Anybody have any recommendations for books for my family to read. i am a newly dx t1 and i would love for my family, that i live with, to have a book that helps them understand the new tall dark stranger that is in my/our life-t1. thanks for your help.
If you scroll down the home page here you will find on the right hand side a book list under diabetic resources.
Hi Kimberly,
My two faves for Type 1 - Diabetes Without Drugs by Suzy Cohen and There is a Cure for Diabetes.
Strongly recommended!
I like "Think Like a Pancreas" and the title always catches peoples' eyes on my shelf. The tone is very light and positive but it is also full of tons of extremely useful information, a "win win" to me.
You recommend these books for type 1s?? I have not read them, but reading the description of each on Amazon they seem like a lot of BS. If you have type 1, you have to take insulin. Or you die. The descriptions for neither of these books indicate whether they are targeting type 1 or type 2 diabetics, which are two completely different conditions.
+1 for think like a pancreas. It is a well-written book that gives good insight into what people have to do to manage diabetes (type 1 and type 2). I really like how the author breaks down the basics of D management without being overly-technical. My only complaint is that the book is a tad dated (although the info in it is pretty relevant). Is Scheiner going to come out with an updated version anytime soon? I wish he would :-) Even as an experienced T1, I learned a few things when I read it.
There are many books that we might recommend to help you as a newly diagnosed diabetic, but books to help your family are more difficult. Two that I might recommend are "Cheating Destiny" by James Hirsch and "Type 1 Diabetes: A Guide for Children, Adolescents, Young Adults--and Their Caregivers."
Hi Kimberly,
I'm new to all this too, so I haven't read a whole lot of books yet. I really, really liked "Blood Sugar 101" by Jenny Ruhl. She has very clear explanations of how normal people's blood sugar works, and what's different about diabetics. She has Type 2, herself, and uses insulin for it. Her book is very practical and positive. She has evaluated a lot of studies about diabetes and makes it easier for the reader to understand the results. She also has a website which is very helpful, but I'm glad I have the book because I refer back to it a lot.
The website is http://www.bloodsugar101.com/
Best wishes in your journey!
marty1492
I have been type 1 for 28+ years.
I have started (I'm only on chapter 3) to read Diabetes without Drugs, and I think it would be beneficial for either a type 1 or a type 2, but probably not recently diagnosed.
Diabetes without drugs is written by a pharmacist / natureopath (or homeopath, maybe). She describes things basically so you don't need a medical degree to understand what she is discussing. She has one chapter that describes well the different types of diabetes very simply, which would be a good intro chapter to help people understand, but what she recommends in other chapters is pretty extreme to me, like askign people to commit to avoid grains, granulated sugar, and dairy. She does have good information, like what to do if you have complications. I am going to finish teh book, because I think she might help me with some of my complications, but we'll see. I am taking ti with a grain of salt, though.
I concur. I can also check the book out at my local library, so if you want to check it out before you buy, you might be able to. You will want to buy it, though, because there is so much information, it is like reading an encyclopedia, and you will want to be able to go back over parts of it later.
The Book of Better by Chuck Eichten is simply amazing.
The website is here: http://www.bookofbetter.com/
It's excellent for both diabetics (mainly Type 1) and non-diabetics. I got it on my iPhone and immediately ordered it for my sister (who's T1) and she loved it!
I also highly recommend Think Like a Pancreas. Blood Sugar 101 taught me some interesting things too. I'm interested to hear some other recommendations.
I wouldn't want anyone to be turned off from reading these books. As a spouse of someone living with type 1 for 25 years, I do not need to be informed that Type 1 cannot be reversed and that they are two different diseases. These books have been very empowering - targeted towards both 1 and 2, in terms of meal planning, supplements and managing complications. Diabetes without Drugs is just packed full of well researched information, the author is a pharmacist so she offers both sometimes necessary medication information but leans toward nutritional and herbal supplementation. As an herbalist myself I highly respect the depth of information here.
As for There is a Cure for Diabetes I could see how the title would scare some people with Type 1 off, and some of the information in it is irrelevant to us, but the dietary suggestions WORK, almost too well (when we were completely immersed in raw foods there were too many hypoglycemic episodes, so we've had to balance it out).
I'm very excited to check out The Book of Better!
By the way, this is one of my first posts on here, I was hoping it could be an opportunity for giving and receiving support, which is why I responded to this question and was very surprised by such an oppositional response. Sorry, but I'm being extra defensive because it has to do with something that has had a positive impact on the life of my loved one that is simply very true to me.
Just so everyone is clear, the "As for There is a Cure for Diabetes" is written by Gabriel Cousens. I have written about him before, and unfortunately have nothing good to say. I would not recommend a raw vegan juicing approach for anyone, let alone a newly diagnosed. That book has no basis in science and I believe is a product of the animal rights community of PCRM and PETA. If it works for you great, that is your choice. But I don't consider it useful to most of us, and recommending to a "family member" is just outright propagandizing. How would this have any relevance to helping family members understand their T1 relative?
I second Acridrock...
Thinking like a pancreas is great, definitely one for the shelf.
Pumping Insulin by John Walsh is also top notch, even if you aren't using a pump it is full of useful information that is just as relevant to MDI.
"Diabetes Rising" is an excellent read, it gives a complete historical perspective on the treatment of diabetes and takes us all the way up to developments in the faustman lab and smart insulin etc. It also provides some interesting views on what causes diabetes etc. Well worth your time.
"The diabetic life" by R D lawrence is also a great. It was first published in 1925 so although dated, it is a fascinating book. The shocking thing is that not much has really changed in the treatment of type 1 since 1925, the book espouses low carb, the importance of diet, the effect use of insulin etc and so on. Sure we have had developments away from glass syringes and urine glucose testing, but that is about it!
Thanks for this, have just ordered a copy from the USA. Hopefully shipping to the UK won't take too long :)
This book looks very interesting. It just came out. I think I'll suggest my library get it.
This book seems similar to books from Lee Dubois. Written directly, without a lot of technical stuff and in a light, entertaining and humorous manner.
Hi Buckley 83. Re the Lee Dubois books that bsc mentioned, at least some of them are available as ebooks.
Yep I have a kindle so have just bought a couple of them :)