Voice of the Diabetic
Voice of the Diabetic
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WHAT YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW
BUT DIDN'T KNOW WHERE TO ASK
(Resource Column)
Artwork: Hand pulling book off shelf.
Inclusion of materials in this publication is for information
only and does not imply endorsement by the Diabetes Action Network of the NFB.
New Diabetes Resource List
The Diabetes Action Network of the National Federation of the Blind will soon
offer the 2001 edition of Diabetes Resources: Equipment, Services and Information,
our comprehensive list of resources for diabetics. Diabetes Resources is a compilation
of companies and individuals offering products and/or information to help diabetics,
especially those who are blind or are losing vision, to self-manage their diabetes.
The list will contain the following subject categories: General and Miscellaneous,
Insulin Measurement Devices, Insulin Syringe Magnifiers, Insulin Injection Systems,
Diabetic Foot Care, Blood Glucose Monitoring Systems, Insulin Pumps, Products
for the Blind, Food and Diet, Literature and Information, Distributors of Diabetes
Equipment and Supplies, and Medication Assistance.
Blind diabetics can and do accurately draw up insulin, monitor blood glucose,
and perform the other tasks of independent self?management. By using alternative
techniques and products, they can continue being independent, and control their
diabetes as efficiently as do their sighted peers. Limitations are usually self-imposed—often
all that is needed to overcome negative thinking is simply to know where to
go for information.
Diabetes Resources: Equipment, Services, and Information will cost $5 per copy,
and will be available in Braille, large print, and audiocassette (recorded at
15/16 IPS for the blind). Available July 30, 2001. Please order from: National
Federation of the Blind, Materials Center, 1800 Johnson Street, Baltimore, MD
21230; telephone: (410) 659-9314. Note: the NFB Materials Center is open weekdays
8am to 5pm Eastern time.
Talking Blood Glucose Monitor
Based on the proven Accu-Chek Advantage meter, the Roche Diagnostics Accu-Chek
Voicemate provides the following: Clear, high-quality speech synthesis, talking
the user through preparations, test procedures, and results, without the need
for sighted assistance; an "insulin vial identifier" which reads Eli
Lilly insulin vials and speaks their type, as a safety aid in tactile insulin
mixing; a new, improved, "touchable" test strip -- the Accu-Chek Comfort
Curve (no more "hanging drop of blood" needed!); no meter cleaning
required; and a tactile "code-key" system for programming test strip
codes. The Voicemate is the most "blind-friendly" talking glucose
monitor available today, and the only one whose regular operations require no
sighted assistance at all.
The Voicemate comes with an adjustable over-the-shoulder carrying case, with
meter, voice box, battery, adapter cord, 10 Comfort Curve strips, earphone,
insulin check-vial, manual and quick-reference guide (in print), and instructions
on audiocassette. The meter (catalog #2030802) can now be ordered through any
pharmacy (suggested retail price $495-525). To do so, have your pharmacist contact
Roche Diagnostics, 9115 Hague Road, Indianapolis, IN 46250; telephone: 1-800-428-5074.
For direct purchase, and a price below $500, contact any of the following retailers:
BeyondSight, Inc. Littleton, CO: 303-795-6455 ($498); Independent Living Aids,
Inc. Plainview, NY ($495): 1-800-537-2118; or the National Federation of the
Blind Materials Center Baltimore, MD ($475): 410 659-9314.
Diabetes Supplies
American Diabetic Supply, Inc., will ship your diabetes supplies to your door.
They handle all insurance claims and provide free delivery. Folks with Medicare
and/or private insurance (no HMOs) may receive supplies with no further cost.
For information, contact: American Diabetic Supply, Inc., 400 S. Atlantic Ave.,
Suite 108, Ormond Beach, FL 32176; telephone: 1-800-453-9033.
Save Your Skin
Lantiseptic is a line of skin care products of interest to diabetics. The line
includes a cream and a skin protectant, both appropriate for the dry skin diabetics
can face. The cream is especially appropriate for dry feet, and has been clinically
tested as appropriate for diabetic foot care.
Both products come in tube or jar, and FREE SAMPLES ARE AVAILABLE. For information,
or to obtain a free sample, contact: Summit Industries, Inc., PO Box 7329, Marietta,
GA 30065; telephone: 1-800-241-6996. For a free sample, telephone: 1-800-347-2456.
Full Service Diabetes Supplier
DS Medical Supply is a full-service supplier with a catalog of more than 55,000
items, dealing with diabetes, its complications, and many other medical supplies,
delivered to your home. Diabetes products range from glucose monitors by Bayer
and LifeScan, and the AccuChek VoiceMate talking glucose monitor, strips, lancets
and other supplies, to diabetic orthotics/foot care items, and much more. They
accept Medicare, private insurance, some HMOs, and, in most states, direct or
crossover Medicaid. Contact: DS Medical, 2105 Newport Place, Suite 600, Lawrenceville,
GA 30043-5561; telephone: 1-800-722-2604 , website: www.dsmedical.com
Insulin Pumps and Supplies
MiniMed is one of the worlds leading manufacturers of insulin pumps -- those
precision microdevices that are the closest thing to an artificial pancreas
we have. If you are an insulin-dependent diabetic, talk to your doctor about
pump therapy -- you might find the MiniMed 508 pump right for you. If you need
pump/infusion supplies, Minimed offers a complete line. Minimed also offers
(for doctor's use) the Continuous Glucose Monitor -- which can precisely chart
three-days' sugars, as an aid to establishing better control. And Minimed has
the (still investigational) 2007 Implantable Insulin Pump. For information contact:
MiniMed, Inc., 18000 Devonshire Street, Northridge, CA 91325-1219; telephone:
1-800-646-4633; website: www.minimed.com
Treat Male Impotence
For men who've had diabetes many years, one possible ramification is impotence,
the inability to sustain an erection. This can be treated in a number of ways,
but the least invasive is vacuum therapy.
