falling, and how fast, along with a graph of your blood glucose
for the last 1, 3, 6, 12 or 24 hours. But none of this information is
accessible. 
 
Last Wednesday, Dexcom announced a new product that works with their G4
Platinum CGM called Dexcom SHARE. It was designed primarily to meet the
needs of parents who wanted access to the CGM readings of their children
when their children were at school or away from home. The Dexcom SHARE
system is made up of the Dexcom SHARE cradle (which costs $299), two free
iPhone apps, and the G4 Platinum CGM itself. The person using the CGM is
known as the sharer and the person remotely viewing the sharer's CGM reading
is known as the follower. 
 
Basically, the sharer, the person wearing the CGM,  downloads the Dexcom
Share app to their iPhone or iPod or iPad. They plug in the cradle and slide
the CGM receiver/display unit into the cradle. Then they pair the cradle via
Bluetooth with their iPhone using the Dexcom Share app. The cradle sends the
CGM data to the iPhone and the iPhone uploads the data to the Dexcom
servers. The sharer then uses the Dexcom Share app to invite up to five
people to follow their CGM readings. The Share app sends an email to the
followers you invite. 
 
If you are a follower, when you receive the invitation email, you download
the Dexcom Follow app onto your own iPhone or iPod or iPad and use the
information in the invitation email to connect to the Dexcom server to begin
to receive the CGM data from the Sharer. Note that the Dexcom Share app and
the Follow app are two different apps.
 
So, to summarize all of this fairly complicated sending and receiving of
data, the blood glucose readings come from the CGM, go into the cradle, are
sent to the sharer's iPhone, where they are uploaded to Dexcom servers, and
then sent from there down to the follower's iPhone where they can be viewed.
 
I immediately bought the system, because I wanted to see what would happen
if I put the share app and the follow app both on my iPhone. In essence, I
am "following" my own CGM readings with myself. And, it works. The apps
themselves are accessible using Voiceover. I setup the system using the
Share app, invited myself to follow, and installed the follow app on my
iPhone too. 
 
My CGM is in the cradle right now. If I want to know the current blood
glucose reading, I just open the Follow app on my iPhone and read it. And,
since the CGM provides a new reading every five minutes, if I check back  in
five minutes or so, I can see how much it rose or fell, if at all, which
gives me an good idea of the trend. It is not anywhere the same thing as
having an accessible CGM. But, it does give me much more information than I
could ever get before from my CGM. The Dexcom SHARE system was not designed
so blind people could get partial CGM information on their iPhones, but it
can be used for that. 
 
The other benefit of knowing the current reading on my CGM is that I think I
can now calibrate the CGM twice a day on my own - without sighted
assistance. The big problem with calibrating the system was that you had to
enter your current blood glucose into the system, and  the screen for
calibrating always puts the current CGM reading in as the starting point.
So, if the CGM current reading was 203, and my current actual blood glucose
is 215, I would have to adjust the reading using the arrow buttons on the
CGM from 203 up to 215. This is not a problem, as long as you know the
starting point. Now, with the Follow app, I do know the current reading and
I will be able to calibrate the system with a fairly high level of
confidence on my own I believe. 
 
Note that I don't think the Dexcom SHARE system required any FDA approval as
far as I know. So, it should be very easy to add additional functionality to
the follow app to provide even more information to a blind person. 
 
Also note that although in general, CGM devices are covered by many
insurance companies, although not all, the Dexcom SHARE system is not
covered by insurance. It costs $299, and you and the followers have to be
using an IOS devices; Android based devices are not currently supported. 
 
