On-line Diabetes Resources
Part 5: Company Web Sites
By David Mendosa
Tracking Diabetes on the Web Since 1995
Most Recent Update: June 26, 2009
This Web page brings together in one place descriptions of and links to only those company Web pages dealing with diabetes, but is linked to the 15 other On-line Diabetes Resources pages dealing with other Web pages, other parts of the Internet, and other on-line services. Those links that I think are especially valuable are marked in red.
Many companies now use the World Wide Web to advertise their products and services. MedSupplyGuide.com is a buying guide that provides information about medical equipment and companies, including those specializing in diabetes. Medical supply companies catering to people with diabetes include:
- Advanced Diabetes Supply, a division of North Coast Medical Supply in San Diego, California, is a national mail order diabetes speciality company that helps people with their supply needs and also connects them with other useful resources that can help them better manage their diabetes. ADS specializes in helping people who have Medicare insurance get their testing and insulin pump supplies. The toll-free phone number is (800) 730-9887 and the URL is
http://www.northcoastmed.comAdded June 26, 2009:
- Well Depot Health Supply Superstore in Boston, Massachusetts, is a leading seller of diabetic supplies, home medical, and infusion products, which promote recovery and active lifestyles for people with disabilities and those who require non-acute medical care. Since ou its inception, Well Depot has prided itself on delivering the highest quality, best value, and solutions to its customers. They tell me that they have particularly good pricing on test strips for blood glucose monitors. The URL is
̱http://welldepot.com/Added May 20, 2009:
- OTCWholesale offers over-the-counter products at wholesale prices. The URL is
http://otcwholesale.com/ - Edgepark Diabetic Testing Supplies in Twinsburg, Ohio, is a large mail order provider of diabetic products and diabetic supplies. The URL is
https://www.edgepark.com/Added September 7, 2008:
- The National Diabetes Resource Center in Columbus, Ohio, is an all-inclusive resource for people who have been affected by diabetes in their lives. The site includes information/advice from medical professionals, experienced people with diabetes, and professional chefs (who provide recipes) and is available at no cost. They can help you find a physician or an affordable way to get your pharmaceutical and medical equipment needs. They are the only diabetes focused certified vocational rehabilitation specialists in the country, specializing in helping people who have experienced complications or disabilities from diabetes to find a way to continue working their current jobs or even find a new job if their new complication/disability has made their current job impossible. The toll-free phone number is 1 (877)542-0214 and the URL is
http://www.nationaldiabetesresourcecenter.com/ - DiabeticOne provides diabetes testing supplies, arthritis, and pain management products to Medicare patients and people with diabetes without health insurance coverage. DiabeticOne offers affordable prices and personalized customer service 24/7 in English and Spanish. Shipping is free nationwide. Free meter and diabetes cooking magazines are available. You can call 1 (877) 351-2445 or buy online at http://www.diabeticone.com
- Health Mart's Health & Wellness Center is a locally owned independent pharmacy, "offering the special care and service you can only get from a member of your community," the owner tells me. "You'll receive the same quality care whether you're visiting our Web site or visiting a Health Mart pharmacy in your neighborhood. Health Mart's Health & Wellness center covers information about Medicare, controlling diabetes, and a full comprehensive Health Encyclopedia. The URL is
http://www.healthmart.com/health_wellness.php - Better Living Now in Hauppauge, New York, is a managed care provider of healthcare products and services, specializing in the needs of people with diabetes. BLN can be a single source for all pharmacy, vitamin, nutrition, and durable medical equipment needs. BLN is a full-service home medical equipment and medical supplies provider for Medicare and many other insurance plans. The URL is
http://www.betterlivingnow.com/ - Glucosemeters4u.com in London, England, says that provide quality diabetic diagnostic products at great low prices. A UK registered pharmacy supplies all the products. The URL is
http://www.glucosemeters4u.com/ - KCK Medical in Van Nuys, California, is a resource for all varieties of medical supplies for diabetic, diagnostic, incontinence, nutritional, skin care, respiratory, and other needs. These products are offered for private individuals, home health caregivers, nurses, and doctors throughout the United States. The toll free telephone is (888) 880-1967 and the URL is
http://www.kckmedical.com/. - MyFloridaPharmacy.com, the website of a licensed community pharmacy in Wellington, Florida, says that has the lowest prices for prescription diabetes medications of any real pharmacy in the United States. Whether you take first-line standbys like metformin and sulfonylureas — or the newest drugs like Januvia, Avandia, and Actos — MyFloridaPharmacy.com says its prices can't be beat. To keep prices down, they do not bill insurance companies. The toll-free phone number is (888) 4My-FLRx (888-469-3579) and the web address is
http://www.MyFloridaPharmacy.com. - American Diabetes Wholesale in Boca Raton, Florida, provides diabetes supplies at wholesale prices for people with diabetes with diabetic supplies at a wholesale prices. It does not bill insurance companies. The toll-free phone number is (877) 241-9002 and the URL is
http://www.americandiabeteswholesale.com/StoreFront.bok - Diabetes Symptoms Online offers diabetes supplies and information. Webmaster Tom Capizzi writes, “What I am trying to do with the site is to provide help with diagnosing diabetes and recognizing the symptoms. The articles I have planned break down and detail the specific symptoms to help recognize them so they can be caught early and treated early on.” The URL is
http://www.diabetessymptomsonline.com/ - Western Diabetic Supplies in Ogden, Utah, offers easy home delivery of name-brand diabetes testing supplies: glucose test strips, glucose meters, insulin pump infusion sets, and other diabetes supplies for home blood glucose testing. No up-front expenses and no hassle. If you have insurance coverage, your supplies may be free to you. Western Diabetic serves customers with Medicare, private insurance, or no insurance at all. The toll-free phone number is (877) 937-8342 and the URL is
http://www.westerndiabetic.com/ - The Diabetics Plan in Sandwich, Massachusetts, was created to help and assist people with diabetes who don't have health insurance. The toll-free phone number is (877) 233-9425 and the URL is
http://idekka.com/DiabeticPlan/index.htm - Direct Healthcare Supply provides Medicare and private insurance reimbursable medical products, including diabetes testing supplies. The toll-free phone number is (888) 344-3434 and the URL is
http://directhealthcaresupply.com/ - Diabetes Shop in Burlington, Ontario, Canada, is a team of registered pharmacists offering a wide range of diabetes supplies. The toll-free phone number is (877) 467-7867 and the URL is
http://www.diabetesshop.ca/index.php - Diabetes Express in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, offers a complete selection of insulin pump supplies, test strips, lancets, and syringes as well as hard to find diabetic accessories. The company has an extensive foot care section and also carries diabetes related books and nutritional scales. The order desk is open from 7:30AM to 8PM (EST), Monday to Friday and Saturdays from 9:30 to 4:30. The toll-free number is (866) 418-3392 and the URL is http://diabetesexpress.ca/
- Diabetic Care Services in Eastlake, Ohio, accepts both Medicare and private insurance with little or no out of pocket expense to the customer. The toll-free phone number is (800) 633-7167 and the URL is
http://www.diabeticcareservices.com/ - Diabetic Station provides cost-effective diabetic supplies and products
such as diabetes meters, check strips, lancets, and lancing devices. The URL is
http://www.diabeticstation.com
- Liberator Medical Supply Inc. in Stuart, Florida, providing diabetic supplies nationwide with shipping at no extra cost to home or business. They also are a provider for most Medicaid and
Medicare programs in all states. They have experienced personnel on staff and
a 24 hour emergency service line. People with diabetes can apply on line for insurance and Medicare billing and order direct by phone, (800) 755-7880, or Internet. The company also has employment opportunities for people with diabetes, diabetes products sales background, or medical sales and medical billing. Their website offers an employment application. The website is
http://www.liberatormedical.com - The Diabetes Self-Care Specialists in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, provides individualized diabetes education and self-management training for children and adults, in private and small group sessions. The company also carries a range of diabetes products. One of its specialities is insulin pump therapy, and its website has an outstanding web page comparing pump features at http://www.integrateddiabetes.com/PumpComp.html. The URL of the company's home page is
http://www.integrateddiabetes.com/ - DiabetesRxAmerica in Vero Beach, Florida, says that it charges Medicare (and your co-pay) less for prescription medicine than anyone else. Their toll free phone number is 1-800-537-4881 and the URL is
http://www.diabetesrxamerica.com/ - Jennifer King, mom to Francesca, 5 year old and diagnosed with diabetes in December 1999, designs bags for other women who have diabetes in their life. This bag is a fun, fashionable purse that organizes all your diabetes supplies, but still leaves room for the normal contents of a purse. The URL is
http://www.diabetes1bag.com/ - United States Medical Supply in Miami is a provider for medicare and private insurance companies. It provides diabetic testing supplies and respiratory supplies and medications. The URL is
http://www.us-med.com - Matria Healthcare Inc. in Marietta, Georgia, will send you diabetes supplies. To enroll call (800) 928-8220. The URL is
http://www.matria.com/ - KeyMed Inc. in Orange Park, Florida, is a supply company specializing in diabetic supplies for patients covered by Medicare or private insurance. The URL is
http://www.keymedinc.com - Diabetes Care and Treatment Inc. in Miami ships diabetes supplies directly to you and bills Medicare or your insurance company. The URL is
http://www.diabetescareandtreatment.com/ - Diamed Medical Supply in Houston, Texas, offers a wide selection of supplies from glucose meters, test strips, lancets, syringes, free training videos and much more for people living with diabetes. The company also ships to your home at no cost to the patient, obtains prescriptions, and files insurance claims. The toll-free number is (800) 787-2046 and the URL is
http://www.diamedmedicalsupply.com/ - Access Diabetic Supply in Pompano Beach, Florida, provides diabetic testing supplies to people with diabetes.
http://www.diabeticsupply.com
- National Diabetic Pharmacies in Salem, Virginia, delivers supplies and education. The URL is
http://www.nationaldiabetic.com/ - iCare Medical Supply Inc. in Jupiter, Florida, delivers diabetic supplies to your door and completes all the necessary insurance forms for Medicare and private insurance patients. The toll free phone is (800) 324-6271 and the URL is
http://www.icaremedical.com/ - DiabetesStore.com in Pompano Beach, Florida, carries a wide range of diabetic testing supplies, sugar-free foods, clothing, and accessories. The toll-free phone is (800) 891-9399 and the URL is
http://www.diabetesstore.com/ - Diabetic Direct in Boston, Massachusetts, is Elie Jabbour's online diabetes store. The tollfree phone is (866) 206-9069 x3100 and the URL is
http://store.yahoo.com/diabeticdirect/ - LogiMedix in Weston, Florida, was formerly known as Hollywood Healthcare. It carries a full line of diabetes treatment products. The toll-free number is (800) 821-0047 and the URL is
http://www.logimedix.com - DiabetiCare in Dothan, Alabama, delivers diabetes supplies right to your door. It also will file insurance claims to Medicare, Medicaid (in many states) and most private insurance companies. In most cases insurance can cover the entire cost of diabetes supplies. Founded in 1993 by Susan Strano as Total Medical Supply, this company also makes available a 12-Step Education Booklet Series on diabetes that all patients receive free when they enroll in the program. "I began my company because I had two insulin-dependent diabetic parents who knew very little about their disease or how to take care of themselves correctly," Susan writes me. "After their diagnosis, they also had a very hard time affording the cost of supplies. This is why I started the company." The toll-free telephone number is (800) 403-6547 and the URL is
http://www.diabeticare.com - Diabetic Supply Program in Jacksonville, Florida, ships diabetes supplies at no cost to you, if you have Medicare or private insurance other than an HMO. The toll-free phone is (888) 466-2678 and the URL is
http://www.diabeticsupplyprogram.com/ - Advantage Diabetic Care in Davie, Florida, gives you, it says, "the simplicity of no longer having to wait in long lines at the drugstore or filling out complicated forms." Its toll-free phone is (877) 659-8871, and its URL is
http://www.adccare.com - Advantage Health Services Inc. in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, just outside of Philadelphia, specializes in medical products and supplies specifically for people with diabetes. Since AHS accepts major medical insurance, customers do not have to fill out paperwork or wait for reimbursements. Its toll-free phone is (800) 682-8283. OMC Home Health Care Inc. is a related company set-up to meet the needs of people with diabetes who are covered by Medicare. Its toll-free phone is (800) 809-1389. The URL for both companies is
http://www.advantagerx.com/ - American Diabetic Supply Inc. in Ormond Beach, Florida, accepts both Medicare and private insurance assignment. The toll-free phone number is (800) 453-9033 and the URL is
http://www.americandiabeticsupply.com/ - Diabetic.com in Deerfield Beach, Florida, offers diabetes supplies, education, a community bulletin board, and a monthly newsletter. The toll-free phone is (800) 342-2384 and the URL is
http://www.diabetic.com - Discount Medical in Boca Raton, Florida, assists individuals with no medical insurance or whose insurance providers do not cover the cost of diabetic supplies. The toll-free number is (888) 745-3610, and the URL is
http://www.onestopmedical.com/ - Syringes by Mail in Ocala, Florida, was founded to supply people with diabetes and cancer patients with low cost hypodermic syringes and vitamin supplements. The toll-free phone number is (800) 669-2768 and the URL is
http://www.syringes-by-mail.ebz.com/ - Tropical Medical Supply Inc. in Naples, Florida, is a a registered Medicare provider
specializing in diabetic supplies and ostomy products. The toll-free phone number is (800) 611-2155 and the URL is
http://temp.twoffice.com/tropicalmedicalsupply/ - Hock's Vandalia Pharmacy's On-Line Store, Hocks.com, in Vandalia, Ohio, provides a wide range of diabetes prescriptions, supplies, and equipment to people in all 50 states. "We have been in business for over 50 years and have some excellent pricing for diabetic supplies," writes pharmacist/owner Dom Bartone.
