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 Supplies

American Diabetic Supply, Inc., will ship your diabetes supplies to your door. They handle all insurance claims, 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., 115 E. Granada Blvd., Suite 9, Ormond Beach, FL 32176; telephone: 1-800-453-9033.

Diabetes Supplies

If you are looking for a by-mail source for your diabetes equipment and supplies, check out Diabetes Supplies, Inc (formerly Medi-Mail, Inc.). Because it is small, the company is able to offer a high level of customer service. They bill Medicare and secondary insurance carriers, accept assignment, and stock difficult-to-find items like Diascan test strips. They also carry diabetes literature and information, and all their employees have received instruction from diabetes educators. For information, contact: Diabetes Supplies, Inc., 1594 Northgate Drive, Naples, FL 33942; telephone: 1-800-883-9146.

Diabetes Information

Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, one of the most respected names in American medicine, publishes a series of yearly monographs called "The Johns Hopkins White Papers". Each deals with a specific topic; one of them is "Diabetes Mellitus". Written by top professionals, the 1997 edition includes in-depth articles and definitions, and reflects the latest developments in insulins, prevention of diabetic nephropathy, and treatments for type II diabetes. Regularly priced at $19.95, this and other texts are available from: The Johns Hopkins White Papers, Subscription Department, PO Box 420083, Palm Coast, FL 32142-0083.

WINDOWS Screen Reader

GW Micro has developed "WINDOW-EYES," a screen reader for Microsoft WINDOWS. Once equipped with a voice synthesizer such as the Dectalk (your CD-ROM soundcard won't do), any computer that can run WINDOWS can run WINDOW-EYES. The WINDOW-EYES program costs $495, and is available from: GW Micro, 310 Racquet Street, Fort Wayne, IN 46825; telephone: (219) 483-3625.

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: MI SKIN, INC., 3645 Warrensville Center Road, Suite 321, Shaker Heights, OH 44122; telephone: 1-800-754-6066.

New Resource Guide

The NFB Diabetes Action Network announces the updated "Resource Guide to Aids and Appliances". Once again, we have compiled a list of companies and individuals who offer products and/or information for diabetics, especially those blind or losing vision, to help them self-manage their diabetes. The "Resource Guide" features six subject categories: General and Miscellaneous, Automatic Insulin Injection Systems, Blood Glucose Monitoring Systems, Syringe Magnifiers, Insulin Pumps, and Large Distributors of Diabetes Equipment and/or Supplies.

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 can 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.

The new "Resource Guide" costs $2 per copy and is available in Braille (30 pages), large print (14 pages), and audiocassette. Make checks payable to National Federation of the Blind (Visa, MasterCard or Discover also accepted). Order from: National Federation of the Blind, Materials Center, 1800 Johnson Street, Baltimore, MD 21230; telephone: (410) 659-9314.

Ski for Light

We have been asked to announce: Ski for Light, Inc., announces its 22nd "International Week" gathering for blind or mobility-impaired adult skiers, who will be teamed with non-disabled instructor-guides. About 250 people, from a number of countries, are expected to participate. The event will be held at Cragun's Hotel and Conference Center, in Brainerd, Minnesota, from February 23 to March 2, 1997. Cost of the event is $575, double occupancy, plus transportation. For applications, call Larry Showalter; telephone: (614) 478-7898.For information, contact: Ski For Light, Inc., 1455 West Lake Street, Minneapolis, MN, 55408- 2648; telephone: (612) 827-3232; or on the World Wide Web at: http://www.tmn.com/sfl/home.html

New Magnifier

We have been asked to announce: Telesensory Corporation announces a new SVGA screen magnifier, called �Genie". A member of their "Aladdin" family of magnification devices, Genie displays in full color, high contrast black and white, negative (colors reversed), and 24 color combinations (such as green-on-black and yellow-on- blue), and will magnify computer images as well. For information about Genie and their other products, contact: Telesensory Corporation, Marketing Communications, 455 N. Bernardo Avenue, Mountain View, CA 94043-5237; telephone: 1- 800-804-8004.

Finger Skin Cream

Diabetics who suffer from sore, cracked or calloused fingers because of frequent use of blood lancets for glucose monitoring may find new relief.

"Formulated For Fingers", a new skin cream by Can-Am Care Corporation, features the Australian Tea Tree Oil as a moisturizing and soothing ingredient.

This cream, packaged in 4-oz. squeezable bottles, is priced at $9.99. For more information contact: Can-Am Corporation, Cimetra Industrial Park, Box 98, Chazy, NY 12921-0098; telephone: 1-800-461-7448.

Sugar Free Marketplace

Not quite everything for sale at the Sugar Free Marketplace is good for the diabetic diet. They also sell cookbooks, books about diabetes, and diabetic socks. The edible products they list, according to the catalog, are all made without refined sugar, corn syrup, honey or molasses.

For more information about the many food products offered by the Sugar Free Marketplace, or their non-food product lines, or for a free copy of their catalog, contact: Sugar Free Marketplace, 6710 N. University Drive, Tamarac, FL 33321; telephone: 1-800-726-6191.

New Diabetes Books

The American Diabetes Association has published two new books. "Reflections on Diabetes" is a 121-page motivational collection of 39 real-life stories about coping with the disease and its ramifications, drawn from the pages of "Diabetes Forecast" magazine. "Diabetes A to Z" is a dictionary-style quick reference covering aspects of the disease, terms and areas of interest. Many items are discussed, from alcohol to blood glucose, to exercise, foot, high blood pressure, vegetarian diets, and your health care team. It covers a lot of territory in 195 pages. The books are priced at $9.95 each, and are available from: American Diabetes Association, 1660 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314; telephone: 1-800-232-6733.

Computer Equipment

Aicom Corporation of San Jose, CA, offers three models of the "Accent" text-to-speech synthesizer, a device that converts text on your computer screen to speech. It has a vocabulary of over 20,000 words. The models include a full-length PC plug-in card for IBM-PC compatibles ($595), a stand-alone unit with RS-232C link to any computer ($795), or the Messenger-IC PCMCIA Type II ($995), as well as others. The Accent is supported by all major screen-reader programs. For further information contact: Aicom Corporation, 2381 Zanker Road, Suite 160, San Jose, CA 95131; telephone: (408) 577-0370; fax: (408) 577-0373.

Board Members The Diabetes Action Network of the National Federation of the Blind.

President:Tom Ley, Baltimore, MD First Vice-President: Ed Bryant, Columbia, MO Second Vice-President: Janet Lee, Cedar, MN Treasurer: John Yark, Stamford, CT Secretary: Sandie Addy, Prescott Valley, AZ