[Diabetes-talk] What can we do?

Wed Feb 11 02:34:24 UTC 2009

Hi Debbie,
My experience with the Voice has been just the opposite.  I was surprised to
find that the Joslin center here in our area in Florida had copies of the
Voice. They were very pleased with the publication and at the time, made
sure that anyone  who was newly diagnosed, or, was needing any info
regarding diabetes took a look at the Voice. 

So, I have to disagree with you in regard to the medical profession not
wanting to have anything to do with something that won't make them a few
extra dollars. I'm still amazed at how bitter you seem to be towards the
medical profession as a whole. I know you have told us all why you feel as
you do, but I have forgotten the exact reasons why. 

I have found several wonderful doctors here in Largo and have been very
happy with their level of care.  They are in no way out to just make a buck.
Instead, they show compassion and truly care about their patients. The folks
that I have worked with at Minimed, the maker of my insulin pump, are much
the same. Sure they are always discussing the new capabilities of the pump,
but they take the time to listen to my concerns and are not out just for the
all mighty dollar. In fact, they will be meeting with me at my next doctor's
appointment to help me determine if I need to change basal rates and so
forth to get my A1C back to the level it was before I ended up in the
hospital.

I just don't think it's fair to lump all people in the medical profession
into one category simply based on your experiences with a few unscrupulous
companies or doctors. I think there are far more people in the field that
are truly concerned with the health of their patients instead of being out
there just to make as much money as possible. For example, I think Anne
Williams, who posts to this list on a regular basis, is a shining example of
what I'm trying to say about the good people in the medical field. She truly
cares about the patients she sees and it shows by the message she posts here
on this list and in the articles she has written for the Voice.

I know I won't be able to sway your opinion, but I always try to keep in
mind that a positive attitude goes a long way in managing your diabetes.  It
has worked for me over the years and has kept me out of the hospital and
helped me manage my diabetes successfully and I won't trade a positive
attitude, or view of the medical profession as a whole as being made up of
good people, for anything. .

Thanks for reading my rather lengthy post,

Dave

-----Original Message-----
From: diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org
[mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of catdancing
Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2009 6:46 PM
To: Diabetes Talk for the Blind
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] What can we do?

Eileen
All i am saying is that if the medical field can't make money off of
anything that concerns diabetes they will have nothing to do with it.
i once asked a doctor i saw here anemdo if he would like to have the voice
in his office.his response "i see no need for it?
oh well!
Debbie
----- Original Message -----
From: "Eileen Scrivani" <etscrivani at verizon.net>
To: "Diabetes Talk for the Blind" <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2009 12:10 PM
Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] What can we do?

> Debbie:
>
> This raises a few more questions.  I understand that people who are 
> blind are on limited incomes and may not be able to afford to pay for 
> a subscription to the Voice, but what about Doctor's, hospital's & 
> other medical professionals?  Certainly, they can afford to pay a 
> subscription fee.  Out of the circulation numbers, how many go to 
> people who are blind and may not be able to cover the cost of a 
> subscription & how many go to medical professionals?  Do doctor's give 
> away services for free?  I think not.
>
> And, why increase the cost of the publication with color pictures?  
> Isn't the mag primarily for those who are blind?  Perhaps the focus 
> has changed somewhere along the line from presenting good information 
> to the blind/vi community to trying to attract sighted readers?
>
> Eileen
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "catdancing" <catdancing at sbcglobal.net>
> To: "Diabetes Talk for the Blind" <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2009 12:11 PM
> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] What can we do?
>
>
>> this just seems to figure as far as diabetes and anything related to 
>> the disease that doesn't bring in a lot of money to support the 
>> disease. The Voice is a great magazine the reason it is being 
>> eliminated is because it is helpful and no one in the medical field 
>> is making a huge profit from it.
>> Debbie
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Elizabeth Lunt " <boo.lunt at verizon.net>
>> To: "'Diabetes Talk for the Blind'" <diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Monday, February 09, 2009 4:49 PM
>> Subject: Re: [Diabetes-talk] What can we do?
>>
>>
>>> Hello All,
>>> I feel I must finally write in here. The cost of the Voice of the 
>>> Diabetic has not "skyrocketed" and I'm not sure where this 
>>> information is coming from. Even with the much-improved design and 
>>> full color, the costs were controlled, and money was coming in from 
>>> ads and sponsorships. However, it simply costs a lot to print and 
>>> ship so many copies -- our circulation for Voice of the Diabetic is 
>>> over 300 thousand copies per quarter. It was very popular among 
>>> readers and diabetes educators and demand was high.
>>> Gathering
>>> the information, selling advertisements and getting education 
>>> grants, and writing and editing the publication accounted for staff 
>>> members' time, as well as other diabetes advocacy activities such as 
>>> pushing for accessible diabetes technology. Dr. Maurer has made a 
>>> decision to cut the entire Diabetes Initiatives project, which 
>>> included publishing Voice of the Diabetic. He has said that some 
>>> diabetes activities will be folded into the duties of existing staff 
>>> at the NFB, but the rest of us have been let go. We did the best we 
>>> could to present up-to-date, helpful and inspiring information about 
>>> both diabetes and coping with diabetes with limited or no vision. 
>>> There will not be another issue of the magazine, because Dr.
>>> Maurer
>>> made his decision after the Winter issue went out, and he is folding 
>>> the project now, before another would have gone out in the spring.
>>> Thank you for your support over the years. I have enjoyed working on 
>>> this publication. I hope you will get the full story, or try to, 
>>> before continuing this conversation with NFB leadership.
>>> All the best,
>>> Elizabeth Lunt
>>> Editor, Voice of the Diabetic
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org 
>>> [mailto:diabetes-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of 
>>> Blindhands at aol.com
>>> Sent: Monday, February 09, 2009 1:17 PM
>>> To: diabetes-talk at nfbnet.org
>>> Subject: [Diabetes-talk] What can we do?
>>>
>>> Diabetes is the number 1 cause of blindness in the USA.  It ranks up 
>>> there throughout the world.  What can we do to stop or have them at 
>>> least consider another  way of continuing the Voice of the Diabetic  
>>> publication.
>>>
>>> NFB is always asking us to contact our Senators and House of 
>>> Representative
>>>
>>> members, how about calling or emailing our President of NFB  to "Voice" 
>>> our
>>> opinion and thoughts on this?
>>>
>>> The blind depend on word of mouth to learn about things, that is why 
>>> we are
>>>
>>> encouraged to talk about NFB to everyone blind and sighted.
>>>
>>> I understand that the cost of the publication has sky rocketed, but 
>>> do we need color photos and the new look of the Voice?  I am sure 
>>> those are some of the reasons that caused the price  to soar.
>>>
>>> I am disappointed with this decision.  I do know that there has been 
>>> concerns in the past years about the  money going  out for this 
>>> publication and the
>>> NFB covering the  cost.          the circulation of  this publication is
>>> over
>>> three hundred thousand .
>>>
>>> Mike, do you know if there will be a notice put into the Voice and  
>>> will there be a final Voice sent out or is it just over like that ?
>>>
>>> Joyce
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>>
>>
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>
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