The toll-free phone number is (800) 866-4997 and the URL is
http://www.hocks.com/ - Diabetic Care Center in Cleveland, Ohio, offers to file all Medicare and insurance forms for you. It has an extensive line of diabetes supplies. You pay only your deductible and any co-insurance, plus with most supplemental insurance you pay nothing. A pharmacist is always available for your questions. Hours are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. EST. The toll-free phone is (800) 633-7167, and the URL is
http://www.diabetcare.com/ - Diabetic Express in Cleveland, Ohio, offers deep-discount prices on all diabetes products with orders shipped directly to your door. It has an extensive line of diabetes supplies and low prescription prices with a pharmacist always available to answer questions. Hours are Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. EST. The toll-free phone is (800) 338-4656, and the URL is
http://www.diabeticexpress.com/ - DiabeticHealthCare.com in Jupiter, Florida, says that it offers people with diabetes who are doing daily blood glucose monitoring the best prices. You can buy test strips, syringes, lancets, lancing devices, and monitoring devices at the site. The company ships all products nationwide via USPS Priority Mail. "We are able to offer these prices because we do not accept insurance," President Keith Adler writes me. The toll-free number is (800) 215-4366 and the URL is
http://www.diabetichealthcare.com/ - MedServices in Boynton Beach, Florida, supplies diabetic testing equipment and supplies to patients throughout the country. "Our primary focus is the Medicare community," president Charles Vinton writes me. "We offer numerous alternatives in meters and supplies in order to meet the financial constraints of our customers." The toll free phone number is (800) 819-7678 and the URL is
http://www.onlinediabeticsupplies.com/ - American Diabetes Services in Boca Raton, Florida, provides diabetes testing supplies and prescriptions delivered to your door whether you have Medicare or private insurance. The toll free phone is (800) 933 8085 and the URL is
http://www.americandiabetes.com/ - AmMed Direct in Nashville, Tennessee, provides diabetes testing supplies, prescriptions, and specialty items to people with diabetes. It offers home delivery and handles all insurance paperwork. It also also provides information and education resources to our members. Its toll-free phone is (800) 435-1458 and the URL is
http://www.ammeddirect.com/ - Direct Diabetic Supplies in Boynton Beach, Florida, provides glucose meters, test strip, lancets and lancing devices as well as talking meter for the visually impaired and impotence treatment systems. It's to simplify life and paperwork processing for those who have Medicare Part B benefits. Mark Osenga, the president and owner of the company, writes me that one thing that sets his company apart is that it has a registered nurse and a physician's assistance as its primary customer service contacts. The toll-free phone is (800) 952-6238 and URL is
http://www.diabeticsolution.com - Diabetes Home Care in Crescent City, Florida, accepts both Medicare and private insurance for diabetic products. The toll-free phone is (800) 544-5433 and the URL is
http://www.type2diabetes.com/ - Insulin Infusion Specialties Inc. in Metairie, Louisiana, provides diabetes educational and support programs as well as diabetes products. The toll-free phone is (800) 838-7867 and the URL is
http://www.insulininfusion.com/ - Hollymount Diabetic Supply Inc. is a diabetic supply home delivery service company in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The toll-free number is (800) 463-4279 and the URL is
http://www.hollymount.com/ - Buckley Pharmacy in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, is a full-line, full-service discount pharmacy for diabetic supplies and a complete line of prescription drugs. The toll-free phone number is (800) 288-9980 and the URL is
http://www.buckleypharmacy.com/ - Express-Med Diabetes and Medical Supply Service in New Albany, Ohio, bills Medicare or private insurance programs directly, sends supplies to your home, and follows up to make sure you never run out of supplies. The toll-free phone number is (800) 678-5733 and the URL is
http://www.express-med.com - The Diabetic Care Center says that it will determine your insurance coverage, file your claim with Medicare or with most private plans, and ship diabetes supplies directly to your door. What it doesn't say is where it is. According to Network Solutions, however, the domain name is owned by Care Services Inc. in Cleveland, Ohio. Its toll-free number is (800) 633-7167 and the URL is
http://www.diabetcare.com/ - Preferred Rx of Solon, Ohio, specializes in helping people with diabetes to receive
their prescriptions and supplies. The company now offers two different programs, a Traditional
Insurance Billing Program for prescription drugs and diabetic supplies,
and a Medicare Billing Program for diabetes testing supplies. Company President Jeffrey Meese tells me that he "was one of the experimental research patients in the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) and saw first hand the benefits of tight control." The Preferred Rx toll-free number is (800) 843-7038 and its URL is
http://www.preferredrx.com/ - Liberty Medical Supply in Palm City, Florida, provides sales, service and supply of diabetic
supplies at little to no cost to its customers. It has two toll free numbers: (800) 762-8026 and (800) 633-2001. Its URL is
http://www.libertymedical.com/ - Fifty50 Diabetes Supply Pharmacy in Carrolton, Texas, is a fully-interactive on-line pharmacy
specializing in diabetes care. It is a part of Fifty 50 Foods, a large
corporate contributor to diabetes research funding. It contributes half of its
profits to the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation's research
programs, $8 million to date. Gary Russell is the company's president. The URL is
http://www.fifty50.com/ - PolyMedica Corp. in August 1996 purchased Liberty Medical Supply (see separate listing), one of the largest patient-focused mail-order distributors of diabetes supplies covered by Medicare. The URL is
http://www.polymedica.com/ - National Diabetic Pharmacies in Salem, Virginia, offers a variety of services for patients with diabetes.
Most brand name and generic supplies as well as prescription drugs are available and are shipped at no cost. The company also offer free diabetes education and educational materials. Its e-mail address is NDP@rev.net and its toll-free phone number is 1-800-Insulin. The URL is
http://www.rev.net/~ndp/ - ChemistNet, with three pharmacies in New York City, offers blood glucose meters and
test strips. The company's toll-free phone number is (888) 437-2745. The contact is Anthony G. Caserta and the URL is
http://www.chemistnet.com/index2.htm - American Medical Supplies Inc. is a sales and service organization representing the major diabetic supply companies. The Web site, which is under construction, gives no indication where the company is, but lists a toll free phone number, (800) 575-2345. The URL is
http://www.diabeticmedicare.com/ - DirectRx claims to be a full service pharmacy that offers customer the convenience of having medications sent directly to their homes. The Web site gives no indication where it is located. I was also not able to order anything using the site. The toll-free phone is (800) 422-3227 and the URL is
http://www.directrx.com - Diabetes Home Care in Crescent City, Florida, ships supplies directly to the homes of people with diabetes. Its
toll-free phone number is (800) 544-5433. "We are a family owned diabetes supply company in business since
1989," writes Barry Buchan. The URL is
http://www.diabeteshomecare.com/ - Diabetic Promotions in Willowick, Ohio, offers supplies that people with diabetes need. Their toll-free phone number is (800) 433-1477 and their URL is
http://www.diabeticpromotions.com/ - MediQuik Services Inc. in Houston, Texas, offers diabetes equipment, supplies, pharmaceuticals, and training. It bills insurance companies directly. Their toll-free phone number is (800) 808-5261 and the URL is
http://www.mediquik.net/ - I.V. MedSurge.Com, in Natchez, Mississippi, focuses on providing medical and diabetic supplies by billing its customers' Medicare or private insurance. The toll-free number is (888) 442-9853 and the URL is
http://www.ivmedsurge.com/ - John's Pharmacy in Cape Giradeau, Missouri, offers diabetic testing supplies by mail. The toll-free phone is (800) 540-9222 and the URL is
http://www.johnsrx.com/ - RxUSA is a mail-order pharmacy in Long Island City, New York, with an extensive diabetes catalog. RxUSA President Robert C. Drucker, R.Ph. writes that it always offers all diabetic supplies and prescription medications at prices that are below wholesale. The toll-free phone number is (800) 798-7248 and the URL is
http://rxusa.com/diabetes.htm - AmeriCare Health Systems in Altamonte Springs, Florida, provides many brands of blood glucose testing supplies. Their toll-free phone is (800) 334-1495 and their URL is
http://www.americarediabetes.com - Diabetic Solutions in Boulder, Colorado, offers natural herbal supplements to help control diabetes. The URL is
http://www.diabetic-solutions.com/default.htm
Canadian Drug Stores |
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Other companies in the diabetes marketplace include:
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New May 29, 2009:
- Diabetic Socks, doing business as Forward Retail in Glendale, Arizona, is an online socks retailer specializing in selling only diabetic socks. They tell me that they offer high quality diabetic socks in a wide variety of colors, all made in the U.S. The URL is
http://www.diabeticsocks.org/New April 28, 2009:
- Socks4Life is an Internet-based sock company in Atlanta, Georgia. Its diabetic socks provide the right amount of comfort and support and are specially designed for those with diabetes. They are also beneficial for those with neuropathy or arthritis for the circulation benefit. The toll-free phone number is (800) 325-4646 and the URL is
http://www.socks4life.com/New April 23, 2009:
- Stericycle Inc. provides a mail-back disposal systems for of medical sharps. The kit sizes range from 1 quart holding 42 3cc syringes at a cost of $38.45. The URL is
http://www.stericycle.com/sharps-disposal.htmlAdded February 7, 2009:
- Compressionstockings.com in Bayshore, New York, is a nationwide supplier of compression socks and stockings. A growing category of products devoted to people with diabetes, including ankle high, crew, and knee high seamless socks such as the Jobst Sensifoot, and the Juzo Silver Sole lines. Free shipping for orders over $50. The URL is
http://www.compressionstockings.com/diabetic-compression-socks-c-23.htmlAdded October 24, 2008:
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EatSmart Products of Mahwah, New Jersey, is a provider of innovative diabetes and nutrition education products. Their flagship product, the EatSmart Nutrition Scale, allows you to weight common foods and calculate the calories, carbohydrates, fiber, and nine other nutrients for exact portions sizes. The scale takes a lot of the guesswork out of your carb counting and makes using a food diary that much easier. Discounts are available for people with diabetes by calling (201) 465-4381 or following the URL
www.eatsmartproducts.com/coupon/mendosa
Added October 21, 2008:
- Nutrition and Diabetes Coaching provides you a personal coach with a passion for
helping you realize your health and life goals. Coaching is available to anyone
at home via email, telephone, and satellite. Lifestyle changes to improve
health requires practice and support. Nutrition and Diabetes Coaching has experienced
dietitians and diabetes educators who can help you overcome barriers that come
between you and living healthy. Nutrition and Diabetes Coaching is located at 1818 Main Street, Suite C, in Sumner, Washington and the phone number is (253) 394-4383. The URL is
http://diabetescoaching.net/Added June 30, 2008:
- LifeStation medical alert company provides seniors the emergency response help they might need while home alone. By pushing a help button, LifeStation operators receive a signal notifying them of an emergency. In a matter of seconds EMS, neighbors and loves one are notified by the Lifestation care operator. This service has saved thousands of lives and has given seniors the ability to live an independent life in their own homes. There are no long term contracts or cancellation fees. Service is available for just around $1/day. There are no other hidden fees. Call any time for more information or to get a free brochure at 800-884-8888. The URL is
http://www.LifeStation.comAdded May 13, 2008:
- "My wife and I were both diagnosed with type 2 in late December," Allen Litton writes me. "Your site was one of the first ones I came across when researching meter types and costs (we are currently uninsured) and found it to be very helpful and unbiased. We finally settled on the LifeScan meters, since they are about the only ones that can use the same test strips across the whole line. I was surprised though, that for a company that happily gives away the meter and software in the best Gillette style marketing to sell test strips, that they wanted $30 for the download cable. My company does custom electronic design and in particular a lot of USB enabled design work. I took it as a personal challenge (even though it cost more than $30) to build my own. The materials and assembly cost were low enough that we decided to test market it. We are selling the cable at an introductory price of $19.95, but don't foresee having to change that price based on the demand we've had. We also had a batch of OneTouch UltraMini meters we got cheap that we are including one with each cable while supplies last." You can read more about it at
http://www.celeritous.com/Added April 1, 2008:
- "I came about designing the Insucozi after I dropped and broke a vial," Dan LaFaver tells me. "I decided to make the different shapes after my father mistakenly gave my 5-year-old daughter five times too much fast-acting insulin.
