|
WHAT YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW BUT DIDN'T KNOW WHERE
TO ASK ���������������������������� ����������� ���������(Resource Column) ���������������������������� Artwork:� Hand
pulling a book from a shelf of books ���� Inclusion
of materials in this publication is for information only and does not imply endorsement by
the Diabetes Action Network of the NFB. ��������������������
Diabetes Supplies ���� Diabetic
Supply Distributors, Inc., helps you save four ways with your diabetes supplies: ���� 1.� Insurance billing.� They file the claim, and they pay for delivery.�
No advance payment needed ‑‑ and THEY do the paperwork. ���� 2.� Medicare billing.� Medicare pays for approved diabetes supplies (and, since last July, that list
has covered type 2 diabetics!).� Diabetic Supply will handle the details. ���� 3.� Free, fast home delivery.� Your order comes quickly to your door. � ���� 4.� Friendly personal service.� You're not talking to a computer. ���� Contact:�
Diabetic Supply Distributors, Inc., PO Box 1820, Laurel Springs, NJ 08021; telephone: 1‑800‑962‑8098. �������������� Life
Insurance For Diabetics ���������������������������� ���� If you
have diabetes, you know it can be very difficult to find life insurance.� Empire Financial, based near Baltimore, Maryland, specializes in insuring people
with "high‑risk" conditions, especially
diabetes and its complications.� "We
are specialists in high risk," says Gardner Redd, their CEO.� "For 18 years we have covered all ages, 0 to 90, and all impairments, even people who
have transplants." ���� Contact:
Empire Financial Insurance, 600 Reierstown Road, Pikesville, MD 21208; telephone: 1‑877‑263‑8603.���� ����������������� Easy
Diabetic Cookbook ���� If you
want to prepare healthy diabetic meals, but find most cookbooks just too complicated, you need Linda
Coffee and Emily Cale's THE DIABETIC 4 INGREDIENT COOKBOOK.� There are over 200 recipes, in all food categories, with
complete nutritional and exchange information, each one using
four ingredients.� The
book costs $9.95 (+$2.95 shipping), from: Coffee and Cale, PO Box 2121, Kerrville, TX 78029; telephone: 1‑800‑757‑0838. �������������� Needle‑Free
Insulin Injection ���� There is
a way to inject insulin without a needle!�
The Vitajet 3 administers a fine jet of insulin through
the skin without need for a needle.� It works, and users report less discomfort.� Try
it yourself; 30‑day money back guarantee. Contact:� Bioject,
Inc., 7620 SW Bridgeport Road, Portland, OR 97202; telephone: 1‑800‑848‑2538;
website: http://www.vitajet.com ���������������������� New Software ���� Arkenstone
OPENBook 5.0 is scanning and reading software for blind and visually impaired people.�
It now includes e‑mail features, and improved description
and navigation features.� For low‑vision users, there are new functions to customize size, color, font and spacing.�
For information, contact:� Freedom Scientific; telephone: 1‑800‑ 444‑4443; website:� www.freedomscientific.com ����������������� Delivered
To Your Door ���� Homed Pharmacy
Services will deliver your diabetic supplies to your door.� If you have Medicare, and/or private insurance, your supplies may come at no cost to you.�
Homed handles all insurance claims, and delivery is free.�
For more information, call Homed Pharmacy Services; telephone: 1‑800‑226‑7212; fax: 1‑800‑381‑9929. �������������������
Diabetic Skin Care ���� Diabetes
frequently leads to dry, cracked feet.�
Since untreated, this dryness can lead to dangerous wounds
and infections, prevention is the best cure.� Neoteric Diabetic Skin Care encourages healthy skin, and helps heal the
small lesions that might otherwise progress.� Available in lotion or cream, suggested price $12.29 each.� To find a retailer near you, or to order on line, contact:� Neoteric Cosmetics, Inc., 4880 Havana Street, Denver, CO 80239; telephone:
1‑ 800‑343‑9555; fax: (303) 576‑6151;
website: http://www.neotericdiabetic.com �������������������
Sugar‑Free Candies ���� In our
experience, most food defined by what it is not (like "fat free," or "sugar‑free")
tastes the part.� It never lets you forget what you're missing.� Liberty Orchards' candies are a very pleasant exception.�
Based on the ancient recipe for Rahat Locum (Loukoumi, or Turkish Delight), these candies lack nothing but a bit of sugar.
