Food for Thought

Food for Thought

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

We invite blurbs and tidbit articles for inclusion in this column.
Materials received may be edited and used as space permits. Products and services
included in this column are for information only and do not imply endorsement
by the Diabetes Action Network of the NFB.

SUGAR FREE SYRUP
We have been asked to announce: One of the first things people
who have to limit their sugar intake give up is the taste of maple syrup on
pancakes. There's just too many calories there...
No longer. Now there is a low calorie syrup that tastes like
maple, not like machine, and is, for a normal two-tablespoon serving, "free
food!" (34 calories for 1/4 cup). If there's room in your meal plan for
pancakes, there's room for Cozy Cottage Sugar Free Maple Flavored Syrup. Already
available at supermarkets nationwide; sweetened with Nutrasweet. Contact: Maple
Grove Farms of Vermont, 167 Portland Street, St. Johnsbury, VT 05819; telephone:
(802) 748-5141; website: http://www.maplegrove.com

BOARD MEMBERS
At this year's NFB national convention, in Atlanta, Georgia,
we, the Diabetes Action Network of the National Federation of the Blind, elected
our new Board. All veteran diabetics, they are:
President: Ed Bryant (Columbia, MO)
First Vice-President: Eric Woods (Denver, CO)
Second Vice-President: Sandie Addy (Prescott Valley, AZ)
Treasurer: Bruce Peters (Akron, OH)
Secretary: Sally York (Castro Valley, CA)
Board Member-At-Large: Gisela Distel (Albany, NY)
Board Member-At-Large: Paul Price (Valley Center, CA)
Paul Price, our newest board member, is an electrical engineer.
Longtime Vice-President Janet Lee, from Cedar, MN, chose not to run again. We
thank Janet for her fine service.

ATTENTION BRAILLE READERS!
We have been asked to announce: The Braille Group of Buffalo's
Diabetes Braille Project is dedicated to improving the supply of quality diabetes
information in Braille. The group merely requests (they do not require) a donation
of the print copy of the item/s selected for Brailling. For more information
please contact: Jill Pariso, Diabetes Braille Project, Braille Group of Buffalo,
4660 Sheridan Drive, Buffalo, NY 14221; telephone: (716) 633-8877; e-mail: [email protected]

AND IT WAS SO...
God created the mule, and told him, "You will be mule,
working constantly from dusk to dawn, carrying heavy loads on your back. You
will eat grass and lack intelligence. You will live for 50 years."
The mule answered, "To live like this for 50 years is too
much. Please, give me no more than 20."
And it was so.
Then God created the dog, and told him, "You will hold
vigilance over the dwellings of Man, to whom you will be his greatest companion.
You will eat his table scraps and live for 25 years."
And the dog responded, "Lord, to live 25 years as a dog
like that is too much. Please, no more than 10 years."
And it was so.
God then created the monkey, and told him, "You are monkey.
You shall swing from tree to tree, acting like an idiot. You will be funny,
and you shall live for 20 years."
And the monkey responded, "Lord, to live 20 years as the
clown of the world is too much. Please, Lord, give me no more than 10 years."
And it was so.
Finally, God created Man and told him, "You are Man, the
only rational being that walks the earth. You will use your intelligence to
have mastery over the creatures of the world. You will dominate the earth and
live for 20 years."
And the man responded, "Lord, to be Man for only 20 years
is too little. Please, Lord, give me the 30 years the mule refused, the 15 years
the dog refused, and the 10 years the monkey rejected."
And it was so.
And so God made Man to live 20 years as a man, then marry and
live 30 years like a mule working and carrying heavy loads on his back. Then,
he is to have children and live 15 years as a dog, guarding his house and eating
the leftovers after they empty the pantry; then, in his old age, to live 10
years as a monkey, acting like an idiot to amuse his grandchildren.
And it is so!

FDA HAS APPROVED AVANDIA
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Avandia
(rosiglitizone) for use by type 2 diabetics who are not taking insulin. Avandia,
a member of the thiazolidinedione class of medications (the same class as Rezulin),
reduces insulin resistance, improving the body's response to endogenous insulin.
Although there was no evidence of liver toxicity during the tests, the FDA is
recommending liver enzymes be tested at the beginning of therapy and again every
two months. For more information, talk to your doctor.
DIABETIC FOOTWEAR
We have been asked to announce: If you have diabetes, you know
one of its possible complications is difficulties with your feet. Some diabetics
will require special shoe insoles; others will need custom protective shoes.
Medicare Part B covers these items--and will pay for one pair of protective
shoes per year and/or up to three pairs of special shock-absorbing inserts.
Medicare also pays for custom inserts to replace amputated toes.
For Medicare eligibility, contact your Medicare carrier. For
an information kit about these foot products, send name and address to: Choice
Healthcare, PO Box 99, Charleston, AR 72933; telephone: 1-888-442-3390.

UNUSUAL MUSEUM
As part of its Museum, the American Printing House for the Blind
has assembled a collection of mechanical tactile writers and typewriters adapted
for blind people. Several machines from the 19th century are there, along with
tactile books, early Braille production machinery, recording equipment and players,
and various illustrations. The museum (which can be accessed on the Web at http://www.aph.org)
is free and open to the public from 8:30am to 4:30pm, Monday through Friday,
at 1839 Frankfort Avenue, Louisville, KY 40206.

BANQUET ADDRESS
This year, at our National Federation of the Blind annual convention
in Atlanta, Georgia, NFB president Dr. Marc Maurer gave the Banquet Address,
titled "The Mental Discipline of the Movement." This address is available,
free of charge, in large print, Braille, and audiocassette. This speech, and
others by President Maurer and Dr. Jernigan (and much more!), are available
from the National Federation of the Blind Materials Center, 1800 Johnson Street,
Baltimore, MD 21230; telephone: (410) 659-9314, open 12:30pm to 5:00pm EST,
weekdays.

TALKING BLOOD PRESSURE MONITORS
Many people need to regularly check their blood pressure and
pulse rate. Blind people, and those losing vision, can carry out this task with
one of the two talking blood pressure monitors now available from the National
Federation of the Blind. Both types cost $169 with standard-size pressure cuff;
one comes with cassette instructions, preset volume,and runs on batteries only.
The other has no instruction cassette, but runs on AC current or batteries,
and has an adjustable volume control. Both count pulse rate as well as blood
pressure.
For people with smaller arms, a small-size pressure cuff is
available (specify which machine) for $15; for those with large arms, a large-size
pressure cuff costs $20. These products and others (ask for your free catalog,
in large print or Braille) are available from: Materials Center, National Federation
of the Blind, 1800 Johnson Street, Baltimore, MD 21230; telephone: (410) 659-9314.

ARTICLES NEEDED
If you have diabetes, are a family member or friend of a diabetic,
or a health professional with an interest in diabetes, we invite you to submit
an article for publication in the VOICE OF THE DIABETIC.
Our philosophy regarding diabetes is positive. Do you have an
inspiring, enlightening story? We, the Diabetes Action Network of the National
Federation of the Blind, seek to show people they are not alone, and do have
options, regardless of diabetic complications. If you have experienced ramifications,
others, who may be facing the same side-effects, could benefit from what you
have to say.
Perhaps you have not experienced complications--your unique
insight, coping strategies, and lifestyle can still inspire others. Are you
a relative, a friend, or a health professional? More than 261,818 VOICE readers
could benefit from your story.
For information and article submission guidelines, contact:
VOICE OF THE DIABETIC, 811 Cherry Street, Suite 309, Columbia, MO 65201; telephone:
(573) 875-8911.