Usability of Medical Devices for Patients With Diabetes Who Are Visually Impaired or Blind.
The estimation is that every third to fourth patient with diabetes suffers from some degree of diabetic retinopathy. Medical products for insulin administration (such as insulin pens and pumps) or glucose monitoring not optimized to the needs of these patients' represent a high barrier for optimal diabetes therapy in daily practice. To date, the number of devices suitable for visually impaired and blind patients with diabetes is scarce. This manuscript outlines the specific needs of this patient group with regard to systems for insulin administration, blood glucose measurement, and continuous glucose monitoring. We see the clear need for a policy requirement for manufacturers to provide accessible/user friendly technical aids for visually impaired and blind patients with diabetes. This would represent an important step toward improving the situation for this impressively large patient group.
Science & Co, Düsseldorf, Germany.
Lutz
L
Heinemann
Eschweiler, Germany.
Diana
D
Drossel
Institut für Diabetes-Technologie Forschungs- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH an der Universität Ulm, Ulm, Germany.
Guido
G
Freckmann
Diabetes Zentrum Mergentheim, Forschungsinstitut der Diabetes-Akademie Bad Mergentheim (FIDAM), Bad Mergentheim, Germany kulzer@diabetes-zentrum.de.
Bernhard
B
Kulzer
D001296:Audiovisual Aids; D015190:Blood Glucose Self-Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007328:Insulin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007332:Insulin Infusion Systems; D019987:Persons with Visual Disabilities
D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin
barrier free; blindness; blood glucose measurements; insulin pens; insulin pumps; visual impairment