The Insucozi comes in three different shapes. Round for fast-acting, hexagon for slower-acting, and square for lantus Insulins. Aside from helping a diabetic identify their different insulin, the Insucozi also makes the insulin vial easier to grip while drawing up a shot. The Insucozi also protects the insulin vial from breaking if dropped. We have spent the last year and a half developing the Insucozi and 10 months going through the Food and Drug Administration approval process. Currently the Insucozis are available online only, but we are working on getting them into the major retail pharmacies." The URL is
http://www.insucozi.com/Added December 27, 2007:
- An individual who has lived with type 1 diabetes for more than a decade started the website Diabetic Vitamins. This website links to published research on vitamins and herbs that are useful for people with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Some diabetic herbs and vitamins are well researched, and may become part part of the health routine of anyone with diabetes. The website was created to show the research and to let the information speak for itself. The URL is
http://diabeticvitamins.comUpdated April 23, 2009:
- Patton Medical Devices in Austin, Texas, offers the I-Port Injection Port, which reduces the emotional, psychological, and physical discomforts of injections by providing both adults and children a simple way to administer prescribed medications without repeated skin punctures. Only 1.5" (38mm) in diameter and 1/3" (9mm) tall, the I-Port allows for discreet wear under clothing. The URL is
http://www.i-port.com/ - INVISAPUMP is a case for your insulin pump and a way to easily attach it to the inside of your pants or skirt so no one has to know you are wearing one. Not only that, but you can easily access the pump through your pants pocket to bolus when needed. It lists for $24.99 plus shipping and ships from Tulsa, Oklahoma. The URL is
http://www.invisapump.com/ - Universal Biosensors Pty Ltd in Mount Waverley, Victoria, Australia, says that it has been “undertaking contracted product development of a blood glucose test for an [unnamed] third party.” The URL is
http://www.universalbiosensors.com/products.html - Medingo Ltd. in Yoqneam Illit 20692, Israel, develope the Solo, a miniature insulin dispensing patch that uses no tubes. The URL is
http://www.medingo.com/ - Sticky Jewelry in St. Petersburg, Florida, offers a wide selection of medical bracelets, medical charms, medical necklaces, medical watches, and childrens medical ID bracelets. The URL is
http://www.stickyj.com/ - HAH Originals in Corvallis, Montana, offers custom engraved Medical ID Alert Bracelets, identification tags, charms, medical ID jewelry, and ID bracelets. The toll-free phone is (888) 475-6339 and the URL is
http://www.hahoriginals.com/ - American Medical ID in Houston is a company that provides medical identification jewelry and has a special line of medical jewelry especially for children and young adults. Additionally, they carry a wide variety of customizable, personalized styles for adults. The toll-free phone is (800) 363-5985 and the URL is
http://www.americanmedical-id.com/home/ - Diabetic Design in Fort Worth, Texas, is a place where all is sugar free, low carb, good tasting, and appropriate for people with diabetes. They carry a variety of items — from cake mixes, cookies, candy, salad dressings, jams, jellies to breakfast foods and more. Diabetic Design also carries medical alert jewelry, insulin protectors, books, over the counter medication, lotions, and other products. They also carry portion controlled diabetic and heart-friendly frozen meals. The
URL is http://diabeticdesign.com/wp/?page_id=11
- Compression Store Inc. in Gastonia, North Carolina, is an on-line wholesaler of Jobst hosiery and socks. The Sensifoot sock (diabetic sock) is made especially for people with diabetes. The toll-free phone number is (866) 697-3515 and the URL is
http://www.compressionstore.com/productcart/pc/viewCat_h.asp?idCategory=105 - The WAVES diabetes program takes place during a cruise vacation and consists of group exercise, group dining, formal classes, informal programs, support, group shore excursions and lots of fun. The URL is
http://www.wavesdiabetes.com/ - SelectWisely in Sparta, New Jersey, offers travel translation cards into 23 different languages to people with diabetes and other conditions. The URL is
http://www.selectwisely.com/ - E K Access stands for a little boy named Eric Koch who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. It also stands for Every Kid. E K Access in Huntington Beach, California, offers insulin pump packs,which Eric's mother, Susan Koch designs. The site also offers medical alert bands, bracelets, and books for children and parents with type 1 diabetes. The phone number is (714) 377-0701and the URL is
http://www.ekaccess.com/ - N-Style ID LLC in Incline Village, Nevada, offers medical ID bracelets and medical jewelry for people with diabetes and others. The company does all the custom engraving in-house and ship directly to the buyer. It donates a percentage of all sales to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. The URL is
http://www.n-styleid.com/medical_id_bracelets.htm - Rewarding Health in Portland, Oregon, delivers products [books, workbooks, timers, kits] and services [personal coaching, online coaching, consulting, counseling, classes, seminars] designed to help you and your family minimize barriers of diabetes, and maximize time spent pursuing a quality life. The URL is
http://www.rewardinghealth.com/site/ - Pump Wear Inc. in Latham, New York, offers pump accessories for kids. The toll-free number is 1 (866) 470-7867 and the URL is
http://www.pumpwearinc.com/ - NeedleAid in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada, offers the easy-to-grip NeedleAid. Because of its stabilizing quality the NeedleAid can benefit those with decreased fine motor control. For those with visual impairment, the pressure of the NeedleAid indicates exactly where the injection will be made, ensures that the needle enters the skin at the correct angle, and protects surrounding fingers. This same pressure also appears to mask the sensation of the injection. The fact that the needle is hidden within the NeedleAid is a safety feature as well as an additional advantage for those with a needle phobia. It is helpful as well for those uncomfortable injecting themselves or others, or viewing an injection. Because the needle is out of sight, the psychological effect of self-injection is reduced. Children and adults learning to give themselves an injection will also find the device helpful. NeedleAid is designed for use with an insulin pen or syringe. The toll-free phone is 1 (800) 810-8581 and the URL is
http://www.needleaid.com/ - Southern Ohio Foot and Ankle Associates Inc. in Chillicothe, Ohio, treats all medical conditions of the foot and ankle and
specializes in diabetic wound care. Its current goal is to educate patients and the public at large about diabetes. The website has information on the Circulator Boot, which they currently use for diabetic limb salvage. For some patients facing amputation, it is their last hope.
The URL is
http://www.diabeticfootsolutions.com/ - Xilas Medical in San Antonio, Texas provides a new $150 device, just approved by the FDA, that makes it easy to check the skin temperature on the bottom of our feet every day. If either foot is warmer than 90 degrees or if one foot is 4 degrees warmer than the other, it is an early warning sign that an ulcer is developing. With that knowledge we can take action to prevent ulcers and therefore prevent amputations. The URL is
http://www.xilas.com/products-temptouch.php - Adorn Designs in San Francisco, California offers “High Style, Low profile” purses and bags for people with diabetes. It has plenty of space for your day to day needs and also comes with a removable medical clutch. While being fashionable and functional, every bag has a low profile compartment for all your medical supplies. The URL is
adorndesigns.comUpdated December 29, 2008:
- Insulin Pump Fashions, formerly PumpPack.com, developed the PumpPal to offer children and adults a fun, fashionable, and secure way to wear their insulin pump. Rhonda Gatenby designed it for her 5-year-old daughter, who was diagnosed with diabetes in 2002, when she couldn't find a satisfactory way to carry it. Rhonda says that 15 percent of the profits go to JDRF and the ADA. The URL is
http://www.insulinpumpfashions.com/ - The Peacock Purse, a combination handbag and diabetes supply organizer, is especially designed to be useful to those of us who are visually impaired. The URL is
http://www.mydiabeticbag.com - Isodiagnostika Inc. in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, tells me that it has developed a novel diagnostic test for insulin resistance, the Diatest, that will finally provide researchers and clinicians a method of investigation for insulin resistance. The URL is
http://www.isotechnika.com/ - Phenomix in San Diego, California, is a drug discovery and development company with a portfolio of therapeutic programs underway in immune disease and metabolic syndrome. The company's lead program is based on proprietary chemistry targeting DPP4 for the management of diabetes and pre-diabetic syndrome. DPP4 is emerging as a promising new target to treat diabetes, with early clinical data and a favorable safety profile. The URL is
http://www.phenomixcorp.com/index.asp - Plexxikon Inc. in Berkeley, California, is a leader in the discovery and development of novel small molecule pharmaceuticals to treat human disease. The company is developing a novel Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor (PPAR) pan-agonist compound for the treatment of diabetes and metabolic-related cardiovascular disease. This novel compound targets three isoforms of PPAR— alpha, delta and gamma — in order to achieve a combination of therapeutic benefits. With a single molecule, Plexxikon expects its pan compound to lower glucose, triglycerides, and LDL cholesterol as well as to increase HDL and cholesterol transport. In addition, side effects and toxicities observed with current marketed drugs would be eliminated. The URL is
http://www.plexxikon.com/ - CareX in Strasbourg, France, has developed a set of proprietary and patented assays that enable the company to identify novel PPARγ modulator compounds for the treatment of diabetes. The URL is
http://www.carex.fr - Prosidion Ltd in Oxford, England, is a bioscience company working to discover and develop safer, more effective treatments for metabolic diseases, including type 2 diabetes. The URL is
http://www.prosidion.com/ - DiObex Inc. in San Francisco is pursuing advanced clinical development opportunities within the critically under-served metabolic disease market. Its mission is to provide therapeutics for treating diabetes, obesity, and metabolic syndrome. The URL is
http://www.diobex.com/ - Sirtris Pharmaceuticals in Waltham, Massachusetts, focuses on III histone deacetylase (HDAC), enzymes, also know as sirtuins, which have a role in metabolic disorders. The URL is
http://www.sirtrispharma.com/ - DiaKine Therapeutics Inc. is developing and commercializing novel discoveries for the treatment of unmet medical needs in diabetes and related complications. DiaKine licensed the rights from oncology company Cell Therapeutics Inc. in Seattle for Lisofylline (LSF) for diabetes. LSF is a synthetic small molecule with novel anti-inflammatory properties. LSF can effectively prevent type 1 diabetes in preclinical models and improves the function and viability of isolated or transplanted pancreatic islets. DiaKine apparently doesn't have a website yet.
