Customer Reviews

The First Year Type 2 Diabetes: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed

5 star:		(89)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

You won't regret getting this book!

Gretchen Becker's "The First Year Type 2 Diabetes" is very well-organized, easy to read, and wonderfully educational. It is organized based on the information you need and the amount of detail you can assimilate -- in other words, first things first, with finer points and expanded details later in the book.

The information she presents includes the most recent research. She discusses the merits and myths of the most popular diets and treatments you will hear about.

I got her book when I was first diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, before talking with a diabetes educator or attending any classes on diabetes. By the time I was formally educated, I had already heard everything from Gretchen's book, and was also able to identify some dated traditional information. She really helped me understand why there isn't a consensus of opinion on the "best" diet for diabetics, and the source of many unfounded and/or unsubstantiated arguments for and against the popular approaches. For example, she discusses the pros and cons of the Food Pyramid (USDA, ADA), low-fat diets (Ornish, etc), exchange diets (ADA, Zone, Weight Watchers, etc), low-carb diets (Atkins, etc).

If you are in the "Your body, your science experiment" camp, she tells you several easy experiments to learn more about your own body processes various foods so you can take control and fine tune your own treatment.

I have been dealing with my Type 2 diabetes for about 5 years and I recently ordered this book ..and I learned more from it than from anywhere since I was diagnosed. This is a clear, accurate, and extremely informative book. I go back and re read parts of it often and it has really made a big difference for me.. This is a disease that is difficult to understand correctly, even if you have had it a while, like I have. The up-to-date research behind this book is obvious and it is presented in a truly intelligent and articulate manner. Ms. Becker totally understands type 2 diabetes, and has been extremely helpful in my understanding of it too. How I wish I had had this book when I was first diagnosed - even just the title of the first chapter "It's not your fault" is so important - it allowed me to let go of some of the guilt and self reproach I had. No one ever told me that before! This book is *essential* for all newly diagnosed Type 2's and for the NOT SO NEWLY diagnosed too! You will have a whole new understanding of type 2 diabetes as well as empathetic support and clear information about how to help manage your diabetes. A great book!

Having just learned that I have type 2 diabetes, I couldn't ask for a better book to refer to than THE FIRST YEAR. The book is written from the first days, weeks, and months and the order is perfect for what (at least) I have been going through. Becker understands that the reader doesn't really want to get too deep in details about the illness but tells enough that anyone can get a better picture as to what is going on with their body.

The book is broken down by living and learning. One section that I found very informative is about the meters. I had no idea that they are affected by elevation. I travel to a mountainous area every year and needed to know this.

I can't say enough about this book. Anyone who is newly diagnosed with this disease should get this book and get information your doctor or educator may not tell you.

I have been diagnosed with "pre-diabetes" and being "insulin-resistent" (IR) for the last 3 years. HOW I WISH MY PHYSICIANS (2 OF THEM!) HAD EXPLAINED *THOROUGHLY* WHAT THIS MEANT. I might have been more motivated to take more control over my diet and exercise thus MAYBE preventing the development of Type 2 diabetes.

And, "take control" is exactly what Gretchen Becker helps the reader do. The underlying sub-text of the book is YOU are the head of a team (of doctors and other health professionals) -- What you do very much controls the extent of complications from this disease 10 or more years down the road. With the information gleaned from the book, I self-referred myself to an endocrinologist (going to the ADA website to find an approved physician). Having/Taking control YOURSELF gives HOPE and provides a focus for the energy you have when diagnosed -- you really DO have options and decisions to act upon. All is NOT losst -- in fact, there is much to be gained!

I am absolutely astounded at the ignorance of many Primary Care Physicians on the necessity of educating their patients FULLY as to their "pre-diabetic" condition. Too often, it's "your sugar's a bit high," prescribe a diet and recommend exercise. In no way do they take their own prescription seriously enough to let the patient know the path that will be followed should their recommendations fall on deaf ears.

