Note: Resources mentioned below do not imply endorsement by the Diabetes Action Network of the NFB.
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.
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.
Are You Hearing Voices?
Well, maybe you should be! Now you can listen to Voice of the Diabetic
online at our Web site, or download it to your MP3 player to listen to anytime.
You can be educated, empowered, and inspired while exercising, riding the bus,
or standing in line. Hear the latest news about diabetes complications and listen
to the stories of other diabetics who are living their best lives, despite their
illness.
To hear the Voice, simply access our Web site at www.nfb.org/voice, and click on the link for the issue you want to hear. (The Fall 2007 and Summer 2007 issues are currently available in audio format.) Scroll down to the Table of Contents, find a story that interests you, and click the “Listen Now” button to hear the story play on your computer. Alternatively, click the “Save to MP3” button to download the story to your MP3 player to enjoy anytime. We hope you like what you hear!
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, 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.
Prodigy Meter
Prodigy® AutoCode makes monitoring your blood glucose level easier than
ever. An essential tool for the visually impaired, the audio function is also
perfect for all who prefer the spoken word to a digital display. Audio prompts
guide you through each step of using your meter and testing your blood, and
when the test is done you hear the results. For more information visit www.prodigymeter.com
or call (800) 366-5901.
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.
Helpful Web site: www.mendosa.com
“Diabetes is a disease that perhaps more than any other depends much more
on the patient than on the doctor.” So begins the Web site of David Mendosa,
a freelance writer who has written hundreds of articles about diabetes and everything
related to it, and is diabetic himself. There are links to all of his writings,
plus resources that he has found by scouring the Web for a wealth of diabetes
information. www.mendosa.com.
Free Diabetes Identification Necklace!
The Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation (DRWF) is an organization whose
stated mission is “to help find the cure for diabetes and until that goal
is achieved, to provide the care needed to combat the detrimental and life-threatening
complications of this terrible disease.” The Foundation offers a wealth
of free information covering all aspects of diabetes, which you can order from
www.diabeteswellness.net or by calling the diabetes helpline at
1-800-941-4635.
DRWF is offering free identification necklaces for any diabetic who contacts the Foundation. This identification is key when you are unable to speak for yourself in an emergency, and reads: “I Have Diabetes, Please Test My Blood Before Treating Me.”
To order, mail your self-addressed, stamped ($0.41) request including your name and address to the address below OR order online and be charged a $2.95 shipping and handling fee.
FREE Diabetes Necklace
5151 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Suite 420
Washington, DC 20016
If you are a health care professional and would like to receive a supply of necklaces for distribution to patients please call us at 202-298-9211 or e-mail us at [email protected] to discuss your requirements.
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! New feature: national television listings! 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.
Erectile Dysfunction Assistance
Discount Diabetic can provide you with vacuum therapy for your erectile dysfunction
and insurance will probably cover it! Effective method, proven to help. Call
today (800) 501-1074 or visit www.discountdiabetic.com.
We Want To Hear From You!
Voice of the Diabetic wants to hear your voice. We have designed a
new survey to find out all about our readers. Tell us what you like about the
Voice, and what could use some improvement. Please take our survey online
so that we can make sure Voice of the Diabetic provides the news, stories,
and features you need.
To take our survey, visit our Web site at www.nfb.org/voice. Scroll halfway down the page, and click the link for the reader survey. No identifying information is collected, and your responses are kept completely confidential. Please be honest—the more you tell us, the more we can improve. Thank you!
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.
Low Carb Pasta
High fiber, low carb, delicious Dreamfield’s pasta can help you control
your blood sugar and stick to a healthful diet. Raise your expectations, not
your blood sugar. Visit www.tryDreamfields.com for more information.
Raise Your Voice
Help us share your stories with those who are new to blindness and diabetes!
The Raise Your Voice campaign is our newest project, and we want to hear from you! We want to reach other diabetics who have lost vision, or people who are newly diabetic and may be feeling discouraged, scared, or overwhelmed. Voice of the Diabetic readers know that people can and do manage diabetes with little or no vision, and no loss of independence. So share your story!
We also want to share your voices with pharmaceutical companies, pump manufacturers, blood glucose meter producers, and others in the diabetes industry and tell them how important it is to make their products accessible to diabetics with little or no vision. We hope to show those companies that there is a growing and vocal population of blind diabetics who need and deserve accessible diabetes technology!
So please, Raise Your Voice and add your story! Here’s how to do it:
Call the Raise Your Voice line at (410) 504-1940. After the recorded
greeting, leave your story at the beep. It couldn’t be easier! Please
keep a few things in mind.
• First, introduce yourself using your first name. Tell us about your
diabetes and blindness. (For example: “I’m Gail, a 38-year-old type
two diabetic. I was diagnosed six years ago when I was pregnant, and became
legally blind last year…”).
• Second, you don’t have to be a diabetes superhero to share your
story. Ordinary people living with diabetes and vision loss are inspiring enough!
Your story should be between three and five minutes, but even thirty seconds
is fine!
• Third, stay positive! Newly diagnosed diabetics or newly blind diabetics
need to hear success stories. Share thoughts, information, or stories that will
be helpful to others. What do you wish you had known when you first lost your
vision? How do you work around your vision loss, or other complications, such
as amputations and kidney failure? What are your successes?
Raise Your Voice and help others!
Watch the next issue of Voice of the Diabetic for details on how to
listen to all the stories we collect.