- MannKind in Valencia, California, is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of therapeutic products for diseases including diabetes. Its lead product, the Technosphere Insulin System, currently is in late Phase 2 clinical trials for the treatment of diabetes. This therapy consists of our proprietary dry powder Technosphere formulation of insulin that is inhaled into the deep lung using its MedTone inhaler. The company says that clinical indications suggest that Technosphere Insulin System's performance characteristics, kinetics, convenience, and ease of use may have the potential to change the current diabetes treatment paradigm. Alfred E. Mann is chairman of the board and CEO. He founded and formerly served as chairman and CEO of MiniMed Inc. There doesn't seem to be anyone named Kind at the company. Full disclosure: I own stock in MannKind, ticker symbol MNKD. The URL is
http://www.mannkindcorp.com/about_us/index.cfm - "A Unique Find Gift Baskets & Gifts" is a gift basket business in Layton, Utah. The owner, Tina Fermin, has type 2 diabetes and caters to others who have diabetes as well. She says that she "takes great care when I create gourmet or spa gift baskets for my fellow people with diabetes. Each gift will be created as if I were creating it for myself." The URL is A Unique Find Gift Baskets
The Diabetic Food Source LLC offers a wide variety of no-sugar and low-carbohydrate food products. The URL is
http://www.diabeticfoodsource.com/index.asp?cat=161460- The Diabetes Self-Care Specialists practice in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania. The staff of Certified Diabetes Educators provide individualized diabetes education and self-management training for children and adults, in private and small group sessions. The URL is
http://www.integrateddiabetes.com - The Quick-Fix Keychain, marketed by Quick-Fix in Monroe, Louisiana, for $4.25 plus $1.50 postage and handling, holds four glucose tablets. The URL is
http://www.quickfixkeychain.com/pages/1/index.htm - My article, "Traveling with Insulin," focuses on the remarkable Frio Wallet, which will keep your insulin cool for up to 48 hours.
- The manufacturer is Frio in Haverfordwest, U.K.The e-mail address is frio@btinternet.com and the URL is
http://www.friouk.com/.
Frio also has a U.S. email at info@frio.us.com and Web Site at
http://www.frio.us.com - The leading distributors of Frio Wallets in the United States include:
- The Frio Division of Wise Choice Nursing Consultants LLC, in Eugene, Oregon, phone (541) 683-8528. Owned and operated by Carol Hernandez, the URL is
http://www.wisechoicefrio.com/. - ReadyCare in Walnut Creek, California, phone (925) 937-5288. Owned and operated by Lisa Katzki, the URL is
http://www.readycareco.com/diabeticsupplies.htm.CoolerConcept.com, in Chaska, Minnesota. Owned and operated by Patti Murphy Cerami, the URL is
http://www.coolerconcept.com/
- The Frio Division of Wise Choice Nursing Consultants LLC, in Eugene, Oregon, phone (541) 683-8528. Owned and operated by Carol Hernandez, the URL is
- Diabetes.net features Metabolic Activation Therapy in clinics located in several states and abroad. Dr. Thomas Aoki of the University of California, Davis, developed the process. The URL is
http://www.diabetes.net - "Pump-Jumpers" are clothing designed with the needs of children on pumps in mind. The URL is
http://pump-jumpers.com - The Stockton Group Inc. in Birmingham, Alabama, offers the Therapeutic Foot Care System to correct rough, dry, and cracked feet. The URL is
http://www.foottreatment.com - SimpleChoice, a SpectRx Company in Norcross, Georgia, offers people with diabetes several choices in diabetes management and insulin delivery products. It offers several alternatives for standard insulin infusion sets and other products including an over-the-counter A1c test kit. The URL is
http://www.mysimplechoice.com/ - Nipro Diabetes Systems Inc. in Miami is a U.S. division of Nipro Corporation, a large Japanese insulin pump manufacturer. The company plans to offer its Amigo insulin pump for sale in the United States in June 2003. The URL is
http://pages.zdnet.com/nipro/ - DiabetesSite.net in Cleveland, Ohio, offers free diabetes information, supplies, dessert recipes, and testing supplies. The URL is
http://www.diabetessite.net/ - Insulet Corp. in Bedford, Massachusetts, offers an insulin pump and integrated blood glucose monitoring with its OmniPod Insulin Management System. The URL is
http://www.insulet.com/ - CellzDirect in Tucson, Arizona, says that it will shortly announce the availability of normal, fresh, human, islet cells for diabetes research. The URL is
http://www.cellzdirect.com - ConjuChem Inc., a biotechnology company based in Montreal, in July 2002 announced the start of a Phase 1 clinical trial for a GLP-1 analog for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, which they call CJC-1131. The company says that they anticipate that the optimal dosing regime will be no more frequent than once per week. The URL is
http://www.conjuchem.com - Diabetic Exchange Cards developed by Laura S. Garrett, RD, LD, are personalized for each user on the basis of the foods they like. Each set, containing 40 to 50 cards, is $65 plus shipping. The URL is
http://www.nutractive.com/diabetes_exchangecards.htm - Therafuse Inc. in San Diego, California, is developing a product called the TheraFusor, which will provide insulin pump therapy in a package roughly the size of a silver dollar. The URL is
http://www.ardesta.com/1network/netcom8.asp - Control Diabetes Services in Plano, Texas, is dedicated to improving the lives of individuals with diabetes. It uses face-to-face diabetes education and self-management training through a nationwide network of local education providers. The URL is
http://www.control-diabetes.com - Medids.com in West Monroe, Louisiana, offers free emergency medical ID wallet cards that you can print on
your computer keyboard. This personalized medical information is a great diabetic resource. The company also offers affordable medical id bracelets, pendants, and other identification products. The URL is
http://www.medids.com - Under the scientific leadership of the Swiss Disetronic Medical Systems AG the ADICOL Consortium comprises seven groups from all over Europe. The financial lead of the project lies with Fraunhofer Institut für Siliziumtechnologie ISiT. Disetronic is responsible for the dosing system. The two partners ISiT and SensLab work on biosensors. Medical expertise is represented by the University of Perugia as well as by the University of Graz. The Modelling software will be developed by the City University and the company Judex Datasystems A/S. The URL is
http://www.adicol.org/ - SuperGen Inc. in Dublin, California, is an emerging pharmaceutical company whose mission is to prolong, improve the quality of, and ultimately save the lives of those people afflicted with life-threatening diseases. One of the drugs that it has in development is RF 1051 for bbesity and type 2 diabetes. The URL is
http://www.supergen.com/home/main.asp - Restoragen Inc. in Lincoln, Nebraska, is a development stage biotechnology company focused on peptide therapeutics. The company's principal pharmaceutical product under development is recombinant human GLP-1 (rGLP-1). GLP-1 is believed to be an important insulinotropic hormone involved in glucose metabolism and insulin resistance. It is being investigated for use in treating conditions related to insulin resistance such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. The URL is
http://www.restoragen.com/restoragen/newsite/index2.html - dbaza inc. in Pittsburgh, Pennslyvania, offers "Diabetes Education for Kids," an interactive educational CD-ROM created to help young patients with type 1 diabetes understand the basic principles of diabetes care and learn the skills necessary for self-management. The URL is
http://www.dbaza.com/index.html - Deltec Inc. in St. Paul, Minnesota, says that the FDA has granted it 510(k) clearance to allow it to market its Deltec Cozmo insulin infusion pump in the treatment of diabetes. Its CozMore Insulin Technology System is an all-in-one system combining Deltec's insulin pump and TheraSense's FreeStyle glucose monitoring technology to allow users to test their glucose and administer insulin with just one device. Users lance their fingertip inserting the FreeStyle test strip into the CoZmonitor System, which is attached to the Deltec Cozmo insulin pump. The CoZmonitor System automatically transfers the blood glucose information to the Deltec Cozmo Pump through an infrared port. If the user's blood glucose level is higher than normal, he or she can go directly to the bolus menu to correct it without having to manually re-enter the blood glucose value. In addition, blood glucose results are combined with insulin delivery data and stored in the Deltec Cozmo insulin pump's history log to provide a complete picture of the user's diabetes management. The system does not automatically change the amount of insulin delivered. The first CozMore System units are expected to be available after January 2004.
The URL is
http://www.cozmore.com - MicroIslet Inc. in San Diego is a biotechnology company engaged in the research, development, and commercialization of patented technologies in the field of transplantation therapy for patients with diabetes. The URL is
http://www.microislet.com/ - Deltec Inc., headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota, announced in March 2002 that the company has developed a new insulin pump that will deliver insulin continuously and help people manage their diabetes. The URL is
http://www.deltec.com/ - Diabetic Drug Store in Appomattox, Virginia, carries sugar free candy, sugar free cookies, sugar free cake mixes, and sugar free chocolate. It also provides custom-engraved stainless steel bracelets and necklaces. The owners are Rick and Christy Pack. Rick Pack recently wrote me, "We have started carrying the Russ Bears: Ruby and Rufus--the bears with diabetes. These bears are the ones that are usually given out in the hospital to children with diabetes, but now are available to the public. A portion of the proceeds go directly to the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation." See also http://www.jdf.org/support/feature/sup012302.php. The Diabetes Drug Store URL is
http://www.diabeticdrugstore.com/ - Deco Watch Accessories in Saint-Hubert, Quebec, Canada, provides emergency medical identification tags for wristwatches that are appropriate for people with diabetes. The URL is
http://www.decowatch.com/ - Products and Programs to Manage Diabetes in Deerfield, Illinois, are "tested and used by medical professionals," the site says. The URL is
http://www.rx4betterhealth.com/ - JewelleryShopper.ca in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, owned by Richard Aubin offers men and women's gold medical alert bracelets. The URL is
http://www.jewelleryshopper.ca/default.asp - The Life Plus Info Organizer for people with type 2 was developed by a person with diabetes to help others with the condition. It includes logs, graphs, and informational forms to organize your health care records, and it is easy to use. Having the information available in one binder is valuable to you and to your physicians. When purchasing the package for $29.95 a $2.00 donation is made to the American Diabetes Association. Life Plus Info is in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, and the URL is
http://www.lifeplusinfo.com - Waratah Pharmaceuticals Inc. in Nun's Island, Quebec, Canada, is a Canadian biopharmaceutical company focused on the treatment of type 1 diabetes. Waratah says its mission is to develop and commercialize novel therapies for the treatment of diabetes by the regeneration of insulin producing islet cells within the body. Its lead therapy, Islet Neogenesis Therapy or
I.N.T., is a short course of injections of two well-defined human growth factors to stimulate the regeneration
of insulin producing cells. This treatment is, they say, simple, practical, and non-invasive. The URL is
http://www.waratahpharma.com/index.html - Medical Alert Corporation in London, Kentucky, offers watches with a medical alert symbol and the medical condition listed on the face of the watch with an engravable back for extra information. The tollfree phone number is (800) 722-6955 and the URL is
http://www.medicalidwatch.com - Peptor Ltd. is based in Israel and Germany. One of its products, DiaPep277, for type 1 diabetes and LADA is in late stage phase II human clinical trials. An article in The Lancet for November 24, 2000, indicates that it arrests the progression of type 1. The URL is
http://www.peptor.com - Diamedica Inc. is a Canadian biotech company in Winnipeg, Manitoba, created to develop novel treatments for type 2 diabetes. The Company's research is based upon the discoveries by W. Wayne Lautt, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Manitoba in Winnipeg. He discovered that a Hepatic Insulin-Sensitizing Substance (HISS), a hormone released from the liver, directly controls insulin responsiveness in skeletal muscle. This hormone is not released in insulin resistant conditions. The research suggests the potential to reverse insulin resistance in Type 2 diabetes by stimulating the release of HISS with existing prototype drugs, the Web site says. The URL is
