Insulin Pens For The Blind

Many people with low vision use insulin pens instead of syringes.

Insulin pens for the blind.

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. With any pen a new pen needle must be screwed onto the end of the pen for each injection. 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. The pen may be convenient but it is not that precise.

The pens come in two standard kinds. The biggest weakness of any insulin pen is the inability to mix your own insulins. Many blind diabetics successfully use insulin pumps. Insulin pen for blind.

Many insulin pens have audible clicks so that you can count the clicks to know how many units you are injecting. Monitor your blood glucose and take your insulin. If you re on u 100 pens there is one click per unit. The cost per shot is a bit higher than with syringes but the pens enjoy wide acceptance.

You should see a drop of insulin on the tip of the pen. Gently tap the pen to move air bubbles to the top of the pen. Using a syringe to inject. Diabetes and visual impairment.

Hold the pen and point the needle up. Disposable as well as multiple use. Most pens nowadays are preloaded at the factory. A non reusable insulin pen has a prefilled cartridge as well as the whole pen is discarded when the cartridge is vacant.

This can be easier for people with visual impairment and for people with hand movement problems. Lots of diabetics both blind and sighted use insulin pens which combine insulin drawing and dosing functions. Despite the resounding evidence that blind people can use insulin pens safely and effectively. 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.

Press the injection button. If you do not see a drop change the needle and repeat this step. Magnifiers are available that fit on to the pen. 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.

For most insulin pens you will hear a click for each unit of insulin that you dial. Reusable pens allow you to replace the insulin cartridge when it s vacant. All the pens click so i can hear how much insulin i m drawing up and how it s being delivered. It s not hard to figure out.