Updated List of Published Resources

Since it is now over six years since I published this blog, I felt it was time for an update. I am a person with Type 2 Diabetes. Any advice that sounds good should be discussed first and always with your doctor.

I was diagnosed in October 2003 while in the hospital with angina problems. The last thirteen years have been a learning experience and have not been easy, but I have been learning.

The first thing I had to learn and accept was - it was not my fault. The second lesson took a lot longer - I cannot change the past - it is the past and I have to learn to live in the present. Painful, yes, and at times harder than a real job. This requires my attention seven days a week and does not allow for a vacation.

Several books, all in paperback, have influenced and made an impact on my life with diabetes. I would recommend for anyone diagnosed with type 2 diabetes to read them. As with any book written about diabetes, glean what is important to you. If you are like me, you will refer back to something you skimmed earlier when it becomes important to you.

First book: The First Year - Type 2 Diabetes, New York, Marlow & Company, 312 pages, by Gretchen Becker. I discovered this book within a month of diagnosis. It gave me information that I was not receiving from my doctor. Gretchen has type 2 diabetes and she gives the best definitions and reasons for controlling diabetes in non-technical language. Look for the Third Edition.

Second book: Diabetes Type 2 Complete Food Guide Management Program, New York, Three Rivers Press, 350 pages, by Sherri Shafer. She is a RD, CDE and tackles health issues and food for the person with diabetes. While higher in carbohydrates than suits me, this book came to my rescue when I had my first severe hypoglycemia. It gave me the resources to deal effectively with it. It has been handy for hyperglycemia information as well.

Third book: Myths of a Diabetic Diet, American Diabetes Association, 238 pages, by Chalmers and Peterson. While this book is dated, it is a well written guide for preventing excesses in eating changes. This concept is important for people new to diabetes. Even though there is no diabetic diet in today's understanding of diabetes, this book is still good to read.

Fourth book: Reversing Diabetes, Warner Books, Inc., 435 pages, by Julian Whitaker. This is not a cure book. This is for people with type 2 diabetes who wish to stay off or get off medications. If you are insulin dependent like me, this may not be for you. It can be valuable for those who are not insulin dependent. I had hopes at one time, but it was not meant to be.

Fifth book: The New Glucose Revolution, New York, Marlow & Company, 349 pages, by Dr. Jenny Brand-Miller, et al. This book is a recent addition to my library and should be on everyone's read list. It gives an excellent explanation of the Glycemic Index and the Glycemic Load values of many foods. It is aimed toward those of us with diabetes, but those wanting to lose weight and be capable of keeping the pounds off will benefit from this book. With the latest news about the reliability of the glycemic index discussed here, please remember to use this as a guide and not as a glycemic bible.

Sixth book: Diabetes Solutions by Dr. Richard K. Bernstein I don't own this book yet, but I am fortunate to have it available for me to read. This book is valuable to people with type 2 diabetes that use insulin and I want my own copy soon.

All the books are or have been available at Amazon.com.

Many other books are available for those of us with diabetes to read. I will review other books when I finish them and know that I will add them to my library or pass them to someone else. The above books will remain part of my library.

The Type 2 Diabetes Sourcebook

The Type 2 Diabetes Sourcebook by David Drum and Terry Zierenberg, R.N., CDE copyright 2006 is a book I purchased recently. I have just finished reading it and may donate it to my local library if I decide I want to give a very poor book to them. I think not.

When I purchased this book, I was in a rush and while I did look at the table of contents and especially a couple of chapters, I missed something because when reading it, I realized how little valuable information was presented. Many areas are completely lacking in detailed information and explanation of aids for improvements for patients to have tools to guide them. If you are looking for information about ADA norms or AACE norms, this book has them. If you are looking for tools to assist you in managing diabetes to prevent complications, you will need to look elsewhere.

Also lacking was definitive information about why the guidelines are established where they are. Many of the guidelines are presented as fact and no further information of value is given. Since I do not follow the American Diabetes Association guidelines or the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists guidelines, this book was a real disappointment. There were no suggestions of how to accomplish goals for diabetes health to improve on the guidelines.

Very disappointing was the discussion on the tests needed by people with diabetes. Why should people with a diagnosis of diabetes need another oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)? Even this was presented for what normal people achieve and not about making a diagnosis. A discussion of OGTT for diagnosis would have been good.

Then when discussing hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia, the authors stated something I find reckless and almost criminal. This statement is “The two immediate problems associated with blood sugar are unusually high and unusually low blood sugar. Although neither is fatal, both are serious.” We know better, as both can be fatal if the patient is not hypoglycemically or hyperglycemically aware of what is happening.

As books about diabetes go, this is one I will not keep in my library, nor is it one I can recommend to anyone. In a real pinch, it might make expensive TP.