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.

DIABETES BOOK AVAILABLE IN SPANISH

"Serving Individuals with Diabetes Who are Blind or Visually Impaired: A Resource Guide for Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors": is a diabetes and blindness reference for rehabilitation professionals, their clients, and anyone with an interest in the condition. It includes an extensive resource list, and is available in large print, normal-speed audiocassette, Braille, and IBM-compatible computer disk. Co-produced by the National Federation of the Blind, it is priced at $25 (in English). It is now available in Spanish, large print, computer disk, or audiocassette, at a cost of $30. To purchase, contact: The Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision, PO Drawer 6189, Mississippi State, MS 39762, Attn: Kelly Shaefer; phone: (601) 325-1363.

COMPUTER SCREEN MAGNIFICATION

Computer users who are blind or losing vision should consider ZoomText Xtra 7.0 from Ai Squared. Unlike CCTVs or bulky lenses, ZoomText is software, a program you load. It works with Windows 95/98 and NT, magnifies your screen up to 16 times, and speaks all on-screen text. It echoes your keyboard typing, and it will read you your multi-page documents. For information, contact: Ai Squared, PO Box 669, Manchester Center, VT 05255-0669; telephone: (802) 362-3612; fax: (802) 362-1670; website: http://www.aisquared.com

DIABETES SUPPLIES AT WAL-MART

Most people don't have to look too hard to find a Wal-Mart. You may even get some of your diabetes supplies there. But it's time for another look! Wal-Mart now has a new line of house-brand diabetes care products, what they are calling the ReliOn family. This new ReliOn label is now on syringes, lancets, glucose tablets, skin cream, and alcohol swabs. Check them out at your nearest Wal-Mart.

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

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, it is available in sugar-free caplets. Contact: Abkit, Inc.; telephone: 1-800-226-6227; website http://www.alphabetic.com

NEWSLINE FOR THE BLIND

The National Federation of the Blind announces the availability of "Newsline," an electronic publication of major daily newspapers, specifically tailored for blind and visually-impaired readers. Already operational in more than 40 metropolitan areas across country, "Newsline" electronically "reads" all of each day's edition, which is immediately made available via modem to local distribution centers. Users telephone their local center (or place a long-distance call to the National Center for the Blind) and listen to the articles they choose, read to them in a synthesized voice. The reader is free to jump between articles, sections, and publications, and to pick the speed of reading to suit their needs. There is no subscription fee or other charge to access the system. "Newsline" is not the Internet, and no computer is necessary to use it.

"USA Today," "The New York Times," "The Washington Post," "The Los Angeles Times," "The Toronto Globe and Mail," "The Wall Street Journal," and the "Chicago Tribune" already participate. More publications, including local papers, are expected to join shortly. As the system expands, even more blind individuals will have rapid and comprehensive access to daily print news media, a substantial improvement over "live reader" services. Our goal is to make the service available to every blind person in the country, and soon.

The NFB is looking for individuals and organizations willing to sponsor and maintain more of the required local distribution centers. For further information, or to listen to a sample (read by the DECtalk speech synthesizer), contact Newsline Network, National Federation of the Blind, 1800 Johnson Street, Baltimore, MD 21230; telephone: (410) 659-9314.

DIABETES RESOURCE LIST

The Diabetes Action Network of the National Federation of the Blind will shortly offer the updated "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.

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). It will also be available at our NFB website: http://www.nfb.org, and follow the links for "diabetes." 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 12:30pm to 5:00pm Eastern time.

NEW DISPOSABLE INSULIN PEN

Eli Lilly and Company announces a new product: the Humulin and Humalog Pens. These are disposable, prefilled syringe devices, each holding 300 units of Humulin 70/30, Humulin N, or quick-acting Humalog insulin. These pens (which require detachable pen needles such as the Becton Dickinson Insulin Pen Needles, sold separately) adjust in single-unit increments, with an audible click for each unit. They also have a clear plastic barrel, and a magnifying dose window to help show the exact dose.

Insulin pens have their strengths and weaknesses. They offer undeniable dosing convenience, but make precise insulin mixing difficult. Talk to your health care team about whether an insulin pen is the best choice for you. For more information about the Humulin and Humalog Pens, contact Eli Lilly; telephone: 1-888-885-4559; website: http://www.humulinpen.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.

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), the new MAGic 6.1 screen magnifier, 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]

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, including Formulated for Fingers skin cream with tea tree oil, contact your pharmacist or Can-Am Care Corporation, Cimetra Industrial Park, Box 98, Chazy, NY 12921-0098; telephone: 1-800-461-7448.

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.

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, and now it is less expensive. Available in large print, normal-speed audiocassette, or IBM-compatible ASCII 3.5" computer disk; cost $12; shipping free. Order from: Peter J. Nebergall, 307 East Ash PMB#36, Columbia, MO 65201; e-mail: [email protected]