Tom
 
_______________________________________________
Diabetes-talk mailing list
Diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/diabetes-talk_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
Diabetes-talk:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/diabetes-talk_nfbnet.org/k7uij%40panix.com


_______________________________________________
Diabetes-talk mailing list
Diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/diabetes-talk_nfbnet.org
To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for
Diabetes-talk:
http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/diabetes-talk_nfbnet.org/sjryan2%40gmail.c
om

-----
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Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
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From veronica at laurelcreekmusic.com  Tue Dec  9 23:44:12 2014
From: veronica at laurelcreekmusic.com (Veronica Elsea)
Date: Tue, 9 Dec 2014 15:44:12 -0800
Subject: [Diabetes-talk] Dexcom SHARE - I can read the current
	BG	reading on my iPhone using Voiceover
In-Reply-To: <027c01d013e3$b1ed3080$15c79180$@gmail.com>
References: <21ECB79B6A9E408D8F4BE277AE7CA893@Dell2006>	<009201cff9f8$69217640$3b6462c0$@panix.com>	<FAA8B3CD88314339A6C5B112F28880DA@Dell2006>
	<027c01d013e3$b1ed3080$15c79180$@gmail.com>
Message-ID: <00ba01d0140a$08f09f40$1ad1ddc0$@laurelcreekmusic.com>

My diabetes educator told me that the Dexcom share program is not yet
available. She wasn't very on top of other things we discussed though. Off
to snoop myself.
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
Sandra Ryan via Diabetes-talk
Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2014 11:10 AM
To: 'Tom and Eileen Rivera Ley'; 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Dexcom SHARE - I can read the current BG
reading on my iPhone using Voiceover

Hi Tom,

Would you be willing to e-mail me off-list?  I'd like to talk with you.  My
address is sjryan2 at gmail.com.

Thanks much.
Sandi


-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Tom and Eileen Rivera Ley via Diabetes-talk
Sent: Saturday, November 8, 2014 7:27 PM
To: 'Mike Freeman'; 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Dexcom SHARE - I can read the current BG
reading on my iPhone using Voiceover

Hi Mike,

Thanks. I read a little more about the Dexcom Share product on the web, and
in fact, it did require FDA approval, so I had that wrong. However, the time
was relatively short, as FDA approvals go,  about a year-and-a-half. 

If you read the following post on the Diabetes Mine web site, it provides
some interesting background, and some hints about where Dexcom hopes to go
with their fifth generation (5G) CGM. Now is the time to approach Dexcom
about accessibility in their next generation products. 

http://www.diabetesmine.com/2014/10/newsflash-dexcom-share-gets-fda-clearanc
e.html

For me, getting the current reading on my CGM via my iPhone is a game
changer. I've had the Dexcom SHARE system in place now for four days, and I
still get a little charge of excitement every time I open the Dexcom follow
app and read my current blood sugar! Then I usually just leave the app open
for a few minutes until the number is updated, which happens automatically
every five minutes. 

Tom

-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Freeman [mailto:k7uij at panix.com]
Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2014 2:33 PM
To: 'Tom and Eileen Rivera Ley'; 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Subject: RE: [Diabetes-talk] Dexcom SHARE - I can read the current BG
reading on my iPhone using Voiceover

Tom:

This is a great post! I commend you for your out-of-the-box thinking and
imaginative/innovative thought in coming up with this solution to your CGMS
inaccessibility problem!

Actually, I suspect that FDA did do some sort of certification on the iOS
apps in that their policy adopted earlier this year said they were going to
do so when apps might be used to control medical devices. But perhaps
there's the loophole right there: one is still presumed to operate the CGMS
device primarily through its visual display and the iOS apps merely enable
the readings to be conveyed in other ways.

Mike


-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Tom and Eileen Rivera Ley via Diabetes-talk
Sent: Tuesday, November 04, 2014 7:16 PM
To: diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Diabetes-talk] Dexcom SHARE - I can read the current BG reading on
my iPhone using Voiceover

Hi everyone,
 
Dexcom is one of the companies that develops and sells continuous glucose
monitoring systems (CGM). For more information on their current CGM model,
the Dexcom G4 Platinum CGM, you can visit www.dexcom.com 
 
These devices are not accessible, no matter which company's CGM you
purchase. However, I have used one for several years now. I require sighted
assistance to set up the system, and sighted assistance a minimum of twice
per day to enter a current blood glucose reading from a blood glucose meter
for system calibration. Even though they are not accessible, I use a CGM
because the CGM can be configured to alert you when your blood glucose level
goes above or below values you set. 
 
For instance, the CGM gives me an audible alert and vibrates whenever my
blood glucose rises above 160. It also alerts me (with a different sounding
tone and different vibration pattern) when my blood glucose goes below 70,
and it gives a particularly urgent alert when it goes below 55. 
 