The Vet-Co Vacuum Therapy System for male impotence is FDA-Approved, safe, non-invasive,
and easy to use. For information, call: Coast To Coast Home Medical; telephone:
1-800-330-6316.
Diabetes Supplies
When you need it, you need it. When it's time to test, when it's time for medication,
you need it already there. Diabetic Care Center will ship your diabetes supplies
to your door, and they do the paperwork. No forms, no trips to the pharmacy.
Medicare and most private insurance accepted. Call the Diabetic Care Center,
telephone: 1-800-633-7167; website: http://www.diabeticare.com
Change Your Ways
Good diabetes management is a lifestyle. Although doctors can prescribe medication
and recommend changes, sometimes "changing your ways," adapting/adopting
a healthy lifestyle, can be a lot of work -- for there is so much to learn.
The NEWSTART Lifestyle Center offers 12- and 18-day in-house, physician-supervised
intensive education programs, that emphasize permanent lifestyle changes designed
to help the participant lose weight, maintain health, and adopt healthier habits
in nutrition, cooking, exercise, and stress management.
Contact: Weimar Institute; telephone: 1-800-525-9192; e-mail: [email protected]
Reading Machine
There are many ways to cope with the problems loss of vision brings to reading.
There are optical reading machines, where you scan a printed page into computer
memory, from where it is then read by a synthesized voice. Now there is another
alternative: the L&H MagniReader.
This device combines CCTV magnification with an optical reader.
The MagniReader magnifies text or graphics up to 36x on screen, and reads it
aloud, in a clear voice. You can use either or both modes.
To find out more about this reading machine, contact: Lernout
and Hauspie Speech Products USA, Inc., Kurzweil Educational Systems Group, 52
Third Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; telephone: 1-800-894-5374; website: http://www.lhsl.com/educationad/votd
Diabetes Supplies
Inverness Medical Corporation carries a full line of discount-priced diabetes
supplies, including: Dex?4 glucose tablets, skin cream, and Excel test strips
for the Glucometer Elite monitor. The company also markets the Monoject line
of insulin syringes and lancets. Many Inverness (formerly Can?Am) products are
also sold as "house brand" at major pharmacy chains. Their low price
in no way compromises their high quality.
For information, contact: Inverness Medical Corporation, 200 Prospect Street,
Waltham, MA 02453; telephone: 1-800-461-7448.
Adaptive Computing Equipment
Freedom Scientific is a powerhouse adaptive equipment maker for the blind and
visually impaired computer user. A union of Arkenstone, Blazie Engineering,
and Henter-Joyce, Freedom Scientific offers screen magnifiers, talking attachments
(voice synthesizers) for your computer, Braille printers and much more. Whether
you need software or hardware, check them out: Freedom Scientific; telephone:
1-800-444-4443; website: www.freedomscientific.com
Diabetic Products
Health Care Products makes many over-the-counter medications and supplements
for diabetics, including DiabetiSweet sugar substitute and Diabetic Tussin sugar-free
cough syrup. Find these products in the diabetic section of Wal-Mart, Rite Aid,
Walgreens, K-Mart, and other retailers. For information, contact: Health Care
Products, 369 Bayview Avenue, Amityville NY 11701; telephone: 1-800-899-3116;
website: http://www.diabeticproducts.com
Nutrition Supplement
Your insulin or oral diabetes medications are only part of your diabetes self-management.
Although food supplements do not replace your medications, and the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration has not evaluated their efficacy to prevent or treat
any disease, a healthy diet is important, and research is continuing on the
role specific supplements may play in controlling diabetes. AlphaBetic Multi-Vitamin
Supplement is a food supplement formulated for the special needs of diabetics.
A blend of vitamins, antioxidants, and minerals, is available in sugar-free
caplets. Contact: Abkit, Inc., New York, NY 10128; telephone: 1-800-226-6227;
website http://www.alphabetic.com
Legal Advice
Rezulin was a diabetes medication recently removed from the market. A number
of users suffered liver damage, and these individuals may be entitled to financial
compensation. Nevada residents who believe they have been harmed by Rezulin
use should promptly contact the law firm of Harrison, Kemp, and Jones, CHTD;
telephone: (702) 385-6000, for a free case assessment.
Unique Glucometer
There are many fine, accurate glucose monitors out there, but
the Bayer Glucometer Dex is unique. Other monitors require you to handle a new
test strip each time, and many require a "hanging drop of blood."
Some meters must even be held upright, and dead still. Not the Dex. Drop in
a 10-test cartridge, and the compact, convenient Dex, a favorite of diabetic
athletes, sets itself. Load it in the morning - test all day - without a pocketful
of gear.
The Dex is widely available now, and probably on your pharmacy
shelf. For information, telephone: 1-800-445-5901; or find it on the web at:
Talking Computer
The VoiceNote, from HumanWare, is a laptop note-taker/organizer
for blind individuals and those losing vision. It combines the familiar MicroSoft
WINDOWS CE operating system, and standard computer keyboard, with voice access.
You can create MS Word documents, access your e-mail, transfer documents to
and from a standard PC computer, use your VoiceNote as a speech synthesizer
for another computer, and access a number of planning and scheduling tools.
For more information, about the VoiceNote or other products, contact: HumanWare,
6246 King Road, Loomis, CA 95650; telephone: 1-800-722-3393; website: www.humanware.com
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