WHAT YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW BUT DIDN'T
KNOW WHERE TO ASK
(Resource Column)
Inclusion of materials in this publication is for information only and does not imply endorsement by the Diabetes Action Network of the NFB.
DIABETIC SPECIALTY PRODUCTS
FROM THE EDITOR: If you have diabetes, you may need alternatives to some commonly used items, like cough medicine (full of sugar!) or table sugar for cooking and baking. You may need a good moisturizing skin cream, for the dry skin so many of us have, especially on our feet. Health Care Products offers all of the above. I've tried them, and I am impressed by their quality.
Diabetisweet is a sugar substitute that handles like sugar. You can cook and bake with it, and you don't need complex math to figure the proportions!
Diabetic Tussin is a line of cough syrups, formulated without sugar, sodium, alcohol, fructose, sorbitol, codeine, or dye.
DiabetiDerm skin moisturizer, available in cream and lotion, uses many natural ingredients, and is made without a petroleum base. All three of these items are available in most major drug and discount stores. For information, contact: Health Care Products, telephone: 1-800-899-3116; or at their website: http://www.diabeticproducts.com
SUGAR FREE PRODUCTS
The Sugar Free Shoppe offers tasty holiday treats like candies, cookies, jams, sauces, syrups and chocolates, all made with low-impact sugar substitutes, so you can enjoy more of them. They have hundreds of items; so contact: The Sugar Free Shoppe, 4515 Vinewood Lane, Minneapolis, MN 55442; telephone: 1-800-579-2572; e-mail: [email protected]
NEW TALKING BLOOD GLUCOSE MONITOR
Roche Diagnostics-Boehringer Mannheim Corporation, has developed a new talking blood glucose monitor. Based on the proven Accu-Chek Advantage meter, the new 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 Lilly insulin vials and speaks their type, as a safety aid in tactile insulin mixing; a new, improved test strip—the Accu-Chek Comfort Curve (no more "hanging drop of blood!); no meter cleaning required; and a new "code-key" system for programming test strip codes.
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 large print), and instructions on audiocassette. Also included is the Accu-Chek Softclix lancing device, and a packet of 10 lancets. The new meter (catalog # 2030802) can now be ordered through any pharmacy (suggested retail price $495-525). Have your pharmacist contact Roche Diagnostics, 9115 Hague Road, Indianapolis, IN 46250; telephone: 1-800-428-5076.
TALKING COMPUTERS
Henter-Joyce, Inc., maker of the "JAWS" series of computer screen readers, offers screen-to-speech software such as "JAWS For WINDOWS" (JFW), and tutorials on cassette for programs like Internet Explorer and Microsoft Word 8.
Find out more at their website: http://www.hj.com, or contact them for information: Henter-Joyce, Inc., 11800 31st Court North, St. Petersburg, FL 33716; telephone: 1-800-336-5658; fax: (813) 803-8001; e-mail: [email protected]
FREE DIABETES LITERATURE
The National Federation of the Blind maintains an extensive literature collection, with free materials on many subjects available in a variety of formats. The articles listed below make up one part of the collection, the "diabetes" category:
"Insulin Measurement Devices," "Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy," "Diabetics, Don't Give Up on Braille," "How I Went Blind...And Then What," "Review of Oral Diabetes Medications," "Preventing, Minimizing, or Delaying Kidney Failure," "Impotence, and How to Prevail," "Can I Eat Sugar?," "Cardiovascular Health: Bypass may be Better for Diabetics," "Arthritis and Diabetes: A Common Association," "Blind Diabetics Can Draw Insulin Without Difficulty," "New Dietary Guidelines for Diabetes Management," "Keeping Your Feet," "What Is Diabetes Mellitus?" "Talking Blood Glucose Monitoring Systems," "Diabetic Eye Disease," and "Kidney Failure, Dialysis, and Transplantation."
These articles are available in large print and four-track 15/16 IPS audiocassette for the blind. All are free of charge. To order, or to request a complete NFB literature catalog, contact: NFB Materials Center, 1800 Johnson Street, Baltimore, MD 21230; telephone: (410) 659-9314. The Materials Center is open 12:30 pm to 5 pm, EST, weekdays.
HUMALOG INSTRUCTION
Eli Lilly's Humalog insulin is powerful and efficient, but its responsiveness demands attention and understanding. "Getting Started With Humalog" is an instructional audiotape that takes you step by step through issues like dose change, timing with meals, pregnancy, children and adolescents, intensive therapy, and how to achieve the most benefit. The 90-minute tape also contains several case studies. Written and delivered by Betty Brackenridge, MS, RD, CDE, and Kris Swenson, RN, CDE, it is priced at $14.99, plus $1.50 shipping, and is available from: Learning Prescriptions, 1520 W. Warner Road, Suite 236, Gilbert, AZ 85233; telephone: (602) 813-5844.
