Customer Reviews

American Diabetes Association Complete Guide to Diabetes

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I am not diabetic but was looking for a book to learn about diabetes. This book had just the right level of physiology for me as well as the right level of detail for explaining the various strategies that diabetics use to manage their disease. I gave my first copy to a colleague and will order more copies for me and anyone who asks for a reference.

This book by the American Diabetes Association does a commendable job of reviewing many of the basic issues surrounding diabetes. It is a nice starting point for a newly diagnosed patient but does not offer much detail for the more seasoned person with diabetes. The information is well laid out and succinctly explained. For those looking for more details and references I would recommend the ENCYCLOPEDIA of DIABETES by Petit and Adamec.

This book is a great guide to have if you are a diabetic. The information is written well and easy to understand. You will go away a more informed person about your diabetes. It has truly helped me to gain the knowledge I need to help me cope with this disease.

The book is well organized and filled with many useful facts that Diabetics need to know about and gives supportive tips throughout. A very well written edition and one that should be in every Diabetic household.

I have had diabetes for quite a few years, but recently was promoted to insulin status. I have been searching for a single source of information that was both simple and yet included more technical details of what was going on.

The book does a very credible job of both for many aspects of diabetes. As an example, it provides a description how insulin works at the body and cell level, the effects of exercise, diet, timing, lifestyle, and many of the other factors that affect blood glucose levels. The descriptions start at a high level (e.g. exercise uses glucose in the blood, so levels tend to drop) to a more theoretical discussion of insulin interacting at the cellular level within your body and how your liver and other organs react.

The same type of treatment is also provided for other subjects, ranging form what to do when you are sick; sex and libido issues; diet; types of insulin; managing diabetes around sports, exercise, work, travel, stress, family, entertaining; interaction of factors; complications of high and low sugars; and a bunch more.

In short, there are no doubt books which cover individual aspects of any part of diabetes with more detail and rigor, but if you want one book that does a very credible job on most of the topics, this is a good choice.

PROS:
Very readable.

Well organized- individual topics are fairly well indexed and broken down by topic, and for each topic, the discussion breaks down how this might affect different portions of the population (e.g. Type1, Type2, Gestational).

Seems to be written by people who both have actual experience as diabetics and real medical knowledge. Does not have the latest fads.

Reasonably up-to-date

A lot of info for less than $10

CONS:
My guess is that different sections are edited by different people, so the same information can be repeated multiple times. Still, it does serve to make each section self-contained.

Some of the stuff is a little obvious- such as the tip to shop around for best prices on insulin. Still, my guess is that no matter how obvious, someone probably never thought of it.

Sections on health care coverage are so general as to be useless

I would have liked to see more references included for nerds like myself who would like to read more technical reference on the subject. Sure, you can go hunt for them, but the authors no doubt had them at their fingertips.


SUMMARY:
An outstanding value, lots of good info. I had confidence that the material was good information, not someone's opinion

I love, love, love this book! I am only half way through, and all of my questions have already been answered. The rest of the information is just an added bonus to questions that I didn't even know I had yet. I always share my new learnings, and it has helped one of my co-workers to offer her friend advice, who has a newly diagnosed, Type 1 diabetic, son. To be educated on the topic leaves both the diabetic and their support system feeling uplifted.

This is also a must read book on diabetes. These doctors and researchers have been on the front line of this disease for many years and this is their results advice and knowledge of what they have learned and discovered. If you have diabetes or if runs in the family you must read this book.

We purchased this book on the recommendation of my husband's physician, and have found it thorough, informative and helpful in understanding the disease and what he can do to keep it under control.

A book no diabetic should be without. Very detailed and comprehensive.
I recommend this book fully. Glad I bought it.

A great book. A must have for diabetics. That said another must have book is "How to reverse diabetes without drugs" Neil Bernard .