If you are diabetic, and if you have been experiencing "floaters" or
other problems with your vision, you may be one of millions of people
with diabetic retinopathy.

Diabetic retinopathy is one of the leading causes of blindness in the
United States. With approximately 18.2 million diabetics in the
U.S., and with that number growing every year, it is likely that
there will continue to be a large number of new cases of diabetic
retinopathy.

There is no cure for diabetic retinopathy. However, as is true
with all complications of diabetes, careful attention to diet and
prescribed treatments is essential to controlling the problem.

ACB Diabetics in Action is a resource for diabetics with vision
loss. The purpose of this relatively young organization is to inform diabetics
of equipment they can use, to work for increased availability of
speech and large print technology for diabetics who can no longer
read standard print and display screens, and to work with doctors and
other professionals in the field.

The first face-to-face meeting of ACB Diabetics in Action took place during the 44th annual convention of the American Council of the Blind, held in Las Vegas in 2005.
Annual meetings are held in conjunction with the ACB convention, and are in a different location each year.

The 2007 conference of ACB Diabetics in Action is planned for Minneapolis, Minnesota. A seminar for blind and low vision diabetics and their families will be held on Sunday, July 1 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. The organization's business meeting is planned for the afternoon of July 4, and a mixer will follow.

To find out more about the upcoming convention, click the link to the ACB website (see below). Pre-registration information will be available beginning mid-May; the official convention program will be posted by mid-June.

Membership in ACB Diabetics in Action is open to diabetics, their
friends and relatives, and to professionals. Dues are $10.00 per
year, and should be sent to:

Jeff Bishop
1633 West Maplewood Dr.
Tucson, AZ 85746

For more information, email Dee Clayton, ACBDA President.

To join an email list for blind and visually-impaired diabetics,
send a blank email to:

acb-diabetics-subscribe@acb.org.

You will receive a message asking you to confirm that you wish to join the list; just hit reply and you will be subbed to the list.