Continue reading]]> The latest issue of DiaTribe – research and product news for people with diabetes reports that:

Syringe and pen needle maker Becton, Dickinson and Company . . . pledged to donate five million insulin syringes and pen needles through Direct Relief, a nonprofit humanitarian medical relief organization, to over 1,000 community health centers and free clinic partners nationwide. This announcement follows Eli Lilly’s decision to broaden income eligibility for their patient assistance programs from qualifying income at or less than 200 percent to at or less than 300 percent of the US Federal Poverty Level (i.e., $44,000 or less for a family of two) . . . . BD products will be available at participating clinics beginning August 10, 2009. The company has set up a website at www.bd.com/diabetesdonation. Patients who would like to see if they quality for the Lilly program, should visit www.lilly.com/responsibility/programs.

If you’re diabetic, or care for one, DiaTribe is an excellent — and free — source of the latest research, drugs and drug trials, and gadgets, as well as online resources.

Continue reading]]> I know far too many people who are hurting in this economy, and have been for a very long time. Unemployment impacts real people, not numbers. It impacts choices, and squanders opportunities. And still, we are told it is somehow patriotic to buy something.

Things I’ve been buying lately:

• “Forever” postage stamps — good for a one ounce letter no matter how much the price of stamps go up after you buy them.
• Vitamins and generic Benadryl in bulk — much cheaper this way. (Disclaimer: I am just a happy customer with constant allergies, no other interest in Wonderlabs.)
• Always stock up on “buy one get one free” sales if you would be buying the product anyway.
• Never pay shipping on Amazon orders; consolidate orders to the $25 minimum for free shipping, or use their “subscription” ordering which always has free shipping regardless of the order total.

Things we’re not buying: movie tickets; Apple anything; vacations; any major discretionary item. We somehow must budget a new furnace into the mix before winter, which is about as non-discretionary as it gets.

If we get a “cash for old furnaces” subsidy, I am soooo there.