From the Editor: I believe you will find the following letter interesting. I can't understand Minimed's reluctance here; marketing is important for any company, especially where there is such a clear need. Perhaps Mr. Hoese needs to hear from more of us?
Diabetes Action Network
National Federation of the Blind
Columbia, MO 65203
[email protected]
August 14, 2003
Mr. Ray Hoese
Marketing Department
Medtronic Minimed
Sylmar, CA 91342
[email protected]
Dear Mr. Hoese:
For several years I have been trying to interest Medtronic Minimed, and you, in blind diabetics as a potential market for your firm's insulin pumps. CDC estimates 12,000 to 24,000 people are blinded each year by diabetes, so we're not a "small market."
We know the insulin pump provides the most natural control of diabetic blood sugars, and that diabetes is the biggest producer of new blindness--thus there are thousands of blind diabetics who could use your pump--with a little help. We've talked about making the controls a bit more "user-friendly" for the blind, and, the more modest goal of assembling an instructional tape to help train blind and visually impaired diabetics to use the pump.
On August 30, 2002, I sent you a list of blind pump users who were ready to help you create such a tape. You acknowledged receiving the list. You said you'd contact them. On August 12, two days ago, I called two of these people, and they said they have yet to hear from you.
Mr. Hoese, some have said that Medtronic Minimed doesn't care about serving the blind: "the market isn't large enough." Really? As I mentioned before, there are thousands of blind diabetics.
I feel it is important for our more than 322,000 Voice readers to be informed about this, so I will publish this letter in the next Voice of the Diabetic, and if you'll please contact me I will be happy to publish your reply. Many diabetics and health professionals will be interested in your response.
Sincerely,
Ed Bryant, Editor
Voice of the Diabetic
Animas Corporation
(The ANIMAS R1000)
Animas Corporation, 590 Lancaster Avenue, Frazer, PA 19355; telephone: 1-877-937-7867; Web site: www.animascorp.com
Dana Diabecare
(The DIABECARE-II)
Dana Diabecare, 2601 N. Hullen Street, Metairie, LA 70002; telephone: 1-866-342-2322; Web site: www.danapumps.com
Deltec
(The DELTEC COZMO)
1265 Grey Fox Road, St. Paul MN, 55112; telephone: 1-800-826-9703; Web site: www.delteccozmo.com
Disetronic
(The H-TRON PLUS and the D-TRON PLUS) Import suspended -- expect resumption sometime in 2004
Disetronic Medical Systems, 5151 Program Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55112-1014; telephone: 1-800-280-7801; Web site: www.disetronicusa.com
Medtronic Minimed
The MINIMED 508, 512 and PARADIGM
Medtronic Minimed, 18000 Devonshire Street, Northridge, CA 91325-1219; telephone: 1-800-646-4633; Web site: www.minimed.com
A special case: The DAHEDI 25For the tiny, very basic DAHEDI 25 insulin pump, contact: Logimedix, 1675 North Commerce Parkway, Weston, FL 33326; telephone: 1-800-821-8241; Web site: www.logimedix.com