My father had been given this advice -- was put on Glucophage & a diet. His sugar went down to "normal" levels (I think -- since he doesn't know what "normal" is -- it might just have been low enough to be removed from the medication.) The point is, he thinks he doesn't have diabetes anymore. From this book, I know different. A "touch" of diabetes is like having a "touch" of pregnancy!

Folks, the moral of this book is pay attention, know your options, get and keep control, and LIVE LIFE! A diagnosis of "Diabetes" may just be the trigger that moves your lifestyle to the point where you are healthier than ever before -- in fact, it may actually help you live a longer life and live it well!

Thanks to Gretchen Becker, I do not live in absolute dread and fear. And, I am eternally grateful to my library that they purchase and timely process current books. It was just the ticket for me when I was finally able to accept that I had diabetes -- and Gretchen's book help me do that. I bought copies of the book to keep on hand as a ready reference --- and to give as a Christmas gift to my wonderful, but kind-of-diabetes-ignorant PCP!

If you are newly diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, this is the book for you!! If you can only afford to buy one book on Type 2 Diabetes this is it!! This is the premier book written for the person who has just found out they have Type 2 Diabetes. I read many books on diabetes when I was first diagnosed--both good and not so good. However, I believe this is the BEST book for the newly diagnosed because the entire book is written for the reader who is newly diagnosed and needs good, accurate, and practical advice for living with diabetes from someone who has gone through the experience. I especially appreciated Ms. Becker's unique insight on why getting diabetes was not my fault. I also learned that diabetes management is different for everyone and there are many options for treatment.
For additional information on diabetes, I recommend another good book which is the American Diabetes Association Complete Guide to Diabetes, 2nd Edition.

This book has finally replaced my old, tattered "The Diabetic's Book" by Biermann and Toohey. Becker has done a remarkable job of covering all the bases regarding Type II. I especially like her moderate, reasoned approach to controversial topics such as diet and the use of herbs. She deftly lists the pros and cons of various diets and medications and objectively serves the reader without jumping on trendy bandwagons. The author's understanding of the biological foundation of diabetes is impressive, but she also explains difficult material in an easy to understand manner. She has a great sense of humor (which never hurts if you have been diagnosed with diabetes), and obviously knows what it "feels" like to be a diabetic. If you are newly diagnosed, this is the book for you. If you need a comprehensive, well-written update, this is also the book for you. I haven't seen anything else that matches it.

My expertise with this book is somewhat different than the 'Newly Diagnosed'. I read the book 2 years after i was diagnosed with type 2. When initially diagnosed, not being a frequent visitor to the doctor's and with insufficient knowledge on the matter, i took my endocrinologist's advices granted without any second thought and without discussion. The endo was definitely a competent one and my diabetes at beginning stage, it was easy to recover from high BG level to rather normal range say within one month or so only by dieting and metformin tablets. I was also prescribed to take ace inhibitor and aspirin tablets daily along with cholosterol suppressant. Being back to normal level and having calmed down, and having not really understood what went on with my health, i started reading about the subject and received piece of information here, another there... until i happened to find this book which practically and simply answered all the questions i had in mind, once and for all. The reason of my high BG, how my diet contributed to get back to normal, the meaning of the pills i was taking, the influence/duty of each one to my current/future health condition. Having been diagnosed two years ago the chapter numbers (1st day, 2nd day..,weeks,months) really didn't mean much, but no harm, they were simply chapter 1, chapter 2 and so on for me.
As the Author completes every chapter,
"in a sentence: this book is simply and fully beneficial for the people with diabetes, especially type 2. Highly recommended".

