Customer Reviews

Other Diabetes, The: Living And Eating Well With Type 2 Diabetes

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I usually don't write a review for books that have been well-reviewed by others. But there are so many different diabetes advice books available, and, like one of the previous reviewers, I have wasted money on several of them. So I wanted to add my voice in praise of this book. Backing her information with clearly explained scientific evidence, Ms. Hiser debunks many of the myths about type II (the "other", i.e. not juvenile) diabetes, particularly about food. Ms. Hiser's book has the clearest information about the insulin resistance, which is, in fact, what most early type II diabetics or pre, or borderline diabetics have. In other words, we make the insulin, but our cells do not respond to it as efficiently as they should. The key thing to know here is that if you, the patient, do not take control NOW to reduce that insulin resistance, eventually, you will burn out the cells in your pancreas that make insulin and then there really is no turning back. This is why it has been so emphasized that in its early stages, the outcome of type II diabetes is virtually completely in the hands of the patient, not the medical profession. Ms. Hiser puts together all the best scientific data specific to type II diabetes (which is quite different from type I, and therefore leads to considerable confusion), principally the "Mediterranean diet". She explains that counting carbohydrate and fat grams per se is not effective; it is the TYPE of fat and carbohydrate you eat that affects all the factors type II diabetics need to control (LDL, HDL and triglycerides). In fact, if you eat a lowfat diet consisting of refined (fiber-depleted) carbohydrates and hydrogenated (artificially saturated) fats, you are doing yourself more harm than good. Hydrogenated fats, aside from being "bad"/saturated fats, also contain trans fats, which are the absolute worst fats you could be putting into your body, in terms of diabetes, heart disease and cancer risks. So the diabetic diet advice books I have read whose menus consist of processed, fast and junk foods are not only worthless, they are dangerous.

Another positive about Ms. Hiser's book is that she emphasizes that her menu plans and recipes are only a starting off point. If the patient does not adapt the eating style to suit their preferences, then the "diet" is useless because the diet is meant to be a way of life from this point onward, not something you struggle to stick to for a few weeks and then go back to your old way of eating. Ms. Hiser also tackles a subject that most books gloss over or give outright misinformation about - including moderate alcohol in your diet. Contrary to other books that have the patient count a serving of alcohol as a fat exchange, Ms. Hiser presents the studies that show that one or two glasses or wine per day may actually reduce insulin resistance. Of course, more alcohol has the opposite effect, raising blood pressure, triglycerides and worsening the cholesterol profile. Exercise plays a role as important as diet in controlling type II diabetes, which Ms. Hiser emphasizes, but since that should go without saying, I won't address that in this review. So much media attention has been given to the "Mediterranean diet", I won't go into much detail, only to say, as Ms. Hiser does, the bottom line is to eat the "right" fats (monounsaturated) like olive and canola oils, to increase fiber and to control calories (by controlling portion sizes), especially if you need to lose weight, as most type II diabetics need to do. With this in mind, it is easy to adapt MANY of your favorite recipes (as I have done) very successfully, substituting canola oil and flaxseed meal for butter, and lowfat buttermilk or fat-free yogurt for milk and cream, for instance. The biggest challenge to those who, due to time constraints, currently eat mostly fast and processed food is the commitment to preparing your own food and snacks (her sample menus include three meals and two snacks a day). Ms. Hiser makes this as easy as possible by suggesting canned or frozen vegetables and fruits as substitutes for preparing absolutely everything from scratch. One of the key factors I personally have found in keeping eating satisfaction high is to use flavor boosters such as garlic, herbs or chilies in the recipes. And one bit of information I have not seen anywhere else is that one-quarter teaspoon of cinnamon has been reported as increasing insulin sensitivity! Such a painless experiment to try on your coffee or in your cereal! (Much easier for me than adapting to flaxseed....although I have, with the help of ground flaxseed meal). I have been on Ms. Hiser's plan for two weeks and have lost several pounds without suffering. I especially enjoy the herbed yogurt cheese and yogurt cream recipes with dinner or dessert (cinnamon baked apple with vanilla yogurt cream - yum!) . More importantly, the peripheral neuropathy pains in my hands and feet have much lessened. I await the results of my blood tests in four more weeks, but I feel sure that my glycosylated hemoglobin and cholesterol profile will be improved. Bravo and many thanks, Ms. Hiser for helping me more than any other source since I found out that I was borderline or pre-diabetic.

As a nurse practitioner student, I will use this as recommended reading to all my Type II diabetics and to anyone genetically predisposed. My husband, who has a strong family history of diabetes, and my whole family have recently begun to follow the diet guidelines in this book. The recipes are wonderful and delicious. The added bonus to this book is that it is a must for those with heart disease. If the American public ate in the manner shown in this book, the incidence of heart disease and Type II diabetes would marketly decrease

Ellen

Ms. Hiser is a gifted writer because she can write about very complecated scientific topics in a way that is not only easy for the average reader to understand, it is fun and entertaining, as well as extremely informative.