SKIN CARE PRODUCTS
FROM THE EDITOR: MI FINE SKIN is a line of skin care products of interest to diabetics. The line includes a cream, a lotion, and a soap-free cleanser, all appropriate for the dry skin we face as a consequence of our diabetes. I've used the lotion and the cream, and highly approve of them both. The cream is especially appropriate for our dry feet, and has been endorsed by diabetes educators and podiatrists as appropriate for diabetic foot care (a useful "diabetic foot care" pamphlet is furnished with the cream). I tried the cream on my feet; it's not greasy, and it works!
The soap-free cleanser comes in two varieties: "for normal, dry, or sensitive skin" (16-oz. bottle) and "for oily skin" (8-oz. bottle). The face and body lotion comes in an 8-oz. bottle, and the cream is packed in a 4-oz. jar.
FREE SAMPLES OF THE CREAM AND LOTION ARE AVAILABLE.
For information, or to obtain a free sample, contact: Michel Skin Care Enterprises, Inc., 3645 Warrensville Center Road, Suite 321, Shaker Heights, OH 44122; telephone: 1-800-754-6066.
ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT
Independent Living Aids, Inc., is an adaptive equipment distributor, with years of experience serving blind people and those losing vision. If you need tactile items, items that talk (like watches, clocks, diaries, or timers), or other equipment, give them a look! Their catalog is free, and is available on audiocassette and in standard print. Contact: Independent Living Aids, Inc., 27 East Mall, Plainview, NY 11803-4404; telephone: 1-800-537-2118; fax: (516) 752-3135; e-mail: [email protected]; website: http://www.independentliving.com
DIABETES SUPPLIES
Preferred RX offers three ways to help you save on diabetes supplies and prescription drugs:
1. Insurance billing. They file the claim, handle the paperwork, and pay for delivery. No advance payment needed.
2. Medicare billing. Medicare pays for approved diabetic supplies (and starting July 1 that list will cover type 2 diabetics!). Preferred RX will handle the details, and pay for delivery.
3. Discount Prescription Club. No insurance? No prescription drug coverage? Preferred RX offers discounts at over 36,000 pharmacies nationwide.
Contact: Preferred RX, 34208 Aurora Road, Suite 132, Solon, OH 44139; telephone: 1-800-843-7038; website: http://www.preferredrx.com
WINDOWS SCREEN READER
GW Micro now offers "WINDOW-EYES for WINDOWS 98," a screen reader that also supports Microsoft WINDOWS 3.1 and WINDOWS 95. Once equipped with a voice synthesizer such as the Dectalk (your standard soundcard won't do), any computer that can run WINDOWS can run WINDOW-EYES. A free demo disk is available, or you may download the demo program from the Internet. The WINDOW-EYES program is available from: GW Micro, 310 Racquet Street, Fort Wayne, IN 46825; telephone: (219) 489-3671; fax: (219) 489-2608, e-mail: [email protected]; website: http://www.gwmicro.com
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.
DIABETES ADVICE
Regular VOICE contributor Peter J. Nebergall, PhD, has written a book for the inquiring diabetic. Based on the questions most asked at diabetes support groups, "Straight Talk About Diabetes" is plain, simple, upbeat, and unvarnished diabetes education. Some of its chapters have already appeared here in VOICE OF THE DIABETIC. Available in large print, normal-speed audiocassette, or IBM-compatible ASCII 3.5" computer disk; cost $15; shipping free. Order from: Peter J. Nebergall, 307 East Ash #36, Columbia, MO 65201; e-mail: [email protected]
DEX-4 GLUCOSE TABLETS
FROM THE EDITOR: Dex-4 glucose tablets, in lemon, raspberry, orange and grape flavors, are tasty, effective, and the tubes of 10 are easy to carry in a pocket or purse. They are also easy to open when you need them. I use Dex-4 myself. You can find them in pharmacies and supermarkets nationwide.
Each fruit-flavored, easy to chew glucose tablet contains four grams of fast-acting carbohydrate, with no fat, sodium, caffeine, or cholesterol, and only 17 calories. These value-priced tablets are available in tubes of 10 tablets or economy size bottles of 50.