I can't say enough how wonderful this book is! I wish I had known about it the first day I was diagnosed. I found a copy at my library when I was one month in from being diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. I began to devour the book. It's written in such a way that you don't get overwhelmed. It gives you things to laugh about, and shares the medical information in small chunks that you can skip if you're not in that place at that time. Gretchen is on the big diabetes email list that I recently joined (). She is a fabulous person as well as a fabulous writer. Rick Mendosa, the another ()celebrity, is on the email list as well. Visit .mendosa.com for his website. This book is really a wonderful overview for Type 2 diagnosis. Share it with your friends and family. Donate a copy to your public library. Spread the word.

The diagnosis of my Diabetes Type 2 came less than four months ago. It came just 3 days after my dad entered the hospital. He suffered a heart attack; the next day, my diagnosis was confirmed, 5 days later, my dad passed away.

The urgency of my doctor, calling me at 6:30pm on Friday evening, as she was reviewing test results for several patients, struck me like a ton of bricks. I was in a hospital lobby, just having finished visiting my dad's bedside.

I sat down and explained my situation (as it had evolved since my office visit), and added that my girlfriend's dad was also in the hospital, having suffered a major heart attack. He would pass away 3 weeks later.

My Monday doctor's appointment would confirm the diagnosis. I had a fasting glucose level of 282. An in-office test (much like I now perform several times a day) showed a level of 410. These numbers were so high, that a cholesterol reading was impossible.

The education process had begun over the weekend on the Diabetes.org web site. I'd also purchased Diabetes for Dummies.

As many reviewers describe, the wealth of information and professional opinion is overwhelming and often, in conflict. It seemed to me that treating and coping with Diabetes is much like dieting. First, what works for me, may not work for you. Second, in dieting, if you're 50 pounds overweight (for example), losing the first 20 pounds is usually a snap. Losing the rest is not a snap, and keeping it off is tough.

This book comes from a solid perspective. It acknowledges the complexity, and reduces it to lay terms, as much as humanly possible.

When describing what internal emotions a newly diagnosed Diabetic might be feeling, it resonated with me. For example, I like my doctor's style. She listens. She looks me in the eye. We are able to have a discussion. She talks about the possibilities, and the different paths my treatment may take.

I asked her, flat out, 'Are you qualified to treat me, or should I being seeing a specialist?' Rather than be threatened, she clearly outlined where her expertise began and ended, and let me know under what circumstances she would recommend a specialist. This gave me great confidence.

Then, when reading the book, it was refreshing to see that my instincts were confirmed - seeing a personal physician that knows you can often be better than seeking a perfect answer from the ultimate specialist.

No matter how smart one is, the deeper you investigate the complexity of Diabetes Type 2, the more confusing it can become.

I found that this volume has a distinct advantage by focusing only on Type 2. For me, it has begun to clarify and help me understand what will be a lifelong challenge.

Needless to say, I highly recommend it.

After being newly diagnosed, I went to a bookstore to compare this book with the "Dummies" book. I had read the Amazon reviews on both books, but was uncertain about which one to get, as both were highly recommended, the latter, particularly so by my physician and the diabetes educator. I ended up buying this book because of the following impressions:

1) This book is entirely devoted to Type II diabetes, whereas the other is not. Type I and II are different diseases, and thus require different approaches in their management. Why spend time learning extensively about Type I?

2) The book is very readable and addresses the condition from a personal "hands on" approach that the other book lacks. I especially got a lot from the author's experiance with monitoring for glucose control, both when she relayed her experiances and those of others, something I found was rare in other diabetes books.

3) There was less dogma in this book than in the "dummies" book. By that I mean this book tries not present various approaches to diabetes management in an absolutist manner, as if they were verified by scientific study, because they are not. Readers need to understand that much of what is portrayed as fact in most popular books and even in many medical texts, is not verified. In fact, many points made in these books are very interesting if not plausible theories, but they remain not proven. Case in point,no single dietary method has been proven to be the best to manage type II diabetes. Being a scientist, I am aware the uncertainty that surrounds much scientific information and I found that this book presents issues in a more thoughtful and analytical manner.

Overall, this is a good book. I am still getting new insights as reread it and learn more about the disease.