I find this very helpful. It wakes me up in the middle of the night when my
blood glucose gets low, and let's me know when I'm going out of range on the
high side so I can take corrective action if warranted. The CGM has even
more valuable information on the screen, such as the current blood glucose
reading, an indication using arrows if the blood glucose is steady, or
rising or falling, and how fast, along with a graph of your blood glucose
for the last 1, 3, 6, 12 or 24 hours. But none of this information is
accessible. 
 
Last Wednesday, Dexcom announced a new product that works with their G4
Platinum CGM called Dexcom SHARE. It was designed primarily to meet the
needs of parents who wanted access to the CGM readings of their children
when their children were at school or away from home. The Dexcom SHARE
system is made up of the Dexcom SHARE cradle (which costs $299), two free
iPhone apps, and the G4 Platinum CGM itself. The person using the CGM is
known as the sharer and the person remotely viewing the sharer's CGM reading
is known as the follower. 
 
Basically, the sharer, the person wearing the CGM,  downloads the Dexcom
Share app to their iPhone or iPod or iPad. They plug in the cradle and slide
the CGM receiver/display unit into the cradle. Then they pair the cradle via
Bluetooth with their iPhone using the Dexcom Share app. The cradle sends the
CGM data to the iPhone and the iPhone uploads the data to the Dexcom
servers. The sharer then uses the Dexcom Share app to invite up to five
people to follow their CGM readings. The Share app sends an email to the
followers you invite. 
 
If you are a follower, when you receive the invitation email, you download
the Dexcom Follow app onto your own iPhone or iPod or iPad and use the
information in the invitation email to connect to the Dexcom server to begin
to receive the CGM data from the Sharer. Note that the Dexcom Share app and
the Follow app are two different apps.
 
So, to summarize all of this fairly complicated sending and receiving of
data, the blood glucose readings come from the CGM, go into the cradle, are
sent to the sharer's iPhone, where they are uploaded to Dexcom servers, and
then sent from there down to the follower's iPhone where they can be viewed.
 
I immediately bought the system, because I wanted to see what would happen
if I put the share app and the follow app both on my iPhone. In essence, I
am "following" my own CGM readings with myself. And, it works. The apps
themselves are accessible using Voiceover. I setup the system using the
Share app, invited myself to follow, and installed the follow app on my
iPhone too. 
 
My CGM is in the cradle right now. If I want to know the current blood
glucose reading, I just open the Follow app on my iPhone and read it. And,
since the CGM provides a new reading every five minutes, if I check back  in
five minutes or so, I can see how much it rose or fell, if at all, which
gives me an good idea of the trend. It is not anywhere the same thing as
having an accessible CGM. But, it does give me much more information than I
could ever get before from my CGM. The Dexcom SHARE system was not designed
so blind people could get partial CGM information on their iPhones, but it
can be used for that. 
 
The other benefit of knowing the current reading on my CGM is that I think I
can now calibrate the CGM twice a day on my own - without sighted
assistance. The big problem with calibrating the system was that you had to
enter your current blood glucose into the system, and  the screen for
calibrating always puts the current CGM reading in as the starting point.
So, if the CGM current reading was 203, and my current actual blood glucose
is 215, I would have to adjust the reading using the arrow buttons on the
CGM from 203 up to 215. This is not a problem, as long as you know the
starting point. Now, with the Follow app, I do know the current reading and
I will be able to calibrate the system with a fairly high level of
confidence on my own I believe. 
 
Note that I don't think the Dexcom SHARE system required any FDA approval as
far as I know. So, it should be very easy to add additional functionality to
the follow app to provide even more information to a blind person. 
 
Also note that although in general, CGM devices are covered by many
insurance companies, although not all, the Dexcom SHARE system is not
covered by insurance. It costs $299, and you and the followers have to be
using an IOS devices; Android based devices are not currently supported. 
 
