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.
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
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]
DIABETES SUPPLIES
Can-Am Corporation carries a full line of discount-priced diabetes supplies, including: Dex-4 glucose tablets, skin cream, and 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.
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.
NEW TALKING BLOOD GLUCOSE MONITOR
Roche Diagnostics has developed a new talking blood glucose monitor. Based on the proven Accu-Chek Advantage meter, the new Accu-Chek Voicemate provides the following: Clear, high-quality speech synthesis, talking the user through preparations, test procedures, and results, 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!); no meter cleaning required; and a new "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 print), and instructions on audiocassette. Also included is the Accu-Chek Softclix lancing device, and a packet of 10 lancets. The new meter (catalog # 2030802) can now be ordered through any pharmacy (suggested retail price $495-525). Have your pharmacist contact Roche Diagnostics, 9115 Hague Road, Indianapolis, IN 46250; telephone: 1-800-428-5074.
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
OWEN MUMFORD PRODUCTS
Owen Mumford, Inc. is the American arm of British medical supplies manufacturer Owen Mumford Ltd. Along with its eye-care aids (the Autodrop and AutoSQUEEZE), to make administering eyedrops easier and more consistent, the firm makes insulin pens (the Autopen), lancing devices (the Autolet), automatic injection devices (the Autoject) and more! To find out more, contact: Owen Mumford, Inc., 849 Pickens Industrial Drive, Suite 14, Marietta, GA 30062; telephone: 1-800-421-6936.
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.
COMFORTABLE SOX
If you have diabetes, you are at risk for foot complications. Thick, comfortable socks can help protect your feet against injury, and can cushion injured feet against aggravation.
We have been asked to announce: TheraSocks, from TheraFoot Technologies, offer comfortable fit and friction reduction, along with the latest fibers to keep your feet dry and bacteria-free. They are available in several styles; prices start at $11.95 a pair. For information, contact: TheraFoot Technologies, Inc., 200 West 18th Street, Newton, NC 28658; telephone: 1-888-466-0001.
ELECTRONIC EMERGENCY WARNING DEVICE
Today, many people with diabetes, or with other conditions that might require emergency response, live alone. If they require aid, but are unable to get to a telephone to summon it, they might wait hours to be found. They could wait too long.
For a long time, people in such a situation didn't have many alternatives. They could continue to gamble that there would be no emergencies, or they could move, to live with family members, or in a nursing home facility.
Now there is another choice. The Magnavox SecureWatch is smaller than a pager, designed to be worn like a pendant. Pushing one button triggers an alarm, which alerts monitoring specialists (on call 24 hours a day) who will immediately summon the emergency responders.
American SecureCare (who administers this device) is now affiliated with MedicAlert, so now your emergency medical information can be in the doctor's hands—even before you are. For more information, call: 1-800-518-9422.
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
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 12:30pm to 5:00pm, EST, weekdays.