http://www.diamedica.com/ - Diabetic Depot offers a variety of nutritional supplements for people with diabetes. The URL is
http://www.diabeticdepot.com/ - Pump Wear Inc. in Latham, New York, offers a growing line of items specifically made with toddlers and pre-teens in mind. You can call toll free (866) 470-PUMP. The URL is
http://www.pumpwearinc.com/ - The Cadex watch has twelve daily reminders that can prompt you to take your insulin or other medication. In addition, an emergency alert databank stores your critical health information, similar to a medical I.D. bracelet. The watch in silver or black is $49.95 and can be ordered by calling toll free (888) 726-8805 or on-line at
http://www.cadexproducts.com/ - Keryx Biopharmaceuticals Inc. in Jerusalem announced in September 2001 that it has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval to conduct fast-track clinical trials of its KRX-101 (sulodexide) drug for treating diabetic nephropathy. This complication of diabetes leads to the deterioration of kidney functioning. The URL is
http://www.keryx.com/ - Emisphere Technologies Inc. in Tarrytown, New York, is in early stage clinical trials of its method for delivering insulin orally by changing its molecular shape. The URL is
http://www.emisphere.com/ - GLUCOPHAGE XR extended-release tablets, a once-a-day dose of the #1 prescribed pill for lowering blood sugar, is sponsored by Bristol-Myers Squibb Company of Princeton, New Jersey, which is licensed by Lipha s.a. to market the drug in the United States. The URL is
http://www.glucophage.com/ - GLUCOVANCE combines metformin, the medicine found in GLUCOPHAGE and GLUCOPHAGE XR, with glyburide, into one pill. The URL is
http://www.glucovance.com/indexa.html - Victus Inc. in Miami manufacturers Exterex Diabetic with Fiber, a meal replacement for people with diabetes. Its Web site is in both English and Spanish. The URL is
http://www.victusinc.com - Isotechnika Inc. in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, has developed a breath test to detect type 2 and gestational diabetes. It does require an 8-hour fast before and 1.5 hour wait after drinking a solution. The URL is
http://www.isotechnika.com/kits/diatest.html - Unigene Laboratories Inc. in Fairfield, New Jersey, a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the research, production and delivery of valuable therapeutic peptide hormones, announced that it has successfully delivered insulin by oral administration in preclinical studies. The URL is
http://www.unigene.com/ireye/ir_site.zhtml?ticker=UGNEamp;script=2100amp;layout=7 - Debiotech S.A. in Lausanne, Switzerland, is developing a new insulin pump thin enough to be taped directly onto the skin together with the soft infusion set. Johnson & Johnson says that through its purchase of Inverness Medical Technology it will gain rights to the Debiotech technology, which will be used to develop the pump. The URL is
http://www.debiotech.com/ - Isis Pharmaceuticals Inc. in Carlsbad, California, has licensed its preclinical type 2 diabetes antisense drug candidate, ISIS 113715, to Merck & Co. Inc. Isis is a genomic drug discovery and development company focused exclusively on RNA as a therapeutic target. With its core antisense technology, the company believes it can design drugs that are safer and more effective than traditional drugs. ISIS 113715 is an antisense inhibitor of the gene encoding PTP-1B, a negative regulator of insulin receptor signaling. ISIS 113715 is an effective insulin sensitizer in animal models, Isis says. These second-generation antisense drugs can be dosed as infrequently as once a month. PTP-1B drugs do not produce the typical side effects of other insulin sensitizers, such as Actos and Avandia, such as causing weight gain. In fact, ISIS 113715 causes weight loss, and may in fact be marketed as an anti-obesity drug as well as an insulin sensitizer, the company says. The URL is
http://www.isip.com - Alkermes Inc. in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in April 2001 signed an exclusive agreement with Eli Lilly and Company to develop inhaled formulations of insulin, including short-acting and long-acting insulin, and other potential products for the treatment of diabetes based on the Alkermes AIR pulmonary drug delivery system. The URL is
http://www.alkermes.com/ - Proactive Metabolics Inc. in Gainesville, Florida, develops and markets products and services that help people improve their metabolism proactively. The company has proprietary technology that predicts the effects of food and medication, which makes it possible to select the best action for the desired metabolic outcome. It currently sells Balance PC (further described at http://www.mendosa.com/software.htm) and Lighten-Up, two advanced diabetes management and nutrition software programs. The URL is
http://www.mangesius.com - 4-DIABETES.COM is provided by Pevo, a new company dedicated to the attainment of near-normal blood glucose levels for all people with diabetes. It was initially the nickname of its founder, John Rivoire, a Family Nurse Practitioner in Louisiana. The URL is
http://www.4-diabetes.com/ - Amgen in Thousand Oaks, California, announced in April 1999 that development of native leptin for both obesity and diabetes was being discontinued. The company's leptin program now focuses on the development of second generation leptin analogues. The leptin program is in phase 2 clinical trials in obese subjects. The URL is
http://www.amgen.com/ - Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc. in San Diego announced in October 2000 that LY510929, a novel PPAR agonist, and a back-up compound have been declared clinical candidates for development as novel oral treatments for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Ligand expects an Investigational New Drug Application (IND) to be filed with the FDA for LY510929 or the back-up compound in the second half of 2001. The URL is
http://www.ligand.com/ - Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc. in Cambridge, Massachusetts, that that its preclinical product pipeline includes agCD3, a humanized, engineered monoclonal antibody that is an established mechanism for immune suppression; indicated for type 1 diabetes and other diseases. The URL is
http://www.mlnm.com/ - Trega Biosciences Inc. in San Diego is currently carrying out a collaborative program in the area of diabetes, obesity and syndrome X, which is funded by Novartis Pharma AG. LION Bioscience AG in in Heidelberg, Germany, is purchasing Trega, and the transaction is expected to be completed by April 2001. The URL is
http://www.trega.com/ - Tularik Inc. in South San Francisco has implemented a biochemical assay that employs the same transcription factor that is targeted by the thiazolidinediones. Its current efforts are focused on optimizing a lead series of potent and orally available agents identified in this assay that improve insulin sensitivity and lower blood glucose in animals. They believe that this series offers the potential for an anti-diabetes drug with improved profile relative to existing agents and have commenced animal studies and a chemistry effort to exploit these advantages. The URL is
http://www.tularik.com/ - The Amaryl Club, sponsored by Aventis, is the major diabetes Web site in India. Its purpose is to be a secondary source of information on diabetes for Indians who have type 2 diabetes. This is the only site which addresses the country's multi-lingual needs, and it does it in a format which does not require downloading and installing special fonts to read local language information. The URL is
http://www.geocities.com/diacareindia/ - "Diabetes Roadmap: Living with Type 2 Diabetes" is a 60 minute video. The URL is
http://www.diabetesroadmap.com - Diabetex International Corp. in Old Saybrook, Connecticut, is concentrating on three independent—yet related—product
lines:
- Non-invasive glucose meters and blood analyzers (see http://www.mendosa.com/meters.htm for more);
- Metabolic Activation Clinics; and
- Infusion Pumps
The company's URL is
http://www.diabetexintl.com/ - Non-invasive glucose meters and blood analyzers (see http://www.mendosa.com/meters.htm for more);
- Islet Technology Inc. in St. Paul, Minnesota, is developing technology related to insulin-producing islet cell isolation, encapsulation, and transplantation. The URL is
http://www.islet.com - Safe Medical Systems LLC in Woodstock, Georgia, offers the Voyager Diabetic Needle Disposal for safe and convenient disposal of insulin needles and lancets. The URL is
http://www.safemedical.com - Diagnostic Solutions in Irvine, California, provides Uni-Check 1, 2, and 3 test strips designed for use in meters currently offered by LifeScan and Bayer and Uni-Check Visual strips for visual interpretation without the use of a meter. These low-cost test strips are available in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. They are not available in the U.S. The URL is
http://www.diagnosticsolutions.com/ - The Novo Nordisk A/s site links its Diabetes4Patients site in 18 countries and Diabetes forProfessionals in three countries. In addition, it has links to 16 of Novo Nordisk's country and language-specific sites and two of its sites that don't have anything to do with diabetes. The parent company site is http://www.novo.dk/front_page/start_frm.asp. The URL is
http://www.novonordisk.com/ - Vacation in Paradise: Holidays with Empowerment Groups for Persons with Diabetes and Their Partners is an American-led program in the heart of the Bavarian Alps. It's led by Jeff Schevitz, who graduated from Princeton University and received his doctorate in Sociology/Social Psychology from the University of California, Berkeley, and Bea Schevitz, who received her BA from Syracuse University in N.Y. and studied at the universities of Heidelberg and Frankfurt, where she received her MSW. The URL is
http://www.diabetes-holidays.com/ - Medic ID's International Inc. in Tarzana, California, makes emergency identification bracelets in 14k and sterling silver for men and women. The toll-free phone number is (800) 926-3342 and the URL is
http://medicid.com/ - Medical Monofilament Manufacturing in Plymouth, Massachusetts, makes low cost, high quality sensory monofilament sensory nerve testers for people with diabetes. The URL is
http://www.medicalmonofilament.com/ - FlexSite Diagnostics Inc. in Palm City, Florida, offers a new home A1c test kit, called A1c At-Home. The toll-free phone number is (877) 212-8378 and the URL is
http://www.flexsite.com/ - CSP Control Systems Plus in San Rafael, California, offers a diabetic management system to help people with diabetes maintain and control blood sugar levels, diet, exercise, stress, and self-examination. Paul R. Ouellette is the president and founder. The URL is
http://www.csplus.net/ - Carb Cards are a fun and easy way to learn carbohydrate counting. The package includes 54 flashcards with food illustrations and their carbohydrate values in grams, an activity card with games and activity suggestions, blank cards to customize (encouraging research) and a package of crayons for coloring the cards. The URL is
http://www.carbcards.com - Calyx Therapeutics Inc. in Hayward, California, is currently evaluating four lead compounds for the treatment of diabetes: CLX-0901, CLX-0921 and CLX-0940 for type 2 diabetes, and CLX-0100 for type 1 diabetes. Calyx Therapeutics isolates biologically active molecules from natural plant and animal extracts with demonstrated clinical activity in humans. The company determines the chemical structure of the isolated compound and develops small-molecule analogs for pharmaceutical applications. The URL is
http://www.calyxther.com/ - Fields of Discovery LLC in Glendale, Arizona, sponsors ezdiabetes.com, which offers products specifically designed to ease the transition for children who have been newly diagnosed with diabetes. The URL is
http://www.ezdiabetes.com/ - Generex Biotechnology Corporation in Toronto, Ontario, is a drug delivery company that has developed a proprietary drug delivery platform technology to orally administer large molecule drugs. These drugs include proteins, peptides, monoclonal antibodies, hormones and vaccines. In the past, these drug molecules could only be delivered via injection. The company's first application for the technology is an insulin formulation Oralgen™ in the United States and Oralin™ in Canada and elsewhere. Long-term phase II clinical trials are currently under way in the United States, Canada and Europe. The URL is
http://www.generex.com/ - LillyDiabetes.com is the new Eli Lilly and Company Web-site, incorporating information about diabetes that previously had been scattered in several different sites. Lilly is one of the companies that I wrote about in my article, "Insulin Analogs: Genetic Engineering for Diabetes Control," in the November 1998 issue of Diabetes Wellness Letter and for my "About the Internet" column for the American Diabetes Association at http://www.diabetes.org/Mendosa/May198.htm .