Tom
 
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From BLucas at AlaskaBVI.org  Mon Dec 15 19:44:14 2014
From: BLucas at AlaskaBVI.org (Bonnie Lucas)
Date: Mon, 15 Dec 2014 19:44:14 +0000
Subject: [Diabetes-talk] Still needing help for someone to learn to check
	her blood sugar
Message-ID: <ccc8d3586e214243bdcbe6c400a5bf95@EXCHANGE.bvi.local>

Hi All,

I posted a while back for a lady who is blind and has diabetes. I have checked with her about going to see a diabetes educator and she has informed me that her doctor is a very small one woman operation. She lives in a town just north of Anchorage and frankly, this is Alaska! What I'd like to try, and she is in favor, is to find a woman who is knowledgeable and patient to talk with her about what she has tried and what might work. Also, she has a sighted friend who is prediabetic and checks her blood sugar. This lady might be able to help and she could participate on the call. It might even be possible to talk with her about finding a different doctor, one in Anchorage. If she knew how important this was, she might be willing to come in. She has some transportation help, I think. If you are interested, please email me personally at
blucas at alaskabvi.org<mailto:blucas at alaskabvi.org>
Thanks very much.

Bonnie Lucas, MS, CVRT, MSW
Braille and Technology Instructor, VISA Coordinator
Equipping Alaskans for Success
Alaska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired
3903 Taft Drive
Anchorage, Alaska  99517
Phone: (907) 248-7770    Direct: (907) 771-4306
www.alaskabvi.org       www.facebook.com/alaskabvi

Please consider supporting our mission when you fill out your 2013 PFD application.
[cid:image001.jpg at 01CDE8FE.BC4C8100]<http://www.pickclickgive.org/>
  www.pickclickgive.org<http://www.pickclickgive.org/>

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From k7uij at panix.com  Mon Dec 15 20:38:33 2014
From: k7uij at panix.com (Mike Freeman)
Date: Mon, 15 Dec 2014 12:38:33 -0800
Subject: [Diabetes-talk] Still needing help for someone to learn to
	check	her blood sugar
In-Reply-To: <ccc8d3586e214243bdcbe6c400a5bf95@EXCHANGE.bvi.local>
References: <ccc8d3586e214243bdcbe6c400a5bf95@EXCHANGE.bvi.local>
Message-ID: <00b301d018a7$188419e0$498c4da0$@panix.com>

I don't think a phone call will do it: you and the knowledgeable woman are
actually going to have to go out and work with the woman physically.

And I *still* say that it would be better for you and the client to
physically work with a certified diabetes educator. Once the client has got
the thing down, she can work with her own physician or do whatever she
likes. And I'm not saying it's impossible for a knowledgeable friend to
help. But often the friends know little about teaching someone to do
something, let alone knowledgeable in how a blind person does things.

With great respect and with no criticism implied, it appears to me that both
you and your client seem somewhat resistive to getting your client the best
care. Although for the most part, diabetes care can be reduced to the level
of a nuisance just as blindness can, it (diabetes) isn't something to mess
around with.

Since you seem to have your road mapped out, I am moved to wonder what help
you really want from us?

Admittedly, I didn't receive instruction in a class or one-on-one. But when
I was in the hospital in DKA and discovered I had diabetes, a CDE gave me
instruction on how to test blood sugar and how to give myself shots although
I didn't do the latter for real until I had to do it myself anyway.

But what are you wanting help with?

Thanks.

Mike Freeman


-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Bonnie Lucas via Diabetes-talk
Sent: Monday, December 15, 2014 11:44 AM
To: diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Diabetes-talk] Still needing help for someone to learn to check
her blood sugar

Hi All,

I posted a while back for a lady who is blind and has diabetes. I have
checked with her about going to see a diabetes educator and she has informed
me that her doctor is a very small one woman operation. She lives in a town
just north of Anchorage and frankly, this is Alaska! What I'd like to try,
and she is in favor, is to find a woman who is knowledgeable and patient to
talk with her about what she has tried and what might work. Also, she has a
sighted friend who is prediabetic and checks her blood sugar. This lady
might be able to help and she could participate on the call. It might even
be possible to talk with her about finding a different doctor, one in
Anchorage. If she knew how important this was, she might be willing to come
in. She has some transportation help, I think. If you are interested, please
email me personally at blucas at alaskabvi.org<mailto:blucas at alaskabvi.org>
Thanks very much.

