NEW DIABETES BOOK AVAILABLE

SERVING INDIVIDUALS WITH DIABETES WHO ARE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED: A RESOURCE GUIDE FOR VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION COUNSELORS is the new diabetes and blindness reference produced by the National Federation of the Blind, in collaboration with the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision at Mississippi State University. Though written for rehabilitation professionals and their clients, it contains much material of use to both diabetics and health professionals. The information is current, available in many formats, and should be useful to anyone with an interest in diabetes.

Many writers, both health professionals and people with personal experience, contributed chapters. There is material on insulin, oral medications, the nature of the disease, and in-depth coverage of complications such as retinopathy, neuropathy, and nephropathy. Other sections cover diet, exercise, the carb-counting system, the meaning of "intensive therapy" and the nature of blood sugar control. Terms like "brittle diabetic" and "DKA" are explained, and there are thorough reviews of adaptive insulin measurement devices and talking glucose monitors. One chapter reviews what is known about male impotence. Blind diabetics write of their success with insulin pumps and glucose measuring devices, and on coping with hypoglycemia, and with sight loss. There are expert discussions of current medical issues like pancreas transplantation, foot care, kidney failure and its consequences, female yeast infections, and the links between arthritis and diabetes. Another chapter reviews how bypass surgery is a good choice for individuals with diabetic heart disease.

Of particular interest are the sections dealing with coping. The National Federation of the Blind exists to promote equality and mainstream access for all blind individuals, and chapters such as "The Importance of Attitude," and "The Emotional Side," cover the nuts and bolts of this matter. There are chapters on health insurance, Braille use, and fitness for employment, and "Myths About Diabetes" is a review of mistakes and misconceptions this book was written to help correct.

The text concludes with a list of resources and agencies, product suppliers and publications. Many of these have sites on the world wide web, and they are listed, as are a number of Internet listservs, e-mail topical discussion groups.

The book is available in large print, Braille, normal-speed audiocassette tape, and IBM-compatible computer disk, and costs $25. Order from: Kelly Schaefer, R.R.T.C., PO Drawer 6189, Mississippi State, MS 39762; telephone: (601) 325-1363.