Exposition
Prashant Anand
'This is the science of being in charge of life, Chachu' said Rahul, my 17 year old nephew adjusting his insulin pump. The eagerness to inform me of the experience was written all over his face as he lifted his tee to show me the device.
The device was a clinical medicinal gem comprising of a pump, a disposable reservoir for insulin and a disposable infusion set. I could see the tube inserted into a vein around his waist to administer medication for under the skin insertion. He interrupted my gaze by waving his hand in front of my eyes and said “The tubing system is meant to interface the insulin reservoir to the under the skin insertion”.He picked up the cell phone and after a short while pointed to the screen; it read “The Insulin Pump is a medical device used for the administration of insulin in the treatment of diabetes mellitus, also known as continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion therapy – Wikipedia”.
We got into a discussion as he pondered over the directions narrated by the medical representative from Roche, the manufacturer of the device. He said “The insulin pump delivers a single type of fast acting insulin in two ways – A bolus dose that is pumped to cover food eaten or to correct a high blood glucose level, and a basal dose that is pumped continuously at an adjustable basal rate to deliver insulin needed between meals and at night”. This was turning interesting as I sat beside him with my embraced hands supporting my head as I leaned on the sofa. There was a strange sense of empowerment as he informed me, that the user has the ability to influence the profile of the rapid acting insulin by shaping the bolus. The pattern for delivering basal insulin throughout the day can also be customized with a pattern to suit the user.
To me it was a dichotomy of sorts; a teenager inflicted with such a grave malaise was so confident at its ways of control. He opened up a box and showed a small memory card similar to ones we have in cell phones nowadays and said “History can be uploaded to a computer and graphed for trend analysis”. I was proud to see the medicine fraternity coming up with noble ideas to save lives of humans but it was rather short lived as Rahul pronounced “The market cost is around 240000 INR”. In a country with more than 40% citizens below the poverty line, this was a bane than a boon.
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prashant . anand
govil...@gmail.com
But in my opinion when dealing with a heavy subject filled with big words and concepts, it's a little easier for the reader to understand the idea if the writer explains it in simpler terms. Perhaps use a metaphorical anecdote, like a fictionalisation of the pump and its purpose. Not to drive away from the subject but to only simplify the explanation and understanding of the same.
You have written it well, but the write up couldn't hold interest for long as the content is heavy, and one needs to force himself to continue reading.
So I would suggest use simpler terms, and explain the concepts using metaphors.
The nephew story is nice and the sympethatic
Ramesh Menon
Ramesh Menon
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Just my opinion that's all.
And correction in the previous mail.
At the end:
The story of the nephew is nice and the sympathetic surprise element works well.
Just the data needs to be cloaked better.