The URL is
http://www.lillydiabetes.com - MedTrak, a complete guide to creating effective emergency medical information, is a must for any parent, caretaker, or individual at risk of a medical 911 call. According to owner/author Rosemary Roberts in Loomis, California, "The rules of emergency medicine have changed and so must the consumer. We can do a lot to remove the guesswork and stress from any medical emergency. There's a reason why paramedics and emergency room staff call MedTrak the best overall. Our 'how-to' guide and simple outline forms make it easy to assist those you love at home or school, even from within an eldercare community home environment." The URL is
http://www.medtraker.com/ - SOOIL Development Company Ltd. in Seoul, Korea, makes the DANA Diabecare, which the company says is the world's smallest, lightest, and totally waterproof portable insulin pump. The URL is
http://www.sooil.com/ - Diabetic Life Line in Saginaw, Michigan, says that its goal is to provide people with diabetes with the most competitive life insurance products and services available. The toll-free phone number is (800) 234-4357 and the URL is
http://www.diabeticlifeline.com/ - FNC Medical Corporation in Carpinteria, California, offers a range of Diabet-x products, a skin therapy for people with diabetes that controls fungal and bacterial infections while it re-hydrates, exfoliates, and heals red, dry, callused skin. The toll-free phone number is (800) 440-2888 and the URL is
http://www.fncare.com/ - Lucha's Comfort Footwear in South Pasadena, California, carries shoes, orthotic inserts and socks specifically designed to
accommodate people with diabetes. Lucia Wiltrout is the owner/operator. The store, which does not sell shoes via the Internet, is open daily 9:30 to 6:00 p.m., and on Sundays from 12:30 until 5:00 p.m. The phone number is (626) 799-6891 and the URL is
http://www.southpasadenaonline.com/luchas/main.html - SweetThoughts: Empowering People with Diabetes calls itself an interactive community that provides you with the resources you need to live a healthy and well-balanced life with diabetes. Basically, it wants to sell you stuff, which I certainly don't object to. But I do object to the owners of the site so carefully hiding who they are. Nowhere on the site is there any contact information or statement of any individual or company that owns the site. A few sites have attempted to disguise their ownership that way, but always before it has been easy to determine ownership by using the Web Interface to Whois that Network Solutions, the company that registers most sites, makes available on the Internet. In the case of this site, however, the registrant is show only as Yard Productions Inc., 141 West 28th Street Suite 1101, New York, NY 10001 phone 212-244-5540. The message on that number includes the URL of the Yard Productions Web site, http://www.yrd.com. That site makes it clear that it is only a Web host for this site. Anyway, use at your own risk:
http://www.sweetthoughts.com/ - Anastasia Marie Laboratories offers Diapedic Pure Skin Theraphy, including Diapedic Food Free and Hand & Body Cream. The URL is
http://www.amlab.com/ - Beiersdorf AG offers products for people with diabetes including Eucerin Original and Plus Alpha Hydroxy Lotion and Creme. The URL is
http://www.beiersdorf.com/ - Lifetag is health identification jewelry made by a professional jeweler who has type 1 diabetes. It is tiny and sticks on to existing jewelry. The URL is
http://www.lifetag.com/ - Hope Handbags can organize your diabetes supplies. The URL is
http://www.hopehandbags.com - Find-A-Cure.com, developed by someone with type 1 diabetes, encourages diabetes and other medical research. The site is supported by links to selling books, drug store products, office supplies, travel, etc. Ownership is not identified on the site, but according to Network Solutions the registrant is John Maconga of Wellesley, Massachusetts, phone (781) 235-1776. The URL is
http://www.find-a-cure.com/ - Diatranz Ltd. is a company headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand, focusing on islet cell transplants. The new URL is
http://www.diatranz.co.nz/ - Nobex Corp. (formerly Protein Delivery Inc.) in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, is a privately-held drug delivery company using proprietary chemistry to improve the therapeutic performance of existing drugs. PDI's chemistry is used to convert injectible drugs to oral forms. In October 1999 the FDA accepted the company's Investigational New Drug application for an oral insulin drug to treat diabetes. The URL is
http://www.proteindelivery.com/index.html - ICN Pharmaceuticals Inc. sells Insta-Glucose™ for fast relief of hypoglycemia. The URL is
http://www.instaglucose.com/ - Metabolex Inc. in Hayward, California, is engaged in the discovery and development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of diabetes and related metabolic diseases. Metabolex currently has product development programs in three areas, all targeted toward type 2 diabetes. The first program centers on the intracellular insulin-mediated Glucose Transport Signal Transduction (GTST) pathway. Second, Metabolex's Insulin Secretion Program is designed to develop therapies that will help the body produce more insulin. Third, Metabolex is developing an orally active natural product mixture called Insulin Potentiating Factor. The URL is
http://www.metabolex.com/ - D-Care, the "Complete Diabetes Management System," offers sugar-free products enriched with botanicals produced by PureTek Corporation in San Fernando, California. The D-Care product line also includes topical products for hair and skin, footcare products, and a full line of nutritional products that includes cough syrup, vitamins, and food bars. The company's toll-free phone is (877) 921-7873 and its URL is
http://www.d-care.com/ - The Animas R-1000 Insulin Pump, manufactured by Animas Corporation of Norristown, Pennsylvania, has been cleared by the FDA. The company also hopes for late 2002 FDA approval of a long-term implantable continuous glucose sensor. The toll-free number is (877) 937-7867 and the URL is
http://www.animascorp.com/ - Diabetes Incorporated in Rapid City, South Dakota, has a book store, newspapers, and a calendar of events. You can join as a member for a dollar per year and vote on issues the organization finds appropriate and suggest others. The URL is
http://www.diabetesinc.org/ - Intensive Insulin Management is the focus of Mistebar Computer Consultants in Las Cruces, New Mexico. It uses a new method to compute the insulin requirements for patients using a customized wallet sized card, a booklet teaching how to use the cards along with tips on improving blood glucose, and a computer program for diabetes educators. The URL is
http://www.mistebar.com - Prizm Medical in Duluth, Georgia, offerss Electro-Mesh garment electrodes and the Micro-Z pulse direct current (DC) micro-current stimulator used to generate electrotherapeutic energy. Prizm's Electro-Mesh socks, gloves, sleeves and back brace can be worn during the daytime or at night while sleeping to provide mild, therapeutic relief of pain, reduce swelling, and increase blood circulation. Deborah Vandersnow at (804) 414-6724, markets Prizm's products, including the new Silver-Thera Stocking Electrode. Prizm's URL is
http://www.prizm-medical.com/ - Lifestyle Center of America in Oklahoma between Oklahoma City and Dallas, Texas, offers several different programs for people with diabetes ranging from a four-day seminar to a 19-day lifestyle intervention program. The toll-free number is (800) 213-8955 and the URL is
http://www.lifestylecenter.org/ - alpha betic is a multi-vitamin supplement designed for people with diabetes marketed by Abkit in New York, New York, and endorsed by Dr. Peter Lodewick, the author of A Diabetic Doctor Looks at Diabetes: His and Yours. The toll-free number is (800) 226-6227) and the URL is
http://www.alphabetic.com/ - The Diabetic Products Web site of Health Care Products in Amityville, New York, markets Diabetic Tussin, Diabetic Tussin Herbal Formula, DiabetiDerm Deep Moisturizing Lotion and Cream, and DiabetiSweet, "The only sugar substitute that looks, feels, bakes and tastes just like sugar." Strangely, however, they never say what DiabetiSweet is. A customer service representative says, however, that it uses isomalt and Sunett, which is Hoechst's brand name for acesulfame K. The company's toll-free number is (800) 899-3116 and the URL is
http://www.diabeticproducts.com/ - The Pump Girls is a new rock band consisting of four girls aged 12-15. The girls, who are all from Southern California, sing about boys, love, dancing, a little bit about life with diabetes. They all have type 1 diabetes and use insulin pumps. One of their goals is to motivate other teens to deal with the challenges of the disease successfully. The URL is
http://www.pumpgirls.com/ - Diabetes Self Care Inc. and USCI Healthcare Management Solutions Inc. are the disease management divisions of Gainor Medical Management LLC, a privately held company located in McDonough, Georgia. Gainor is the world's largest supplier of lancets. Universal Rx is the integrated pharmacy benefits and diabetes self-management program of Gainor Medical Management. All three divisions are headquartered in Roanoke, Virginia. The toll-free customer hotline is (800) 928-8220 and the URL is
http://www.diabetesselfcare.com/ - Visionary Medical Products Corporation in Los Angeles has patents (or patents pending) on a disposable jet injector, a disposable insulin pen, a self-disabling safety syringe, and a non-invasive blood glucose meter. The URL is
http://www.vmpc.com/ - Click Health Inc. in Mountain View, California, offers Packy & Marlon. This interactive game uses role-playing simulations to teach young people about diabetes self-management. A clinical trial of Packy & Marlon conducted at Stanford University and Kaiser Permanente found that children with diabetes who had it at home experienced a 77 percent reduction in urgent care visits related to diabetes. With a suggested retail price of $69.95, you can order Packy & Marlon by calling 650-941-2400 or by visiting the Web site. It is available as a Windows CD-ROM or for Super Nintendo and comes in either English or Spanish. The URL is
http://www.clickhealth.com/ - The Home Diabetes Aide by KenTek designs is designed to help people with diabetes or their caregivers to safely and accurately load insulin into their syringe from the insulin bottle. Ian Dawe, a registered nurse diabetic educator who has worked a lot with home health education, recently designed this patented device. It works with the visually impaired, those who lack hand control, or who have needle phobia. The Home Diabetes Aide sells for $19.95 and the URL is
http://www.whiteharvestfood.com/page8.html - Aradigm Corporation in Hawyard, California, a pulmonary drug delivery company, is developing the AERx Diabetes Management System—inhaled insulin—to replace injections. The URL is
http://www.aradigm.com/ - Owen Mumford, headquartered in Woodstock, England, manufacturers and distributes Unilet lancets, Autolet Mini lancing devices, Unistik 2 single use lancing devices, Unifine syringes, the Autoject 2 autoinjector, Unifine Pentips pen needles, and the Autopen, an insulin pen for use with pre-filled insulin cartridges. The URL is
http://www.owenmumford.com/ - Diabetes Educator Associates Inc. in Mequon, Wisconsin, and Wayzata, Minnesota, maintains a network of Certified Diabetes Educators (CDE) who specialize in the education and management of diabetes. These highly trained nurses and dietitians provide one-on-one care in a supportive atmosphere to help those people with diabetes achieve improved control. President Anne Nettles RN, MS, CDE, has extensive diabetes-related experience including 15 years of post-graduate practice as a diabetes nurse specialist at the University of Minnesota Hospital and Clinics. The URL is
http://www.diabeteseducators.com/ - The Foot & Ankle Institute of St. George (Utah) focuses on "The
Diabetic Foot" with considerable information about diabetic ulcers
and neuropathy. Run by Dr. Keith Reber, this site can be found at
http://infowest.com/doctor/ - Medtronic Diabetes in Northridge, California, the dominant U.S. manufacturer
of insulin pumps, has a lot of information about them on line. It is also working on a minimally-invasive blood glucose monitoring system. This is one of the companies that I wrote about in my article, "The Race for a Painless Monitor," in the November 1997 issue of Diabetes Wellness Letter. The company's URL is
http://www.minimed.com/ - Oxystat Home Health Care Systems is a physician managed health care
company with supplies and accessories for the patient with diabetes. Its
site is
http://www.floridaguide.com/diabetes/ - Diabetes Mall is on the Web and in San Diego in real life. Its toll-free phone number is (800) 988-4772. You can order books and software about diabetes. One page here that I particularly like is on the "satiety index," written by me and beautifully edited and coded by John Walsh of Diabetes Mall. The site also has links to several diabetes information sources, including my "Glycemic Index" page. The URL is
http://www.diabetesnet.com/ - National Applied Science is a company specializing in implantable biosensor
devices. Its home page includes two articles about diabetes, "A Brief
History of Diabetes" and "Information on Diabetes." The
URL is
http://www.napplisci.com/welcome.html - Electronic Waveform Lab Inc. in Huntington Beach, California describes
its H-Wave machine, which is a device that uses electro-therapy to treat
pain caused by diabetic neuropathy. Its URL is
http://www.h-wave.com/ - Chronimed Inc. in Minnetonka, Minnesota, is a health care company focusing
on the needs of people with chronic conditions. Its Internet site focuses
on the needs of people with diabetes, including some information and an on-line pharmacy.
Its URL is
http://www.chronimed.com/ - Medicool Inc. in Torrance, California, provides a wide range of products
related to diabetes care. The company manufactures several products for storing and protecting insulin and case for traveling with it that insure proper insulin temperature. It also distributes items not easily
found in pharmacies and home health care stores, including books
as well as a multi-vitamin formulated specifically for persons with diabetes.