Bonnie Lucas, MS, CVRT, MSW
Braille and Technology Instructor, VISA Coordinator Equipping Alaskans for
Success Alaska Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired
3903 Taft Drive
Anchorage, Alaska  99517
Phone: (907) 248-7770    Direct: (907) 771-4306
www.alaskabvi.org       www.facebook.com/alaskabvi

Please consider supporting our mission when you fill out your 2013 PFD
application.
[cid:image001.jpg at 01CDE8FE.BC4C8100]<http://www.pickclickgive.org/>
  www.pickclickgive.org<http://www.pickclickgive.org/>

The Center is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Call or visit our website
to learn more about how our work transforms lives.
This message contains information that may be confidential or privileged. If
you are not the intended recipient, copying or distribution of any of its
contents is prohibited. If you have received this message in error, kindly
contact the sender





From fidano at comcast.net  Fri Dec 19 05:10:25 2014
From: fidano at comcast.net (Tamera)
Date: Thu, 18 Dec 2014 21:10:25 -0800
Subject: [Diabetes-talk] Dexcom SHARE - I can read the
	current	BG	reading on my iPhone using Voiceover
In-Reply-To: <00ba01d0140a$08f09f40$1ad1ddc0$@laurelcreekmusic.com>
References: <21ECB79B6A9E408D8F4BE277AE7CA893@Dell2006>	<009201cff9f8$69217640$3b6462c0$@panix.com>	<FAA8B3CD88314339A6C5B112F28880DA@Dell2006>	<027c01d013e3$b1ed3080$15c79180$@gmail.com>
	<00ba01d0140a$08f09f40$1ad1ddc0$@laurelcreekmusic.com>
Message-ID: <004201d01b4a$1a02b7e0$4e0827a0$@comcast.net>

Visiting the site just now there was a news flash that FDA has approved? 

-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Veronica Elsea via Diabetes-talk
Sent: Tuesday, December 9, 2014 3:44 PM
To: 'Sandra Ryan'; 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Dexcom SHARE - I can read the current BG
reading on my iPhone using Voiceover

My diabetes educator told me that the Dexcom share program is not yet
available. She wasn't very on top of other things we discussed though. Off
to snoop myself.
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
Sandra Ryan via Diabetes-talk
Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2014 11:10 AM
To: 'Tom and Eileen Rivera Ley'; 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Dexcom SHARE - I can read the current BG
reading on my iPhone using Voiceover

Hi Tom,

Would you be willing to e-mail me off-list?  I'd like to talk with you.  My
address is sjryan2 at gmail.com.

Thanks much.
Sandi


-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Tom and Eileen Rivera Ley via Diabetes-talk
Sent: Saturday, November 8, 2014 7:27 PM
To: 'Mike Freeman'; 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Dexcom SHARE - I can read the current BG
reading on my iPhone using Voiceover

Hi Mike,

Thanks. I read a little more about the Dexcom Share product on the web, and
in fact, it did require FDA approval, so I had that wrong. However, the time
was relatively short, as FDA approvals go,  about a year-and-a-half. 

If you read the following post on the Diabetes Mine web site, it provides
some interesting background, and some hints about where Dexcom hopes to go
with their fifth generation (5G) CGM. Now is the time to approach Dexcom
about accessibility in their next generation products. 

http://www.diabetesmine.com/2014/10/newsflash-dexcom-share-gets-fda-clearanc
e.html

For me, getting the current reading on my CGM via my iPhone is a game
changer. I've had the Dexcom SHARE system in place now for four days, and I
still get a little charge of excitement every time I open the Dexcom follow
app and read my current blood sugar! Then I usually just leave the app open
for a few minutes until the number is updated, which happens automatically
every five minutes. 

Tom

-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Freeman [mailto:k7uij at panix.com]
Sent: Thursday, November 06, 2014 2:33 PM
To: 'Tom and Eileen Rivera Ley'; 'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'
Subject: RE: [Diabetes-talk] Dexcom SHARE - I can read the current BG
reading on my iPhone using Voiceover

Tom:

This is a great post! I commend you for your out-of-the-box thinking and
imaginative/innovative thought in coming up with this solution to your CGMS
inaccessibility problem!