For further information about Dex-4 or their many other diabetes care products, contact your pharmacist or Can-Am Care Corporation, Cimetra Industrial Park, Box 98, Chazy, NY 12921-0098; telephone: 1-800-461-7448.
ELECTRIC WHEELCHAIRS
For whatever reason, sometimes a person needs a wheelchair, and some folks will need an electric one. While finding a good wheelchair is not a great problem, paying for one has been a problem. Now, with your doctor's prescription, help is available. Gallego Medical services offers the "Jazzy," an electric wheelchair, and, with appropriate insurance or Medicare coverage, no out of pocket costs. Contact: Gallego Medical Services; telephone: 888-633-4422, or 1-800-0343, extension 2088.
SUGAR-FREE DONUTS
If you have diabetes, you probably gave up donuts a long time ago. Most of them have too much fat, and too much sugar—you wouldn't have room for anything else! But alternative donuts are now available. Baker Charles Koons has perfected a donut that has no fat, no sugar, and no cholesterol. Cost is $7.80 per dozen, plus $4 shipping, mail orders only. Order from: Charles Koons, 2075 Walnut Street, Lebanon, PA 17042; telephone: 1-800-796-4964 (plus extension "01").
DIABETES SUPPLIES
Heritage Diabetic Supply is a small, personalized source for your diabetes needs (insulin included), offering reasonable prices and one-on-one service. If you need something hard to find (like Diascan test strips), they will get it for you. Heritage handles Medicare and private insurance paperwork (no HMOs), and offers a free RSG glucose monitor just for signing up! Contact: Heritage Diabetic Supply, PO Box 1270, Marion, NC 28752; telephone: 1-800-267-6509.
TALKING TELEPHONE CALLER ID
WE HAVE BEEN ASKED TO ANNOUNCE: The CIDney Model 500 Talking Caller ID will "speak" an incoming caller's 10-digit phone number, between the first and second ring. If that number is blocked or unidentifiable it will announce "number blocked," or "number unidentifiable." The unit stores the last ten incoming phone numbers, and speaks them back to you on command, along with date and day of the call. About the size of a deck of cards, the unit has a three-position volume switch, and takes only seconds to plug in. Priced at $39.95, contact: Full Life Products, PO Box 490, Mirror Lake, NH 03853; telephone: 1-800-400-1540; website: http://www.superproducts.com
TRANSPLANT INFORMATION
If you are dealing with kidney failure, facing the possibility of dialysis or kidney transplant, you need quality information about your options. Fairview-University Medical Center has been a pioneer in kidney and pancreas transplants for diabetics. Their staff has prepared "The Transplant Handbook," for patients facing kidney transplantation. The print version costs $12, and the audiocassette (normal speed, seven tapes) costs $30. The center provides the Handbook free to their own transplant patients. To order, contact: Fairview-University Medical Center, Patient Education, Box 603, 420 Delaware Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455; telephone: 1-800-328-5465 extension 63354.
BANQUET ADDRESS
This year, at our National Federation of the Blind annual convention in Dallas, Texas, president Dr. Marc Maurer gave the Banquet Address, titled "The Search for Anonymity." 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 12:30 to 5 pm. EST, weekdays.
DIABETES RESOURCE LIST
The Diabetes Action Network of the National Federation of the Blind now offers "Diabetes Resources: Equipment, Services and Information," a 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 contains the following subject categories: General and Miscellaneous, Insulin Measurement Devices, Insulin 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 Medical 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" costs $5 per copy and is available in Braille, large print, and audiocassette (recorded at 15/16 IPS for the blind). Please order from: National Federation of the Blind, Materials Center, 1800 Johnson Street, Baltimore, MD 21230; telephone: (410) 659-9314. Note: the Materials Center is open weekdays 12:30 pm to 5:00 pm Eastern time.
VOICE DISTRIBUTORS NEEDED
Since the VOICE is now offered free, our Diabetes Action Network will provide extra copies to anyone wanting to help spread the word. We will gladly send from five to five hundred-plus copies each quarter to be used as free literature. Medical facilities can order as needed for patients. Individuals can usually place copies of the VOICE in libraries, pharmacies, hospitals, doctors' offices, or other public locations.
Diabetes education is essential. Anyone who distributes the VOICE will be helping people with diabetes, and their families, to learn about the disease and its ramifications; to learn that they have options; and that their world is far greater than whatever "limits" may be imposed by the disease. If you would like to help spread the word by distributing the publication, please contact:
Voice of the Diabetic, 811 Cherry Street, Suite 309, Columbia, MO 65201; telephone: (573) 875-8911, fax: (573) 875-8902. Please provide a phone number so we can reach you.