It's hard to describe them, full of fruit and nuts,
but you can get a free sample ($1 shipping charge), and a free catalog, by contacting them:� Liberty Orchards, PO Box 179, Cashmere, WA 98815‑0179; telephone: 1‑800‑888‑5696;
website: http://www.libertyorchards.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. ��������������������
The Type 'n Speak ���� The Type
'n Speak 2000 is a small, portable, adaptive computer/notetaker for the blind, that provides speech access (in a number of languages), Braille translation compatibility,� and
industry‑standard connection ports to your other equipment.� The unit does all this with a standard "typewriter" keyboard, and its rechargeable
battery gives you 25 hours between charges.� Prices start at $1395. For information, telephone: 1‑800‑444‑4443;
website: http://www.freedomscientific.com ��������������������
JAWS for Windows ���� There is
a new version of JAWS For Windows.�
Henter‑ Joyce's Job Access With Speech has advanced to Version
3.7, to support new software such as Quicken 2000, Visual
Basic 6.0, Microsoft Project 2000, Cakewalk Pro Audio 9.0,
and more.� For information,
contact:� Freedom Scientific, telephone:� 1‑800‑444‑4443;
website: www.freedomscientific.com ���������������� 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 the diabetes articles are on one tape).� 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. �������������� New
Oral Diabetes Medication ���������������������������� ���� If you
have type 2 diabetes, and need oral medications to keep your blood sugars down in the safe "normal"
range, you should ask your doctor about ACTOS.� This new medication directly attacks the problem of insulin resistance,
the increasing inability to process insulin, that is the
chief component of type 2 diabetes.� Its use has enabled many diabetics to reduce volume and frequency of insulin injections.� ACTOS
can be taken alone, or in conjunction with other oral diabetes medications. ���� At this
time, there is no evidence that ACTOS (pioglitazone hydrochloride) causes the same permanent
liver damage, but doctors have been advised to follow the
same liver monitoring routines as for Rezulin, in case a
similar pattern of damage appears. ���� To learn
more about ACTOS, please telephone (toll‑ free): 1‑888‑290‑3299; or visit the
ACTOS website: www.actos.com ��������������������� 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 Personality of Freedom."� This address is available, free of charge, in large print 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 8 to 5
pm. EST, weekdays.� ���������������������� Insta‑Glucose ���� If you
have type 1 diabetes, you know low blood glucose can be a sneaky enemy.� Diabetes medications are powerful but imprecise; and, if you misdose, if you miss a meal,
if you are ill, or if you have unexpected, unscheduled exercise, you can find yourself going down.� You need sugar, fast!� You need
to be carrying it with you, before trouble hits. ���� Many people
carry sugar candy, or diabetic glucose tablets, but one practical alternative is Insta‑Glucose,
by ICN Pharmaceuticals.� Insta‑Glucose is stronger (one tube, one treatment, equals 24 grams of glucose), and it
works faster than glucose tablets.� It is easy to use, and very easy to carry.� Be
prepared!� It is available at
many pharmacies and discount chains.� For information, contact: ICN Pharmaceuticals, ICN Plaza, 3300 Hyland Ave., Costa Mesa, CA 92626; telephone: 1‑800‑711‑9486;
website: http://www.instaglucose.com ��������������������
Diabetes Supplies ���� Can‑Am
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 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:� Can‑Am Care Corporation, Cimetra Industrial Park, Box 98, Chazy, NY 12921‑0098; telephone:� 1‑800‑461‑7448.� ����������������� Male
Impotence Products ���� As many
as 50% of diabetic men may experience impotence, the inability to sustain an erection.�
This can be treated in a number of ways, but the least invasive,
and least expensive, is vacuum therapy.� ���� Post‑T‑Vac
products for male impotence are safe, non‑ invasive, and easy to use.� They can be combined with other impotence therapies.� For information, contact:� Post‑T‑Vac, Box 1436, Dodge City, KS 67801; telephone:� 1‑800‑279‑7434; fax:� 316‑227‑8474. ��������������������
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 at 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. ��������������������� 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 ������������ New
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 (English‑ or Spanish‑speaking voice now
available), 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 large print), and instructions on audiocassette.� The new meter (catalog #2030802��
English, or #3040208�� Spanish)
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. �������������� Adaptive
Equipment Convention ���� The Assistive
Technology Industry Association, an organization of adaptive equipment manufacturers, distributors and related service personnel, is having
a conference and exposition, in Orlando, Florida, January
24 through 27, 2001.�
In their words:� "The
purpose of this conference will be to provide a forum for education
and communication to professional practitioners serving
those with disabilities (teachers, occupational therapists, rehabilitation counselors, physicians, psychologists, speech‑language pathologists, etc.), with the
overarching goal of providing enhanced benefits and opportunities
to people with disabilities." ���� The organizers
expect more than 100 presentations, more than 100 exhibitors, and many networking opportunities.� For more information, contact:� ATIA; telephone: 1‑877‑687‑2842; e‑mail: [email protected]; website:� http//www.atia.org ��������������������
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 ������������������
WINDOWS Screen Reader ���� GW Micro
now offers WINDOW‑EYES for WINDOWS 98, a screen reader program 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 ��������������������
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 ��������������������
Diabetes Supplies ���� iCARE Medical
Supply helps you save time and money. They serve both Medicare and private insurance patients,
and offer free delivery, free insurance billing, and no
up‑front cost.� Call
for� a consultation, or check
out their website. iCARE Medical Supply; telephone: 1‑800‑324‑6271;
website: www.icaremedical.com � ������������������
Treat Male Impotence ���� Diabetic
impotence is one of the nastier side effects of diabetes.� Although
new oral medications work, for about 2/3 of diabetic men who are experiencing this complication, many need another alternative. ���� Timm Medical
Technologies, successor to Osbon, offers the ErecAid ESTEEM External Vacuum Therapy System.�
It is safe, drug‑free, easy to use, and has a proven
90% success rate. ���� For more
information on the ErecAid, contact:�
Timm Medical Technologies, Inc.; telephone: 1‑800‑435‑6780; website:� www.timmmedical.com
��� |
||
����������������������������������
����������������������������