We were at the endo's office yesterday and the CDE asked me what books I particularly liked, as they are re-doing their resource handout. I suggested the big Pink Panther book, Think Like a Pancreas, Pumping Insulin, Blood Sugar 101, and this website. I also asked her about Dr. Bernstein's book Diabetes Solution, which I own but have barely cracked, and was kind of horrified to discover she'd never even heard of, let alone had an option about his teachings. But that's another story. What books have been IT for you? I'll compile our favorite suggestions and forward them to her.
Pumping Insulin/Walsh is great for a new pump starter like myself. I have only been pumping about a month now and i find my self using it as a referance. Other books that I have read more in a form of a novel/reference Cheating Destiny and now reading Diabetes Rising.
The Pink Panther book is called Understanding Diabetes by H. Peter Chase. It came with a load of donations from JDRF. It’s a good primer and very specific in terms of ranges, e.g. How much insulin does a child usually have daily, what are common carb ratios etc. Very useful in the beginning. And heavily illustrated with Pink Panther drawings.
Balancing Pregnancy with Pre-existing Diabetes: "Healthy Mom, Healthy Baby " by Cheryl Alkon. For those who are pregnant or who someday would like to be (like myself) this is a straightforward read from someone who has been through it–with Type I diabetes. Prior to the recent release of this book, the only information I could find was written from a “negative statistics, anything that can go wrong will, doctor’s perspective” kind of book. Cheryl mentions in the beginning that this book is for Type I’s and II’s, and not so much for gestational, simply b/c it focuses from the beginning of the process through to the end, and how to do so while dealing with pre-existing diabetes.
Is it a bad thing that your CDE started citing studies? What would you rather she cited instead of research studies that provide solid, empirical support for what she is telling you?
Well, I’ll just add a few from my experience. First off, when I was first diagnosed, the absolute best was Gretchen Becker
The First Year—Type Two Diabetes: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed
as well as her book Prediabetes: What You Need to Know to Keep Diabetes Away
Then on the background and history of diabetes:
The Discovery of Insulin, Michael Bliss
Bittersweet: Diabetes, Insulin, and the Transformation of Illness, John Christopher Feudtner
Cheating Destiny: Living With Diabetes, America’s Biggest Epidemic, James Hirsh
Diabetes Rising: How a Rare Disease Became a Modern Pandemic, and What to Do About It, Dan Hurley
Also on diet and carb counting:
Atkins Diabetes Revolution: The Groundbreaking Approach to Preventing and Controlling Type 2 Diabetes, Mary Vernon
The Ultimate Guide to Accurate Carb Counting, Gary Scheiner
And I would recommend absolutely nothing by Hope Warshaw, Neal Barnard or Julian Whitaker
