I am writing on behalf of my grandfather who suffers from diabetes. Four years ago, my grandfather began to lose his eyesight and because of this, he has been facing several difficulties in taking medical treatment for this condition at home.
I would like to bring to the attention of the medical authorities the anomaly in giving the medicine Lantus in cartridge form only to persons under the age of 16. It is the opinion of my grandfather that persons such as himself – of an old age and visually impaired – are also in need of such a form of medicine. The medicine my grandfather receives at present comes in phial, and must be injected by needle.
Elderly persons who are diabetic and who are also certified as visually impaired are unable to take medicine in phial. On the other hand, the use of medicine in cartridges that must be taken by the pen would enable persons like my grandfather to take their medicine easily without the need to call the service of nurses or that of other people, which is very often unavailable.
In his circumstance at present, my grandfather cannot take his medicine independently, and therefore has to make use of the services of a nurse who frequently does not show up for some reason or another. Consequently, he often goes without his daily dose, which is detrimental for his health, or otherwise takes his medicine improperly, which is also very risky.
It is the opinion of my grandfather that if medicine in cartridges is disrupted to persons who encounter the difficulties mentioned above, they will be able to take their own medicine without the need to call the service of nurses or that of other people and this would also avoid the risk of such persons going without their medicine or taking their medicine improperly.
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