The site also has an info page with late-breaking diabetes news. Its URL
is
http://www.medicool.com/ - A school teacher named Linda Vernier and others are campaigning for the availability of bovine-based insulin on a "named patient" basis. The URL is
http://www.compassionateuse.com/ - Diabetics World Links "Where's the Beef?" features sample letters to the FDA urging that agency to expedite approval for companies to import beef insulin because of Eli Lilly's discontinuation of Iletin-1® insulin (see above). The URL is
http://members.tripod.com/diabetics_world/ - Jeffrey Stone works with people who have chronic foot wounds, that
is, wounds that have gone unhealed for more than two months. Many of the
people Stone sees have diabetes. On average, the wounds of his patients
with diabetes have been present for 11.8 months, and some have been there
for years. Stone thinks that hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy can help these
wounds heal. During HBO therapy, a patient breathes oxygen at increased
atmospheric pressure. The URL for his page is
http://www.wound.com/The site also includes a paper, "The Role of Hyperbaric Oxygen in the Treatment of Diabetic Foot Wounds," by Jeff A. Stone, et al, reprinted from the May 1995 issue of Diabetes. That URL is
http://www.wound.com/research.html#foot - BaroMedical in Burnaby, British Columbia, is a Canadian wound care clinic specializing in problems including diabetes complications like neuropathy and circulation problems. The URL is
http://www.baromedical.ca - The Medi-Ject Corporation's site is designed for persons with diabetes
who inject insulin. The site also has information on its jet injector, a needle-free drug delivery
technology, plus a diabetes university section with links to other sites. This is one of the companies that I wrote about in my article, "The Jet Injector Paradox," in the February 1998 issue of Diabetes Wellness Letter. Its URL is
http://www.mediject.com/ - Disetronic Holding AG is a manufacturer of medical devices headquartered
in Burgdorf, Switzerland. Disetronic Medical Systems Inc., is the wholly-owned
subsidiary "housing the heart of the business," including including
insulin pumps. The business area "Infusion Systems" develops,
manufactures and markets microdosage and peristaltic pumps together with
their related consumables. The pumps are usually sold under the Disetronic
label directly to patients and health organizations. Disetronic says it
currently has the largest market share worldwide for insulin pump therapy
for the treatment of diabetes. The business area "Injection Systems"
develops and manufactures injection pens and sterile needles. The pens
are usually supplied directly to pharmaceutical companies. In the new business
area of "Sensors" Disetronic is working on long-term blood pressure
and blood glucose measurement. The company's URL is
http://www.disetronic.ch/ - Disetronic Medical Systems USA, headquartered in Minneapolis, has a Web site separate from the Swiss parent company's site above. Its URL is
http://www.disetronic-usa.com/ - SpectRx Inc. in Norcross, Georgia, is a medical technology development
company that specializes in minimally and non-invasive diagnostic and monitoring
systems. This is one of the companies that I wrote about in my article, "The Race for a Painless Monitor," in the November 1997 issue of Diabetes Wellness Letter. The company's URL is
http://www.spectrx.com/ - Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company in San Diego,
California, that is developing new medicines to better manage diabetes.
The URL is
http://www.amylin.com/ - Terron Inc. of Sanger, Texas, sells the "Ident-A-Cap" to
make vial identification a snap for IDD patients, including those who are
visually impaired. Terry Jones,
a pharmacist and Terron's president, created the Ident-A-Caps to prevent
accidental and sometimes fatal dosing from the wrong insulin vial due to
similar labeling. The URL is
http://www.ident-a-cap.com/ - Integ Inc. is a company in St. Paul, Minnesota, that is developing the
LifeGuide System, a bloodless glucose meter. This is one of the companies that I wrote about in my article, "The Race for a Painless Monitor," in the November 1997 issue of Diabetes Wellness Letter. The company's phone number is (612) 639-8816 and its URL is
http://www.integonline.com. - I'll bet that you never thought of diabetes as a game. However, some very imaginative people do think that way. The company is Chronic Care Challenges Inc. of Wichita, Kansas. They have what they call an educational tool (actually a card game) that "has been used by hospitals, universities, and medical schools to train staff and students about the disease process, daily care
demands, family issues, and ethical dilemmas. It has just been released
to the public. There are specific editions for both adult and youth
people with diabetes. The tool has been extensively market tested and the editions
for each chronic illness were developed by experts in their respective
fields." The URL is
http://www.chroniccare.com/
- Home Diagnostics Inc. in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, manufacturers blood glucose monitoring systems, including the Diascan, the Ultra+, the Diascan Partner, and most recently the Prestige. The site is available in either English or Spanish. The company's toll-free phone is (800) 342-7226 and the URL is
http://www.homediagnosticsinc.com/ - LifeScan Inc., a Johnson & Johnson company, manufactures blood
glucose monitoring systems (the popular One Touch, SureStep, and FastTake meters) to improve the quality of life for people with diabetes. Their Web site offers more than 70 pages of self-care information, an
on-line version of their customer newsletter, and an Ask The Expert
feature. LifeScan has superb customer service. If you ask, they will usually send you at no cost a variety of products. These include the necessary cable to connect your One Touch meter to your computer, a log book, and an InfoDek, which is a pocket-sized reference tool that serves as a day-to-day guide for diabetes management. LifeScan says that it is the only meter manufacturer that answers company and product questions via e-mail—if you include your e-mail address. You can write to them directly at LifeScan@lfsus.jnj.com. Or you can call 24 hours a day to their toll-free customer service line at (800) 277-8862. TheURL is
http://www.LifeScan.com/ - "Lansinoh for Healthy Feet," made by Lansinoh Laboratories Inc. in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, has a seal of approval from the American Podiatric Medical Association, the Web site
says. "Completely safe for use by people with diabetes, the APMA issued a special
endorsement for the treatment of conditions associated with the diabetic foot." The URL
is
http://www.snj.com/lansinoh/feet.htm - The BioSafe Limited Web site features its flagship product line, the NeedleSafe needle disposal systems. The URL is
http://www.biosafe.ie/ - hypOview Ltd. in Adams, Massachusetts, offers a new device to aid insulin users. The hypOview product is used to look at a filled syringe and determine if it is correctly filled and without bubbles. It provides both brighter lighting and greatly increased contrast when viewing the syringe and its contents. More accurate filling aids in control and helps reduce unexpected results. The URL is
http://www.tgo.com/hypo_index.html - IXion Biotechnology Inc. in Alachua, Florida, says that
"Ixion is developing diabetes products based on its IPSC [Islet Progenitor Stem
Cells] technology, including a proprietary population of in vitro (outside the body)
grown pancreatic islets for transplantation. The diabetes therapeutic product
development program is focused on optimizing the growth of functioning islets in vitro
from IPSCs which Ixion has established in cell cultures. While islets can be maintained in
culture for extended periods, until the discovery of the IPSC technology, no one was
able to amplify substantially the mass of cultured islets. IPSC technology allows the
growth of substantial numbers of islets from stem cells derived from adult donors andcan lead to a supply of islets for transplantation therapy, novel growth factors, or both,
to treat diabetes."
The URL is http://www.ixion-biotech.com/ - R&D Laboratories Inc. is a company in Marina Del Rey, California, that provides pharmaceutical products for the kidney patient. The URL is
http://www.rndlabs.com./ - I.D. Technology Inc. in Baltimore, Maryland, supplies the diabetic community and others with emergency medical identification that attaches to a wrist watch. These MediBand Emergency Medical IDs fits most metal or leather strap and clasp-type watch bands. Sold as a set of two—one gold tone and one silver tone—the MediBands are comfortable, lightweight, and discreet. MediBands for people with diabetes include whether you are insulin dependent, on oral medication, use an insulin pump, or use diet control only. A set sells for $7.95 plus shipping and handling. The phone number is (410) 602-1911, the e-mail address is inquire@id-technology.com, and the URL is
http://www.id-technology.com/ - Novo Nordisk, headquartered in Denmark, is a world leader in insulin and diabetes care. That Web site has some information about diabetes. This is one of the companies that I wrote about in my article, "Insulin Analogs: Genetic Engineering for Diabetes Control," in the November 1998 issue of Diabetes Wellness Letter. The URL is
http://www.novo.dk/ - Novo Nordisk USA describes the products that Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals Inc. makes for people with diabetes. But it also includes basic educational materials. The company's product portfolio described here includes insulin, NovoPens, Novolin Prefilled disposable insulin pens, and the oral medication Prandin (repaglinide tablets). Here you will find fact sheets about this new drug that lowers the blood glucose of people with type 2 diabetes by helping your body release insulin. Here is also the Prandin product insert in Adobe Acrobat format. The URL is
http://www.novo-nordisk.com/ - The Novo Nordisk company has at least two other Web sites in English (and several in other languages, for which see On-line Diabetes Resources: Non-English Web Sites):
- "NovoNet: Asia-Pacific region." That URL is
http://www.novonet.co.nz/
and
- "Novo Nordisk Pharma India Ltd." That URL is
http://www.novoindia.com/
- "NovoNet: Asia-Pacific region." That URL is
- Searching for diabetes on the Merck & Co. site finds more than 100 Web pages there.
The URL is
http://www.merck.com/!!tPqCw0dlQtPqCw2M2P/htbin/websearch/?term=diabetes - Prevention Safety Products in Winthrop, Massachusetts, offers Lam-In-Sole puncture-proof insoles to protect people with diabetes and others who need foot protection. The toll-free phone number is (800) 484-6753; wait for two beeps, then enter 8089. The URL is
http://firefighting.net/pss/ - Home Medical Waste Inc. in Cleveland, Tennessee, says that offers a safe, effective and
environmentally sound method to help people with diabetes dispose of hypodermic needles.
Called the Sharps Safe Deposit, the puncture-resistant container features a tamper-resistant cap which the user seals when the unit is filled. The company's toll free phone
number is (800) 442-0855, but pharmacies sell the product. The URL is
http://www.wingnet.net/~moore/home_medical_waste/ - Becton, Dickinson and Company, the leading manufacturer of quality syringes and lancets, is expanding the content of its diabetes Web site in order to create a comprehensive resource for people who inject insulin. The URL is http://www.bddiabetes.com/
- Cell Robotics International Inc. in Albuquerque, New Mexico, announces that it has
received clearance from the FDA to market its Lasette laser finger perforator for all adults in a clinical setting, including diabetic patients. Cell Robotics says it is now the
first company to have received this type of clearance for people with diabetes. The URL is
http://www.cellrobotics.com/cell/ - Bioject Inc. in Portland, Oregon, makes the Biojector 2000, which delivers insulin without a needle. The company has also announced plans to develop a continuous glucose level monitoring system. This is one of the companies that I wrote about in my article, "The Race for a Painless Monitor," in the November 1997 issue of Diabetes Wellness Letter. The company's URL is
http://www.bioject.com/ - Vitajet Corp. in Laguna Hills, California, manufactures a needle-free jet injector for insulin. This is one of the companies that I wrote about in my article, "The Jet Injector Paradox," in the February 1998 issue of Diabetes Wellness Letter. The company's toll free phone number is (800) 848-2538. Its URL is
http://www.vitajet.com/ - Activa Brand Products Inc.in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, markets three types of needle-free jet injectors for insulin, the AdvantaJet, the AdvantaJet ES, and the GentleJet. The company's toll free phone number is (800) 991-4464. Activa bought these brands from Health-Mor Personal Care Corp. in 1998. This is one of the companies that I wrote about in my article, "The Jet Injector Paradox," in the February 1998 issue of Diabetes Wellness Letter. Its URL is
http://www.advantajet.com/ - MEDport Inc. in Providence, Rhode Island, carries a complete line of personal carrying cases and electronic reminders, including organizers for people with diabetes. The company has a toll free phone number, (800) 299-5704, and its URL is
http://www.medportinc.com/ - Palco Laboratories in Santa Cruz, California, manufacturers lancets and other devices for people with diabetes. Their toll free phone number is (800) 346-4488 and their URL is
http://www.palcolabs.com/ - "Traveling and Living Well with Diabetes" sells tools for better medication compliance. The URL is
http://www1.viaweb.com/diabetes/index.html - "Prizm Medical Inc." in Duluth, Georgia, has developed and patented the first glove, sock and garment electrodes for diabetic foot disease symptoms (peripheral vascular disease and neuropathy) and other problems. Their toll free number is ( 800) 447-4422 and their URL is
http://www.prizm-medical.com/ - The Web site for "SCOT-TUSSIN PHARMACAL CO." in Cranston, Rhode Island, offers membership in a "Diabetes Care Club" and will provide on request the names, addresses, and phone numbers of Certified Diabetes Educators and nutritionists in your area (the list they sent me included several names that were new to me). They will also send information, they say, on "glucose test equipment known as glucometers, parameters on weight, age, sex, and glucose levels" as well as on diet and exercise. Scot-Tussin was established
in 1956 to research and develop cough medicines for the diabetes patient and introduced sugar-free and alcohol-free products at that time. The URL is
http://www.scottussin.com/ - Nektar Therapeutics, formerly Inhale Therapeutic Systems Inc. in San Carlos, California, is now conducting Phase 3 clinical trials of Exubera (inhaled insulin) with its corporate partner, Pfizer Inc. Its non-invasive deep-lung delivery, if successful, would be a tremendous boon for all insulin users. The site provides some technical information (particularly Nektar Pulmonary Delivery of Macromolecules), but I didn't see any estimates of when they hope their product to hit the market. The URL is
http://www.nektar.com/ - "Regranex® (becaplermin) Gel 0.01%" is a terrible name for a Web site—but it deals with a terrible problem. The problem is diabetic foot ulcers, and Regranex® is the first drug proven to increase the incidence of their complete healing. It utilizes genetically-engineered platelet-derived growth factor (becaplermin). In December 1997 the FDA approved Regranex® Gel, which was developed by the R.W. Johnson Pharmaceutical Research Institute and is marketed by Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical Inc. Both are Johnson & Johnson companies headquartered in Raritan, N.J.
