Greetings:
My wife is legally blind. This summer, she will spend two weeks vacationing with her very elderly parents while I have to return to Saudi Arabia due to work obligations. She will return to the Kingdom two weeks after me.
Frankly, I help her with her injections but I won’t be able to do that, of course, while she is in Canada. She is a bit nervous about doing her injections totally on her own but, as I have told her, she is not the only person who is legally blind, or even blind, with diabetes. This is a path which, unfortunately, is being walked by many people everyday and it is being walked quite successfully by them. Basically, my wife especially worries the very small numbers on the syringe and, therefore, filling the syringe correctly. Frankly, how do people who are legally blind or profoundly blind do this?
Any advice about this matter anyone can us would be greatly appreciated. For example, should my wife contact the CNIB (Canadian Institute for the Blind) and the CDA (Canadian Diabetes Association) while she is in Canada or can she do this on own with supplies she can buy at a well stocked Canadian drugstore?
She can get a syringe magnifier, which slips over the syringe:
http://www.insulincase.com/Ezy-Dose-Syringe-Magnifier–P412.aspx
Also, she can try insulin pens. Dosing is done by turning a dial to the correct dose. This is easier than filling a syringe.
Insulin pens might be a great option to look into. I used them for many years before going on the pump. They allow you to “dial” up the number if units 1 “click” at a time, 1 click per unit of insulin. I believe there are pens for long acting insulin, as well as the short acting Novolog example below.
I certainly would recommend contacting CNIB and CDA even before she is to travel to Canada . Planning ahead may pay-off . I may have asked the following previously in another discussion :
Also how about blood glucose monitoring ?? There is available in Canada through Safeway Pharmacy the " Oracle Talking Monitor " . here is their website : www.oraclediabetes.com . or call 1-866-829-7926 . Safeway stores may not be available , where she visits .One purchases 100 EZ Health Oracle Tests Strips and system is FREE as advertised in Safeway’s Managing Diabetes , spring/summer 2009 issue .