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  • With Mayo Clinic diabetes educators

    Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N.

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  • Living with diabetes blog

  • May 5, 2010

    Diabetes product packaging challenges consumers

    By Nancy Klobassa Davidson, R.N., and Peggy Moreland, R.N.

6 comments posted

Controlling Your Diabetes

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Hello fellow bloggers,

This week's blog will be short and sweet. I have a gripe about some of the current methods of packaging. In fact, did you know there is a School of Packaging at Michigan State University? My question is, what does one learn at these packaging schools; how to make life more difficult for the average consumer when it comes to opening products?

The 1982 Chicago Tylenol murders changed the packaging world forever. Seven people died after taking pain-relief capsules that had been laced with potassium cyanide. This horrendous event spurred the onset of tamper proof packaging.

How many of you have been faced with opening the hard plastic seamless sealed packages that blood glucose meters are sold in? One needs a bowie knife to open these packages. I have to wonder how many individuals have been injured attempting to open one. My concern is for those people with diabetes who are faced with dexterity issues from aging, peripheral neuropathy or carpel tunnel syndrome, which can occur frequently in individuals with diabetes.

Manufacturers have made positive strives in improving the ease of opening some packaging; for example, the lipped flip top lids on some of the blood glucose test strips. It's my understanding that the Apple computer company has come up with some innovative new packaging concepts, way to go.

Your ideas or comments?

Have a good week,

Nancy

6 comments posted

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MY01300 May 5, 2010

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