People with diabetes are required to check their insulin levels on a regular basis by using a pin prick test and a digital monitor. The monitoring and treatment of diabetes requires a range of diabetes appliances which may include:
- blood glucose monitors requiring the individual to prick their finger to obtain a drop of blood which is then applied to a test strip and placed in the monitor, which then provides a read out of the level of glucose in the blood
- syringes or insulin pens which are used to administer insulin (insulin pen generally considered easier to use than a syringe)
- test strips which are inserted into a glucose monitor to test blood glucose levels.
Workplace solutions and adjustments
Consideration should be given by the workplace to accommodate people who are required to carry out diabetic checks, with provisions made to provide a suitable area for privacy and adequate safe disposal of used needles.
For people with a visual or physical impairment, testing their blood glucose levels can be a difficult task. People may have difficulty:
- manipulating a syringe
- drawing insulin from a vial
- reading the measurements on a syringe or
- reading the display on a glucose monitor.
There are various pieces of adaptive equipment that can be used to make these tasks easier. For people who are required to check other people’s glucose levels as part of their work role, these items of adaptive equipment may also be beneficial:
- scale magnifiers
- needle guides to aid the individual to guide the needle into the insulin vial
- talking glucose monitors
- easy use syringes and pens.
Below are links containing information that may assist people who have diabetes, a disability or who take medication on a regular basis for a chronic condition:
References
Accu-Check 2011, Accu-Check Voicemate Blood Glucose Meter, Accu-Check, Sydney, viewed 26 January 2011, http://www.accu-chek.com/us/rewrite/content/en_US/2.1.8.5:50/article/ACCM_general_article_2611.htm
Diabetes Australia 2011, Blood Glucose Monitoring, Diabetes Australia, Canberra, viewed 26 January 2011, http://www.diabetesaustralia.com.au/en/NDSS-Content/Resources/Diabetes-Information-Sheets2/Blood-Glucose-Monitoring1/
Rehabmart 1999-2011, Diabetic Supplies: Magni-Guide, Rehabmart, Georgia, viewed 26 January 2011, http://www.rehabmart.com/product/19380.htm