My Sweet Life: Successful Women with Diabetes [Paperback]

Beverly S. Adler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 17, 2011

How does one living with diabetes manage between career, family and a chronic illness? By living the Sweet Life. Beverly S. Adler, PhD, CDE and Friends (23 contributing authors) make up this compilation book about successful women with diabetes. This book is a collection of life stories each chapter written by a highly respected and successful woman with diabetes. The diverse group of women share their heartwarming stories and insights about finding balance between their personal, professional, and spiritual lives. For women with diabetes who need role models and a little inspiration... this book is written for the newly-diagnosed woman overwhelmed with her diabetes condition. Or, for the woman who has had diabetes for a while, but could also benefit from uplifting, inspirational stories to encourage and motivate self-care (especially if she is already trying to cope with some of the complications resulting from diabetes). Learn how these women s experiences with diabetes helped to shape them into the successful women they are today. Author/Editor: Beverly S. Adler, PhD, CDE | Contributors: Brandy Barnes, MSW; Claire Blum, MS Ed, RN, CDE; Lorraine Brooks, MPH, CEAP; Carol Grafford, RD, CDE; Riva Greenberg; Connie Hanham-Cain, RN, CDE; Sally Joy; Zippora Karz; Kelli Kuehne; Kelly Kunik; Jacquie Lewis-Kemp; Joan McGinnis, RN, MSN, CDE; Jen Nash, DClinPsy; Vanessa Nemeth, MS, MA; Alexis Pollak; Birgitta Rice, MS, RPh, CHES; Kyrra Richards; Lisa Ritchie; Mari Ruddy, MA; Cherise Shockley; Kerri Morrone Sparling; Amy Tenderich, MA; Heartha Whitlow. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated, on behalf of the author and the contributing writers, to the American Diabetes Association.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Every once in a while, life gives you a 'game changer.' Sometimes it s a career change, sometimes it s a romantic change, and sometimes it is becoming aware that you will now be one of millions living with diabetes. Dr. Beverly S. Adler, and the other amazing women with diabetes who have contributed to this book, have graciously offered up their own experiences with diabetes to give us another game changer. This book gives us a truthful, funny, and optimistic look at what gifts living with diabetes can bestow on us. Whether you are a newly diagnosed person with diabetes struggling to understand what this news means for you, or a 20+ year veteran who could use a little tuning up in the optimism department, this book is a fantastic resource for inspiration, motivation, and gratitude. I am so thankful for the women who shared these stories, and gave us this game changer. This book is the ultimate resource for those who want to take life s lemons and make some darn good sugar-free lemonade!. Dr. Nat Strand Assistant Professor USC Department of Anesthesiology Amazing Race 17 winner dLife, Patient Champion -- Dr. Nat Strand, Amazing Race 17 winner, dLife, Patient Champion --Dr. Nat Strand, Amazing Race 17 winner, dLife, Patient Champion

Imagine the power of all these accomplished women in one room! We can cherish these extraordinary role models like a support group in a book. These accomplished women have, and still are, figuring out the challenge of life with diabetes successfully . . . with a spiritual appreciation for their journey. The talented Dr. Adler has gathered together wisdom, grace, and determination - bottled it to exhibit mastery in handling the foremost component of diabetes, the emotional aspects. Dr. Wendy Satin Rapaport Clinical Psychologist Diabetes Research Institute University of Miami Medical School --Dr. Wendy Satin Rapaport, Diabetes Research Institute, University of Miami Medical School --Dr. Wendy Satin Rapaport, Diabetes Research Institute, University of Miami Medical School

Imagine the power of all these accomplished women in one room! We can cherish these extraordinary role models like a support group in a book. These accomplished women have, and still are, figuring out the challenge of life with diabetes successfully . . . with a spiritual appreciation for their journey. The talented Dr. Adler has gathered together wisdom, grace, and determination - bottled it to exhibit mastery in handling the foremost component of diabetes, the emotional aspects. Dr. Wendy Satin Rapaport Clinical Psychologist Diabetes Research Institute University of Miami Medical School --Dr. Wendy Satin Rapaport, Diabetes Research Institute, University of Miami Medical School --Dr. Wendy Satin Rapaport, Diabetes Research Institute, University of Miami Medical School

About the Author

Dr. Beverly S. Adler is a licensed clinical psychologist and Certified Diabetes Educator. Known as 'Dr. Bev' to her patients, she sees children, adolescents, adults, and seniors in her private practice in Baldwin, New York. She is a member of the American Psychological Association and the Nassau County Psychological Association. She is also a professional member of the American Diabetes Association as well as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. In addition, she is also a member of the American Association of Diabetes Educators.
A self-proclaimed Diabetes Diva; Dr. Bev is uniquely qualified to treat patients with diabetes, as she has had Type 1 diabetes for the past 37 years. Over the years, she has also made numerous presentations to various diabetes support groups for adults with Type 1 diabetes, adults with Type 2 diabetes, as well as to a support group for parents who have children with diabetes. Currently, Bev contributes to the "Ask Our CDE" column, which offers monthly expert advice, at DiabetesSisters.org.

Product Details

• Paperback: 257 pages
• Publisher: PHC Publishing Group (November 17, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0984525491
• ISBN-13: 978-0984525492
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #983,388 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dr. Beverly S. Adler is a licensed Clinical Psychologist, Certified Diabetes Educator, Speaker and Author. Known as 'Dr. Bev' to her patients, she specializes in treating the emotional issues of patients with diabetes. She sees children, adolescents, adults, and seniors in her private practice in Baldwin, New York. She is a member of the American Psychological Association and the Nassau County Psychological Association. She is also a professional member of the American Diabetes Association as well as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. In addition, she is also a member of the American Association of Diabetes Educators.

