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.
Equipment and Supplies
Comprehensive Health Services, Inc., offers a customer direct diabetic supply program. They stock glucose monitors for the sighted and visually impaired, test strips, syringes, and other diabetic products. Medicare and private insurance accepted; free and convenient home delivery; 24-hour toll-free telephone; training and emergency customer support. Guaranteed full refund on supplies returned within 30 days of purchase. To qualifying customers, no "out of pocket" cost for diabetes supplies; no insurance paperwork to fill out.
For information, call 1-800-261-8917, or contact: Comprehensive Health Services, 602 U.S. Hwy. 117 N., Burgaw, NC 28425.
Large Print Books
The Doubleday Large Print Home Library is a book club, offering best sellers and other selections, in hardback, in easy-to-read 16-point type. Prices are competitive with the same titles in standard type, and satisfaction is guaranteed. To learn more, or for a free catalog, contact:
The Doubleday Large Print Home Library, 6550 East 30th Street, PO Box 6309, Indianapolis, IN 46206-6309.
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.
Diabetic Diet Help
Doctors and dietitians tell us in microscopic detail just what we should and should not eat. The problem is following their instructions, on a daily basis. Keeping track of what you should eat, what you've already had, and what's not in your meal plan is easier now, with the Diabetic Tracking System.
The Diabetic Tracking System is a set of color-coded cards, labelled in large print (Braille headers available) divided into the different food groups (starch, vegetables, fruit, protein, milk/yogurt, fats). Each card represents one serving. Once you and your doctor or nutritionist have determined how many and which of the cards you should use, start each day with all your cards in the NOT USED stack, and when you eat, move the cards that represent the foods eaten to the USED stack.
To order a set of Diabetic Tracking System cards, in large print, or in large print with Braille headers, send check or money order for $17.95 (+ $2.95 shipping) to: Diabetic Tracking System, PO Box 506, Cypress, TX 77410-0506.
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.
Foot Protection
Lam-in-Sole safety insoles slip into your boots, work shoes, dress shoes or jogging shoes, and take up no more space than commercially available cushion inserts. But the Lam-in-Sole is different; it starts with a piece of flexible .02" rustproof steel, then adds a foam latex pad for comfort. Where a conventional shoe or boot is little protection if you step on a nail, broken glass, or other sharp object, the Lam-in-Sole will withstand an exposed piercing object at more than 300 pounds pressure. Cost: $19.95. Help prevent those foot injuries that can turn serious! For information, contact: Prevention Safety Products, 99 Marshall Street, Winthrop, MA 02152; telephone: 1-800-484-6753 (then enter "8089" when it asks for the 4-digit security code) or: (617) 846-7042; fax: (617) 539-1951.
WINDOWS Screen Reader
GW Micro has developed "WINDOW-EYES," a screen reader for Microsoft WINDOWS 3.1x 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! The WINDOW-EYES program costs $495, and is available from: GW Micro, 715 Airport North Office Park, Fort Wayne, IN 46825; telephone: (219) 489-3671.
Talking Computers
Henter-Joyce, Inc., maker of the "JAWS" series of computer screen readers, offers screen-to-speech software including "JAWS For WINDOWS" (JFW 3.0), now capable of reading WINDOWS 95. The company also produces "JAWS for WINDOWS NT," and software for the DECtalk speech synthesizer. 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 or 1-800-803-8000; fax: (813) 803-8001; email: [email protected]
Adaptive Computing
HumanWare, Inc., a leader in adaptive computer technology for the blind and visually impaired, offers Braille computer terminals, Braille printers, electronic print magnifiers (CCTVs), talking palmtop organizers, speech synthesizers, adaptive software products, specially configured talking computers, scanners and reading systems. New to their catalog are the Kurzweil Omni 1000 and Omni 3000 text-to-speech systems, Ultimate Reader and TextHELP, and the Braille Window display. For information about these and other products, contact: HumanWare, Inc., 6245 King Road, Loomis, CA 95650; telephone: 1-800-722-3393.
Carry Your Syringes
Carrying syringes to work, or "on the go" has always been an inconvenience at best. But now, the safe transportation of pre-filled insulin syringes is as simple as carriying a pen. The Wright Prefilled Syringe Case accommodates a wide variety of U-100 syringes, including B-D, EZ-Ject, Terumo, and PharmaPlast. Sold in sets of two: one white and one black case; cost is $16.95. Contact: LLW Enterprises, Inc., PO Box 591353, Houston, TX 77259-1353; telephone: 1-800-824-2401 or (281) 480-1506.
Diabetic Skin Care Products
The Anastasia Marie Diabetic Pure Skin Therapy Total Skin Care System for Face & Body is a complete line of products specifically formulated for diabetic dry skin, including: Diapedic Foot Cream, Hand and Body Cream, Azulene Night Repair, and Day Protection Formula SPF 15. These products should be available at pharmacies nationwide. For more information or ordering assistance call: Consumers Choice Systems, Inc., Bellvue, WA 98005; telephone: 1-800-479-5232.
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.
