Psyching Out Diabetes : A Positive Approach to Your Negative Emotions [Paperback]

Richard Rubin (Author), June Biermann (Author), Barbara Toohey (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1999

This book examines the psychological obstacles of diagnosis such as panic, fear, anger, shame, and guilt and how to put them into perspective. Through proper maintenance, diet, and education, this book is tailor-made for the diabetic or anyone with a diabetic in their life who wants to overcome the negative emotions associated with this disease and learn the coping skills necessary to integrate diabetes into their daily life.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Richard R. Rubin, Ph.D., C.D.E., is a faculty member of the Johns Hopkins Medical School.

June Biermann and Barbara Toohey are publishers of the Diabetic Reader and coauthors of eight other books on diabetes.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill; 3 edition (November 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0737302585
• ISBN-13: 978-0737302585
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #195,516 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A helpful book discussing psychological aspects of diabetes., March 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Psyching Out Diabetes : A Positive Approach to Your Negative Emotions (Paperback)

I found this book to be helpful in addressing issues not covered in other diabetes books. Rather than give diet and exercise tips, it discusses the psychological battle that occurs when one is struggling to cope with diabetes, and it provides insight on how to deal with issues such as denial, anger, depression, grief, fear, frustration and guilt. Each chapter ends with a short section aimed at those who want to help the diabetic. The Q&A format can be annoying because the two authors (one of whom is diabetic) who ask the questions can be glib at times. But the replies by Dr. Rubin, who is a Certified Diabetes Educator and therapist at Johns Hopkins, are enormously insightful.

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Helpful Book, November 28, 1999

By 

D.C. Pedersen (Minnesota, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Psyching Out Diabetes : A Positive Approach to Your Negative Emotions (Paperback)

This book deals with emotional and feeling aspects of diabetes. Presented in an interview and response format I found the book interesting to read. The audience for this book is clearly those with diabetes or immediate family members of those with diabetes.

The authors affirm typical feelings of diabetes patients and present information to comfort those with diabetes that virtually all of their feelings are normal and shared by others with the disease. Ideas to cope with these feelings are suggested in the book which may or may not work for everyone. Therefore, this isn't necessarily a book full of solutions that will work for all with diabetes, but a book about what most people with diabetes feel and how some people cope with these feelings.

I think people with diabetes will better understand themselves and their feelings toward diabetes after reading the book. This is the best book I have read on dealing with the emotional and feelings aspects of diabetes. I recommend it.

21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Readable style, positive, compassionate approach, June 8, 2001

By 

Carol Watkins "Psychiatrist" (Parkton, Maryland, USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Psyching Out Diabetes : A Positive Approach to Your Negative Emotions (Paperback)

Dr. Rubin and his co-authors write in an interactive, conversational style. I found this enjoyable and engaging. There is enough information without excessive detail. I felt as if I were having a lively conversation with good friends who all had a personal experience with my condition. I got through the whole book in an evening after the kids were in bed.

Individuals can experience a variety of negative emotions in response to the stress of living with diabetes. The same type of emotion may show up at different points in the course of the disorder. Emotions can have a huge effect on one's ability to maintain good diabetic control.

The authors give clear understandable vignettes that illustrate how an emotion such as anger can cause glucose levels to skyrocket. They also suggest ways of coping with these emotional states. At the same time, they do not malign all unpleasant emotions. Sometimes, fear, anger and denial might serve a useful purpose.

I did have a small stylistic concern. I would have preferred that the three authors either all use their first names or all use their formal titles.

I enjoyed reading this book. I think the conversational style would lend itself well to an audiocassete version.