I would recommend this all-in-one book to anyone suffering from or at risk for Type II Diabetes, and at Hiser's suggestion, the Mediterranean Diet to anyone who wants to live a long, healthy life!

I have been just diagonosed Jan 16th with Diabetes 2. After reading Elizabeth Hiser's Book all the things that had been going wrong in my body for a very long time came to light. I could easily understand the workings of diabetes, what it does to the body, the extreme need for exercise (this was the most exciting part for me because it has motivated me to exercise 1 hour a day and actually enjoy doing it because I now understand why I need to do it.)

Everything about this book is great. I carry it around each day in case I want to refer to it.

Thank you Elizabeth Hiser for writing this book I'm very pleased and feel better now after only 36 days than I have in years. Not to mention I've lost 16 lbs in that time with the exercise, 2 qts of water a day, & the 1500 calorie menu.

Sincerely Happy, Ida Brassard Williston, Vt.

I add my recommendation to the earlier one that you can save yourself lots of time and money by just buying this book. I recommend the hard-back version as your copy will get lots of use around the kitchen.
The explanations of the blood sugar problem and corrective methods are logical, simple and complete. The book is very well written and makes pleasant reading.
With the exception of two or three ingredients which you may have to find in a health food store, all others can be found in any grocery store.
All of the recipes thus far tried are simple and delicious.
The meal plans and recipes work without a pervasive feeling of constant hunger, which can be a problem in many other diabetic meal plans.
Following a diagnosis of pre-diabetic blood sugar level, and fortunately buying this book on a dietician's recommendation, along with half a dozen others which I rarely use, I have lost twenty pounds in the first three weeks of owning and using the book, with more coming off daily, with minimal exercise. Exercise naturally accelerates the weight loss.
A useful supplement is "No-fuss Diabetes Recipes for 1 or 2" by Boucher et al, but "The Other Diabetes" can stand alone.
The well known and documented relationship between obesity and diabetes 2 can be quickly attacked using this book.
One of the delicious breakfast recipes, Peach Almond Smoothie, will banish hunger for at least half a day, and is widely variable by substituting other frozen fruits for the peaches.
The recipes present lots of variety to accomodate different tastes.

I always read Hiser's articles in Eating Well Magazine and she continues to be practical and educational in her book. She explains the "whys" of different aspects of Type 2 Diabetes and their affects. She includes the latest research and provides a do-able diet of real food. Even the recipies are great!

I WROTE A REVIEW BACK IN FEBRUARY OF 2001 WHEN I HAD JUST LOST 20 LBS AFTER READING THIS WONDERFUL BOOK. I HAVE CONTINUED TO DO WHAT ELIZABETH RECOMMENDED IN HER BOOK AND NOW HAVE 45 LBS OFF. I HAVE NEVER FELT SO HEALTHY AND FOUND LOSING WEIGHT SO EASY. SHE EXPLAINS THE "WHY" OF DIABETES AND INSULIN RESISTANCE IN EVERY DAY LANGUAGE SO I COULD PUT IT INTO PRACTICE WITH JOY AND ENTHUSIAM. I WILL ALWAYS BE GRATEFUL TO HER FOR WRITING THIS BOOK. MY LAST A1C TEST ONE WEEK AGO WAS 5.0. THANKS ELIZABETH!!!! THIS BOOK IS FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO LOSE WEIGHT THE HEALTHY WAY, NOT JUST DIABETICS.

This superb and highly readable book provide much information to help a person with type 2 diabetes take an active role in managing his or her illness. But the book also has information that is important to anyone who is at risk for type 2 diabetes. If you have a family history of type 2 diabetes, or if you are overweight and sedentary, you should read this book soon -- BEFORE you succumb to the illness. Once you get diabetes, you can't put it back: it's non-returnable.

I have been unable to lose a pound for ages since I was first diagnosed as type II. I have followed the good eating suggestions in this book and have dropped 10 pounds in the last month! I am enjoying the foods I am eating and the book's information on this topic is great! I think I have learned more about my problem and how to deal with it than I ever got anywehere else! The book is easy to read and comprehend.

When my husband was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, I knew nothing about diabetes or what to do to help. I purchased 3 books and then 3 more. This book was the greatest help to me. Ms. Hiser explains enough, and then she tells you how to handle this condition. Her suggestions were so reasonable and explained in a way that gives you the confidence to proceed. The recipes in the back are very tasty and easy to prepare. This book is the best of the 6 I have read on this subject, both for information and for practical help with the everyday management of type 2 diabetes. Thank you Ms. Hiser!