Dr. Bev is uniquely qualified to treat patients with diabetes, as she has had Type 1 diabetes for the past 37 years. Over the years, she has made numerous presentations to various diabetes support groups, as well as to healthcare professionals and diabetes educators. She has published two books which include insightful lessons of empowerment written by successful men and women with diabetes. She has published articles in print and online about diabetes management - always with the focus on emotional adjustment. Dr. Bev has been quoted in numerous magazines and contributed to a monthly advice column online.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The most amazing diabetes book ever! March 12, 2012

By 51 years + Type 1

Format:Kindle Edition

Dear Dr. Adler,

I just finished your book My Sweet Life, Successful Women with Diabetes.

Did you ever go to a movie or read a book where you never wanted it to end??

Your book did this to me!!

Every story felt as if I was part of it and was actually living some of it!

Which as you know in a lot of these cases I've been there?

All of the stories moved me.

From your intro and your chapter which were perfect openings for this most amazing book.

To the chapters about Zippora's and Kelli's struggles and amazing successes, to the story about Alexis Pollack which took my breath away and I felt like crying when her parents divorced and then she lost her father. I was drained and ecstatic at the end for her and her accomplishments.

The last story about Hearfha Whitlow humbled me.

Here is this amazing humble, giving woman who made her life's journey into many lessons for many of us with diabetes.

Her epilogue I will reprint, frame and put up on my wall.

Dr. Adler, thanks you for this gift this book.

I've read many books in the diabetes field, and have been written up in a few but none as moving or profound as this one.

Thank you again.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Stories that inspire and teach February 5, 2012

By Riva Greenberg

Format:Paperback

It always inspires me to read about others' challenges and triumphs, and whether you're newly diagnosed or have had diabetes for decades, you'll find the same inspiration here. In full disclosure, I am one of the 24 women featured in the book, and having now read the entire book, I found my fellow women's stories each triumphal in a different way. Some women have had diabetes for only a few years, some even longer than my forty, which I celebrate this month!

For an interview with the author, and to learn more about what it takes to do one's best with diabetes, check out "How 24 Women Live Successfully With Diabetes" on the Huffington Post under my byline.

5.0 out of 5 stars My Sweet Life - Women: Sweet Read May 11, 2013

By Hope Warshaw

Format:Paperback

Wow! If you or a loved one has diabetes or you are a healthcare provider who works with people with diabetes, the twin compendiums, My Sweet Life: Successful Women with Diabetes and My Sweet Life: Successful Men with Diabetes, should be on your list of must reads!

These two books are the brainchild of Beverly Adler, a person who herself has had type 1 diabetes for 38 years. Dr. Adler, (AKA Dr. Bev), is also a psychologist (PhD) and Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE).

In both My Sweet Life books, each about 250 pages, Beverly has compiled stories from people who have had diabetes for a number of years. Collectively these books represent hundreds of years of wisdom around living with this VERY challenging disease.

Most of the women and men who Dr. Bev lends the pages of her books to share their stories have type 1 or LADA - Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (more closely resembles type 1 than type 2). There are sprinklings of stories from people with type 2 diabetes, but not enough in my mind as this represents about 95% of diabetes in the U.S. Maybe Dr. Bev is saving their stories for volume 3?

Many of the people who recount their years with diabetes have lived with it using, relatively speaking, much more rudimentary tools than we have available today (yes, boiling glass syringes, NPH and Regular insulin, urine testing, etc.)...and they're still relatively rudimentary, but in many respects, light years better.

In My Sweet Life: Successful Men with Diabetes, you'll hear from a sports star, Jay Hewitt, two diabetes educator stars Keith Campbell, a pharmacist, and Gary Scheiner, an exercise physiologist; a chef, Chris Smith, and a race car driver, Charlie Kimball. Plus several men we've gotten to know in and around the Diabetes Online Community as diabetes advocates, George Simmons and Scott Johnson...and many others.

In My Sweet Life: Successful Women with Diabetes, you'll hear from a professional dancer, Zippora Karz and Mari Ruddy, who is an athlete and creator of Team WILD. Amy Tenderich, one of the early and successful diabetes bloggers (diabetesmine.com) and a few women who double as PWD and diabetes educators, Claire Blum and Connie Hanham-Cain. And yes the Diabetes Online Community is well represented with stories from key advocates, Riva Greenberg, Kelly Kunik and Kerri Morrone Sparling...and many others.

Each and every one of these PWD shares the intimate details of their diabetes diagnosis along with the ups and downs, ins and outs of managing their diabetes and their lives (yes, therein lies a big and continuous challenge) through the years. Yes, you'll read about the challenges and triumphs of managing pregnancies, the trials and tribulations of developing and dealing with diabetes complications - from eye problems to kidney problems and more.

The contributors to My Sweet Life - both the men and the women -- don't mince their words. There's no holding back. They put the good, the bad and the ugly out on the pages. What's interesting and particularly valuable is that by the end of reading most peoples' stories you realize that they believe their lives, overall, have been enriched by diabetes.Yes, it's true! In essence, as I say, they've made lemonade out of a lemon in life. Kudos to them all!

I believe that these two compendiums should be required reading for healthcare providers who work with people with diabetes. Reading these from the heart stories can help sensitize us to the significant emotional challenges of managing diabetes along with real life. No easy task!

As a diabetes educator I would think, but don't claim to know for sure, that these books would be of value to people with diabetes and possibly their loved ones and/or care givers at various times during the course of their life with diabetes. But, only when they're ready.

Yes, I believe they are valuable reads! Thanks to Dr. Bev for having the vision and fortitude to bring these books, filled with heart-warming stories, to us.