Discount Diabetes Supplies
Can-Am Care Corporation manufactures many discount-priced diabetes supplies, including Dex4 glucose tablets, E-ZJect lancets, and the Quick Check line of generic test strips. Its test strip lineup includes those for the LifeScan One Touch blood glucose monitors. For further information, or to receive their "Questions and Answers" pamphlet, contact Can-Am Care Corporation, Cimetra Industrial Park, Box 98, Chazy, NY 12921-0098; telephone: 1-800-461-7448.
Diabetic Foot Care
Comforteze Sock Company manufactures large, comfortable, non-binding, all-cotton socks. Sizes medium, large, and extra large, they fit easily over bandages, and provide relief for sore and swollen feet. Price $6 per pair; money back guarantee. Call toll-free: 1-888-433-6636.
Insulin Vial Identification
The Ident-A-Cap system, manufactured by Terron, Inc., is a simple way to mark different insulin types, helping to cut misidentification and dosage errors. Utilizing brightly-colored plastic snap-caps with raised letters, it can help pharmacists, caregivers, and some visually impaired diabetics distinguish between insulins. Until the insulin industry adopts uniform tactile vial markings, this may be a worthwhile option. Cost: $1.99 for a set of two caps. Available from Diabetic Promotions; telephone: 1-800-433-1477, or from: Terron, Inc., 202 B North 4th Street, Sanger, TX 76266; telephone: 1-800-862-2348.
Diabetes Education Materials
The Pennsylvania Diabetes Academy offers a large selection of diabetes education materials, geared for medical professionals, teachers and counselors, patients, family and friends. These include "flip charts," videos, booklets, and the board game "Caretaker." Many products are available in Spanish as well. For information, or free catalog, contact: Pennsylvania Diabetes Academy, 777 East Park Drive, PO Box 8820, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8820; telephone: (717) 558-7750, extension 1271.
Diabetes Literature
Krames Communications, a health information publishing company, now includes diabetes literature in its catalog.
Pamphlets and tear sheets include material on type I, type II, foot care, gestational diabetes, retinopathy, long-term complications, meal planning, sick days, and more. For catalog and ordering information, contact: Krames Communications, 1100 Grundy Lane, San Bruno, CA 94066-3030; telephone: 1-800-333-3032; http://www.krames.com
Rehabilitation Centers
Many "blind rehab" centers offer training in the adaptive skills of blindness, but the following three work closely with the National Federation of the Blind, and adhere to its philosophy: that with appropriate training, equipment, and opportunity, blind people can be fully independent, productive, and involved in the mainstream. If you have need of training in non-visual computer skills, travel skills, or general life skills, or know someone who does, please consider:
B.L.I.N.D., Inc., Director: Joyce Scanlan, 100 E. 22nd Street, Minneapolis, MN 55404; telephone: (612) 872-0100.
The Colorado Center for the Blind, Director: Homer Page, 1830 S. Acoma Street, Denver, CO 80223-3606; telephone: 1-800-401-4632.
The Louisiana Center for the Blind, Director: Joanne Wilson, 101 S. Trenton, Ruston, LA 71270; telephone: 1-800-234-4166 or (318) 251-2891.
Diabetes Publications
Our office regularly receives requests for diabetes information. Education is essential, and although most diabetes periodicals will not list their competitors, we at VOICE OF THE DIABETIC feel our readers are best served by knowing all their options. Here are the major national consumer diabetes publications, listed in descending order of circulation size:
1. "Diabetes Self-Management": Rapaport Publishing, PO Box 51125, Boulder, CO 80323-1125. Published bi-monthly; general diabetes information. Cost: $18 per year. Circulation: 341,832.
2. "Diabetes Forecast": American Diabetes Association, Inc., 1600 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314; telephone: 1-800-232-3472. Published monthly; general diabetes information. Cost: $24 per year. Circulation: 284,000.
You can access "Diabetes Forecast" on the World Wide Web at:
http://www.ada.judds.com/magazine/forecast/default.htm
3. VOICE OF THE DIABETIC: The Diabetes Action Network of the National Federation of the Blind, 811 Cherry Street, Suite 309, Columbia, MO 65201; telephone: (573) 875-8911. Published quarterly; general diabetes information. Distributed free on request, in standard print or audiocassette for the blind (the VOICE is the only diabetes magazine available in adaptive format). Circulation: 202,610. You can access the VOICE on the World Wide Web, at: http://www.nfb.org/voice.htm
4. "The Diabetes Advisor": American Diabetes Association, 1600 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314; telephone: 1-800-232-3472. Published bi-monthly; contains advice for diabetics. Cost: $9.95 per year. Circulation: 60,000.
5. "Diabetes Countdown": Juvenile Diabetes Foundation International, 120 Wall Street, New York, NY 10005; telephone: 1-800-223-1138.
Published quarterly, "Countdown" reflect's the JDF's focus on cure-oriented research. Cost: $25 per year.
Circulation: 50,000. Find "Countdown" on the World Wide Web at: http://www.jdfcure.com
6. "Diabetes Interview": 3715 Balboa Street, San Francisco, CA 94121; telephone: 1-800-488-8468. Published monthly; general diabetes information. Cost: $17.95 per year. Circulation: 30,000.
7. "Two Types": Patients Publishing Co., Inc., 454 E. Paces Ferry Road, Atlanta, GA 30305; telephone: 1-800-678-9691. A new consumer diabetes magazine, published monthly.
General diabetes information. Cost: $34.95. Circulation: figures not available.