Actually, I suspect that FDA did do some sort of certification on the iOS
apps in that their policy adopted earlier this year said they were going to
do so when apps might be used to control medical devices. But perhaps
there's the loophole right there: one is still presumed to operate the CGMS
device primarily through its visual display and the iOS apps merely enable
the readings to be conveyed in other ways.

Mike


-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Tom and Eileen Rivera Ley via Diabetes-talk
Sent: Tuesday, November 04, 2014 7:16 PM
To: diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org
Subject: [Diabetes-talk] Dexcom SHARE - I can read the current BG reading on
my iPhone using Voiceover

Hi everyone,
 
Dexcom is one of the companies that develops and sells continuous glucose
monitoring systems (CGM). For more information on their current CGM model,
the Dexcom G4 Platinum CGM, you can visit www.dexcom.com 
 
These devices are not accessible, no matter which company's CGM you
purchase. However, I have used one for several years now. I require sighted
assistance to set up the system, and sighted assistance a minimum of twice
per day to enter a current blood glucose reading from a blood glucose meter
for system calibration. Even though they are not accessible, I use a CGM
because the CGM can be configured to alert you when your blood glucose level
goes above or below values you set. 
 
For instance, the CGM gives me an audible alert and vibrates whenever my
blood glucose rises above 160. It also alerts me (with a different sounding
tone and different vibration pattern) when my blood glucose goes below 70,
and it gives a particularly urgent alert when it goes below 55. 
 
I find this very helpful. It wakes me up in the middle of the night when my
blood glucose gets low, and let's me know when I'm going out of range on the
high side so I can take corrective action if warranted. The CGM has even
more valuable information on the screen, such as the current blood glucose
reading, an indication using arrows if the blood glucose is steady, or
rising or falling, and how fast, along with a graph of your blood glucose
for the last 1, 3, 6, 12 or 24 hours. But none of this information is
accessible. 
 
Last Wednesday, Dexcom announced a new product that works with their G4
Platinum CGM called Dexcom SHARE. It was designed primarily to meet the
needs of parents who wanted access to the CGM readings of their children
when their children were at school or away from home. The Dexcom SHARE
system is made up of the Dexcom SHARE cradle (which costs $299), two free
iPhone apps, and the G4 Platinum CGM itself. The person using the CGM is
known as the sharer and the person remotely viewing the sharer's CGM reading
is known as the follower. 
 
Basically, the sharer, the person wearing the CGM,  downloads the Dexcom
Share app to their iPhone or iPod or iPad. They plug in the cradle and slide
the CGM receiver/display unit into the cradle. Then they pair the cradle via
Bluetooth with their iPhone using the Dexcom Share app. The cradle sends the
CGM data to the iPhone and the iPhone uploads the data to the Dexcom
servers. The sharer then uses the Dexcom Share app to invite up to five
people to follow their CGM readings. The Share app sends an email to the
followers you invite. 
 
If you are a follower, when you receive the invitation email, you download
the Dexcom Follow app onto your own iPhone or iPod or iPad and use the
information in the invitation email to connect to the Dexcom server to begin
to receive the CGM data from the Sharer. Note that the Dexcom Share app and
the Follow app are two different apps.
 
So, to summarize all of this fairly complicated sending and receiving of
data, the blood glucose readings come from the CGM, go into the cradle, are
sent to the sharer's iPhone, where they are uploaded to Dexcom servers, and
then sent from there down to the follower's iPhone where they can be viewed.
 
I immediately bought the system, because I wanted to see what would happen
if I put the share app and the follow app both on my iPhone. In essence, I
am "following" my own CGM readings with myself. And, it works. The apps
themselves are accessible using Voiceover. I setup the system using the
Share app, invited myself to follow, and installed the follow app on my
iPhone too. 
 