Foot ulcers—open sores that remain after the destruction of surface tissue—are a serious complication of diabetes, affecting approximately two million Americans with diabetes during their lifetimes. These open sores often don't heal and may lead to serious complications, including severe infection and amputation. Diabetic foot ulcers result in 67,000 amputations in the United States every year. Now many of these amputations will be avoided. The URL is
http://www.regranex.com/ - CP Pharmaceuticals Ltd. in Wrexham, UK, produces beef and pork insulins sold under the Hypurin® brand. The URL is
http://www.cppharma.co.uk - Prevention Foot Safety Insoles offers puncture-proof insoles to people with diabetes and others exposed to foot hazards. This Winthrop, Massachusetts, company has a toll-free phone, (800) 484-6753—wait for two beeps and then enter 8089. John August is the contact person. The URL is
http://www.angelfire.com/biz/neuro1/ - Health Journeys: The Guided Imagery Resource Center offers an audio tape with
imagery that it says is appropriate for either type 1 or type 2 diabetes. The tape is designed to
reduce stress, encourage insulin sensitivity at the cellular level, help the body
metabolize food in a steady, balanced way, help the body repair damage to organs
and tissue, and encourage psychological permission to take in nourishment from the
environment. Side B is affirmations. The company is Image Paths Inc. of Akron, Ohio,
phone (800) 800-8661. The URL is
https://secure.intertekk.com/shops/healthjourneys/catalogue3.html#diabetes - Boehringer Mannheim's Diabetes Life Network is an "information channel for the latest diabetes news, education and tips."
The URL is
http://www.diabeteslife.net/ - Amputation Prevention Global Resource Center is a collaborative
effort between Boehringer Mannheim and Eli Lilly and Company to support the work needed to reduce diabetes-related amputations by 50 percent by the year 2000. The URL is
http://www.diabetesresource.com/ - Roche Diagnostics Diabetes Care features its Accu-Chek® line of blood glucose monitoring systems. The URL is
http://diabetes.roche.com/ - Roche Diagnostics Diabetes Care UK features its Glucotrend® Soft Test System. The URL is
http://uk.diabetes.roche.com/ - Healthy Legs and Feet Too! from Socks Appeal has a series of helpful articles about taking care of your feet, including diabetic foot care information. Socks Appeal offers a large selection of socks and other foot products and is located at 16223 NW McNamee Road, Portland, Oregon 97231, and the email contact is Lynette R. Witkowski. The URL is
http://www.healthylegs.com/ - Advanced Graphics Dog Tags for People and Pets offers medical high data density "Iden-Tags" and new MediBand watch band ID Series providing life saving emergency medical identification for people. The company is I.D. Technology, Inc.,
117 Nelson Road, Baltimore, MD 21208-1111, phone (410) 602-1911, and the e-mail address is support@id-technology.com.The URL is
http://www.id-technology.com/ - Goldware Medical ID Jewelry, offered by Goldware, P.O. Box 22335, San Diego, CA 92192, has custom engraving on the back of the ID plates where can include your name, medical condition, allergy, medication, emergency phone number or any other information you choose. The toll-free phone number is (800) 669-7311 and the URL is
http://medical-id.net/ - Islet Sheet Medical in San Francisco aims to demonstrate feasibility of the thin sheet
bio-artificial pancreas. These thin sheet bio-artificial pancreas contain islets of
Langerhans for treatment of insulin-requiring diabetes. The president of Islet Sheet
Medical is Scott R. King, who is a friend of but not related to Scott M. King, publisher of Diabetes Health magazine (formerly Diabetes Interview.
Scott R. King writes me: "Most of the money we need is raised already. My major purpose in
posting information on Islet Sheet Medical is to give what I regard as realistic
hope to people with diabetes. Much of the information on islet transplantation on the
web is insufficiently critical." The company is changing its name to Cerco Medical, but the URL at this time is still
http://www.isletmedical.com/ - LifeForce Hyperbaric Medical Clinic of Baltimore accepts physician referral for the treatment of many diseases including diabetic complications. The director is Michelle Reillo and the telephone number is (410) 528-0150. The URL is
http://www.lifeforcehbo.com/ - The Needle Ease Needle Disintegration System page comes to us from Millenium Medical Supply Inc. of Brantford, Ontario, Canada. Their toll-free phone number is (800) 387-4190 and the URL is
http://www.needle-ease.com/ - Thee-pill Pager Medicine Reminder service sends a message to your pager that reminds you to take the right medication (chronic meds or tests) at the right time. You can use your existing pager (pager, PCS digital phone, messagewatch, or beepwear) and paging services. The URL is
http://www.epill.com/ - INSULEEVE makes using insulin easier. These color-keyed sleeves keep your insulin bottles clearly labeled so that you won't mix them up. They also protects your insulin bottles from breaking if they fall on a hard surface. Insuleeves are made by Insuleeve Inc. in Fairlawn, New Jersey. The phone number is (201) 796-3170 and the URL is
http://www.insuleeve.com/ - Health Care Products' Diabetic Division is a manufacturer of
healthcare and nutritional products designed especially for persons with
diabetes. It's a subsidiary of Hi-Tech Pharmacal Co. Inc. (NASDAQ: HITK) in Amityville, New York. The e-mail address is info@diabeticproducts.com, the toll-free phone number is (800) 899-3116, and the URL is
http://www.diabeticproducts.com/ - LifeScan Canada Ltd., a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson, headquartered in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, has a bilingual English and French Web site. In addition to information about the company's products, especially their best-selling blood glucose meters, the site offers extensive self-care information. This includes their colorful on-line newsletter, The Diabetes News. The URL is
http://www.lifescan-can.com/ - Diabetes Management and Training Centers Inc. in Gilbert, Arizona, offers diabetes management courses for professionals in the field. Owned by Betty Brackenridge and Kris Swenson, DMTC can be reached at (602) 813-5844. The URL is
http://www.diabetestraining.com/ - Insmed Pharmaceuticals Inc. in Richmond, Virginia, is focused on insulin resistance and related metabolic disorders. It is working on inositol glycan molecules as mediators of the cellular metabolic actions of insulin. The company is developing two late-stage product candidates, INS-1 and SomatoKine. INS-1 is a naturally occurring, orally active building block that enhances insulin sensitivity in tissues. INS-1 is in Phase II clinical trials and is being developed for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). A common feature of both disorders is the body's inability to respond properly to insulin‚Äö a condition referred to as insulin resistance. SomatoKine is a recombinant protein being developed as an injectible insulin sensitizer for the management of both type 1 and type 2 diabetics who are less sensitive to insulin therapy. In Phase II clinical trials, SomatoKine is a novel therapeutic composition of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and its primary binding protein, BP3. The URL is
http://www.insmed.com/ - Alteon Inc. in Ramsey, New Jersey, specializes in advanced glycosylation endproducts, or A.G.E.s, which causes proteins that are normally flexible and separate to become rigid and attached. That makes cells, tissues, and organs stiff and increasingly less functional. In healthy individuals, this process occurs naturally, though slowly, as the body ages. In diabetic patients, the rate of A.G.E accumulation and the extent of protein cross-linking is accelerated, probably playing a role in many complications of the disease. The URL is
http://www.alteonpharma.com/ - Aurogen Inc. in Fort Collins, Colorado, focuses on neurotropic insulin-like growth factor (IGF) hormones to treat diabetic neuropathy. The URL is
http://www.aurogen.com/ - FootSaver is a light-weight, durable, prevention product invented by a diabetic who nearly lost his foot to amputation. FootSaver is a magnified mirror mounted on a quality swivel for easy adjustment with a telescopic, aluminum handle for easily examining your feet. Offered by Royce L. Brooks & Associates Inc. of Forestville, California, FootSaver sells for $38.85. The URL is
http://footsaver.net/ - Beta Fast GXR is a concentrated, standardized, extended release extract formulation of Gymnema Sylvestre, an Indian Ayurvedic herb. Known as Gurmar, meaning "Sugar Destroyer" in Hindi, Gymnema Sylvestre is a plant from the milkweed (Asclepiadaceae) family that grows wild in parts of India. The leaves of the herb have been used for centuries in Ayurvedic medicine as a dietary supplement to help control blood sugar levels. Beta Fast GXR is marketed and distributed by Informulab Naturals, owned by DG Marketing of Omaha, Nebraska. David Goldberg is the president of DG Marketing / Informulab Naturals. The company's toll-free phone number is (888) 321-8522 and the URL is
http://www.informulab.com/ - Diabetes-Care is the Internet sales division of UltiMed Inc. of St.
Paul, Minnesota. UltiMed manufactures and distributes UltiCare
brand 28 and 29 gauge insulin syringes in both 1/2 cc and 1 cc sizes.
Diabetes-Care was established to provided high quality insulin syringes
at factory prices direct to the diabetic market. UltiCare says its syringes are
comparable to those of the market leader, with many features such as its
UltiPoint (tm) sharpness, bold clear markings, enlarged finger grip,
easy to remove protective caps, and packed in convenient 10 piece bags,
100 pieces per box. Individuals, especially those not covered by a
third party payer, have an opportunity to purchase their insulin
syringes directly from the manufacturer at considerable savings when
compared to average prices at retail. You can order on the
secure Web site. The company's toll free number is 877-ULTIMED (858-4633). The URL is
http://www.diabetes-care.com/ - Equidyne Systems Inc. in San Diego, California, has developed a needle-free jet injection device for insulin and other drugs. A painless alternative to needle syringes, the Injex injector has disposable medication containers or ampules. A company representative tells me that the Injex will sell for $200. The URL is
http://www.equidyne.com/
- The manufacturer is Frio in Haverfordwest, U.K.The e-mail address is frio@btinternet.com and the URL is
More Companies
More companies in the diabetes marketplace are listed, linked, and described on several other pages in this series, including specifically:
- Diabetes Medications: drugs.htm
- Diabetes Software: software.htm
- Blood Glucose Meters: meters.htm
Diabetes Food Companies |
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© Copyright 2009 David Mendosa. All Rights Reserved.
You may quote part of this page in on-line documents and printed publications, but please notify me so I can add a reference and make sure that you add pointers to the places where people can get the latest version.
Permission to link this site to yours is not needed. Of course, I would be delighted to hear from you, especially if you have a new site that you think should be linked here.
I have no control over the content or continued existence of any external on-line resources linked here, and I therefore cannot guarantee that they will function as promised. The appearance of a site on this list does not imply any endorsement by me.
Since this information is constantly changing, readers are urged to email corrections and updates to me at mendosa@mendosa.com.
If you have a question about your health, please go to either Diabetes Questions & Answers at the Diabetes Monitor, or use the Question Form for the Diabetes Team at Children with Diabetes.
David Mendosa
993 E. Moorhead Circle Suite 2F
Boulder, Colorado 80305
E-mail: mendosa@mendosa.com