Note: Resources mentioned below do not imply endorsement by the Diabetes Action Network of the NFB.
Help for Diabetic Amputees
The mission of The Amputee Coalition of America (ACA) is to reach out to people
with limb loss and to empower them through education, support and advocacy.
This includes access to, and delivery of, information, quality care, appropriate
devices, reimbursement, and the services required to lead fulfilling lives.
The ACA publishes InMotion, a magazine that addresses topics of interest to
amputees and their families. The ACA toll-free hotline provides answers and
resources for people who have experienced the loss of a limb. In addition, the
organization develops and distributes booklets, video tapes, and fact sheets
to enhance the knowledge and coping skills of people affected by amputation.
To contact the ACA, call (888) AMP-KNOW (888-267-5669) or check out the Web
site at www.amputee-coalition.org.
Bilingual Talking Glucose Meter
The Prodigy Autocode delivers clear, audible readings in both English and Spanish,
is affordable and fits in your pocket. No coding is necessary and you’ll
have results in six seconds. You may be eligible for a free meter! Call toll
free: (866) 540-4815.
Talking microwave
Bravo to Hamilton Beach for their Talking Microwave (Product #87106 and #87108).
This machine is available at retail stores such as Walmart and Best Buy for
under $100, a remarkable achievement considering that most of its predecessor
talking microwaves averaged well over $300.
Amazing
new reading device that talks
The new Kurzweil–National Federation of the Blind reader is a portable
hand-held device that talks! Simply position over documents, nutritional labels,
book pages, recipes, etc. and the tool will read the contents aloud. The retail
price of this revolutionary new product is $3,495 but for a limited time the
NFB is offering a $200 discount. For more information or to order, call (877)
708-1724 or to go www.nfb.org.
Handy Portable Magnifier
Enlarge text no matter where you are with the color PocketViewer from HumanWare.
Portable and compact, PocketViewer magnifies menus, labels, and theater programs.
To order, contact HumanWare at (888) 204-7921 or go to Web site: www.humanware.com.
Accessible Glucose Meter
The new Advocate is compact, it talks, and its display is clear and bright.
The meter uses capillary action, touchable test strips and tests across a 20mg/di
range, with a tiny blood sample. Contact the retailer: Diabetic Support Program,
3381 Fairlane Farms Road, Wellington, FL 33414; telephone: (800) 990-9826, or
go to Web site: www.prescriptionsplus.com.
A
wealth of information at one site
DiabetesXChange.org is a new online clearinghouse for promising initiatives
in diabetes care, prevention and management in the U.S. Whether it’s a
small community-based initiative, university-sponsored effort, corporate wellness
program or large government project, visit the Web site to learn more.
First-Ever Online Diabetes Symposium
From a partnership of Helping Hands for the Blind and The Accessible World Symposiums,
the first world wide online Symposium on Diabetes was broadcast in 2006.
Presentations by four professionals working in the field of diabetes are available: Gretchen Becker, Ph.D., “The Importance of Being a Major Player in Your Diabetes Control,” Cardiac Consultant Dr. Bernard Mahaver on “Diabetic Medications, both oral type and insulins”, Dr. Anne Williams, “Which way is the wind blowing: trends in diabetes care” and Dr. A. Drexler, Endocrinologist, “Complications of Diabetes and current medical solutions.”
To listen, visit www.accessibleworld.org, click on “symposium archives,” then click on the diabetes symposium.
The National Kidney Foundation can assist diabetics
The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) publishes a variety of informational materials
about diabetes and chronic kidney disease. The NKF also provides resources and
support for those undergoing dialysis or kidney transplants. The NKF seeks to
prevent kidney and urinary tract diseases, improve the health and well-being
of individuals and families affected by these diseases, and increase the availability
of all organs for transplantation. For more information, call the NKF at (800)
622-9010 or go to www.kidney.org.