My CGM is in the cradle right now. If I want to know the current blood
glucose reading, I just open the Follow app on my iPhone and read it. And,
since the CGM provides a new reading every five minutes, if I check back  in
five minutes or so, I can see how much it rose or fell, if at all, which
gives me an good idea of the trend. It is not anywhere the same thing as
having an accessible CGM. But, it does give me much more information than I
could ever get before from my CGM. The Dexcom SHARE system was not designed
so blind people could get partial CGM information on their iPhones, but it
can be used for that. 
 
The other benefit of knowing the current reading on my CGM is that I think I
can now calibrate the CGM twice a day on my own - without sighted
assistance. The big problem with calibrating the system was that you had to
enter your current blood glucose into the system, and  the screen for
calibrating always puts the current CGM reading in as the starting point.
So, if the CGM current reading was 203, and my current actual blood glucose
is 215, I would have to adjust the reading using the arrow buttons on the
CGM from 203 up to 215. This is not a problem, as long as you know the
starting point. Now, with the Follow app, I do know the current reading and
I will be able to calibrate the system with a fairly high level of
confidence on my own I believe. 
 
Note that I don't think the Dexcom SHARE system required any FDA approval as
far as I know. So, it should be very easy to add additional functionality to
the follow app to provide even more information to a blind person. 
 
Also note that although in general, CGM devices are covered by many
insurance companies, although not all, the Dexcom SHARE system is not
covered by insurance. It costs $299, and you and the followers have to be
using an IOS devices; Android based devices are not currently supported. 
 
Tom
 
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om

-----
No virus found in this message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 2014.0.4765 / Virus Database: 4189/8532 - Release Date: 11/07/14


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net




From RiveraLey at Verizon.net  Fri Dec 19 12:47:31 2014
From: RiveraLey at Verizon.net (Tom and Eileen Rivera Ley)
Date: Fri, 19 Dec 2014 07:47:31 -0500
Subject: [Diabetes-talk] Diabetes-talk Digest, Vol 88, Issue 6
In-Reply-To: <mailman.33.1418990402.3596.diabetes-talk_nfbnet.org@nfbnet.org>
References: <mailman.33.1418990402.3596.diabetes-talk_nfbnet.org@nfbnet.org>
Message-ID: <A55992B05ECD49A5A9BB08828723D86E@Dell2006>

The Dexcom Share accessory for the Dexcom CGM is definitely already FDA
approved and for sale. I've been using it for a month. 
The Dexcom Share accessory costs $299 and is not covered by insurance, but
the Dexcom CGM itself is usually covered by insurance. Remember, the Dexcom
is the CGM device that measures your blood sugar automatically and sends the
reading to a small display about the size of a deck of cards. The Dexcom
Share accessory works with the Dexcom CGM to "beam" the readings to an
iPhone where it can be read using Voiceover.

Tom




From fidano at comcast.net  Fri Dec 19 18:09:53 2014
From: fidano at comcast.net (Tamera)
Date: Fri, 19 Dec 2014 10:09:53 -0800
Subject: [Diabetes-talk] Diabetes-talk Digest, Vol 88, Issue 6
In-Reply-To: <A55992B05ECD49A5A9BB08828723D86E@Dell2006>
References: <mailman.33.1418990402.3596.diabetes-talk_nfbnet.org@nfbnet.org>
	<A55992B05ECD49A5A9BB08828723D86E@Dell2006>
Message-ID: <000101d01bb6$fd9b8510$f8d28f30$@comcast.net>

Yes, how well is this working for you? Are you able to monitor all reading
throughout day? And can you calibrate each day? Seems I heard you need to do
that twice a day?


-----Original Message-----
From: Diabetes-talk [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Tom and Eileen Rivera Ley via Diabetes-talk
Sent: Friday, December 19, 2014 4:48 AM
To: diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] Diabetes-talk Digest, Vol 88, Issue 6

The Dexcom Share accessory for the Dexcom CGM is definitely already FDA
approved and for sale. I've been using it for a month. 
The Dexcom Share accessory costs $299 and is not covered by insurance, but
the Dexcom CGM itself is usually covered by insurance. Remember, the Dexcom
is the CGM device that measures your blood sugar automatically and sends the
reading to a small display about the size of a deck of cards. The Dexcom
Share accessory works with the Dexcom CGM to "beam" the readings to an
iPhone where it can be read using Voiceover.

Tom


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