Share your thoughts and help the Voice
You can help us without spending a dime! In the coming weeks we will be conducting
a readership study. Randomly selected subscribers will receive a survey in the
mail. We hope to learn more about our readers and what you would like to know
and read in the Voice. Your feedback will help us with the advertising
and foundation support we need to continue publishing the Voice. Please
assist us by filling it out and sending it back. If you have trouble reading
the survey, call us at (410) 296-7760. Thank you.
Talking health-monitoring devices
You can buy a number of useful medical tools, such as: the Lo-Dose Count-A-Dose
tactile insulin syringe-filling tool; a talking blood pressure cuff; the AccuChek
VoiceMate talking blood glucose monitor; a talking digital thermometer; and,
a talking prescription bottle reader. Prices are reasonable and in some cases
the lowest anywhere. Enhance your independence and health! Contact the NFB’s
Independence Market at telephone: (410) 659-9314 (select option 4 from the voice
menu); Web site: www.nfb.org.
Tools for Meal Planning
Planning your diet is so important in managing diabetes. If you have low vision,
it might be useful to have Braille or audio-cassette editions of the meal planning
ADA exchange list, or adjustable measuring implements. All are available from
the NFB’s Independence Market at affordable prices. Call: (410) 659-9314
(select option 4 from the voice menu): Web site: www.nfb.org.
Low
Vision Tools
The NFB Independence Market has many useful assistance aids for low vision individuals.
If you need assorted magnifiers, low-vision felt-tip pens or large-print items
such as address books, calendars or check registers, you will find them among
the useful items in the market. Contact the NFB’s Independence Market
at telephone: (410) 659-9314 (select option 4 from the voice menu); Web site:
www.nfb.org.
Full Service Diabetes Supplier
Access Diabetic Supply promises free glucose monitors, delivery, and in-home
training in the use of blood glucose testing devices. Your private insurance
is welcome, and they accept Medicare, too. Check them out online: www.diabeticsupply.com
or call: (800) 285-1430.
Read
the Paper by PHONE with NFB-NEWSLINE®
NFB-NEWSLINE® makes daily newspapers and magazines accessible by phone.
Users listen to the news via synthesized voice. No computer is needed and it
is FREE! To subscribe contact: NFB-NEWSLINE®, 1800 Johnson Street, Baltimore,
MD 21230; telephone: (866) 504-7300.
Diabetes Supplies
American Diabetic Supply, Inc., will ship your diabetes supplies to your door.
They handle all insurance claims and provide free delivery. Those with Medicare
and/or private insurance (no HMOs) may receive supplies at no further cost.
For information, contact: American Diabetic Supply, Inc., telephone: (800) 453-9033,
ext. 611; Web site: www.americandiabeticsupply.com.
Flying
With Insulin or Supplies?
Terrorist activity has caused the United States Transportation Safety Authority,
the TSA, to limit carry-ons. What about insulin, glucose tablets, and other
diabetic supplies?
Passengers may bring insulin on board as long as the prescription label matches the name of the traveler. For more details go to: www.tsa.gov. NOTE: www.diabetesandtravel.com also contains useful advice for diabetic travelers, for example, how to manage time zone changes.
Counting Calories
Interested in finding how many calories your workout burned? Try the BBC Calorie
Burner Calculator, enter the minutes spent at a given exercise, and the calculator
will tell you how many calories you burned. The calculator is located at: www.bbc.co.uk/health/interactive
_area/calculators _calorieburner1.shtml.
Support for Self-Management—and a Free Meter
Liberty Medical can help Medicare patients with low-cost supplies delivered
to your door. They also offer healthcare professionals on the telephone and
reminders when you may need refills. Call (800) 786-9835 to ask about your free
meter.
Healthier Living with Diabetes
Learn life skills for daily diabetes management during a free online workshop
and study. Researchers at Stanford University are currently recruiting people
with type 2 diabetes for a self-management study. Participants may receive free
diabetes self-management materials or free lab tests. The study is conducted
entirely over the Internet. To participate, go to http://diabetes.stanford.edu
and click LEARN MORE NOW to complete a short interest form. Enrollment is open
until April. For more information, call (800) 366-2624 or e-mail: diabetes@med.
stanford.edu.