50 Secrets of the Longest Living People with Diabetes (Marlowe Diabetes Library) [Paperback]

Sheri R. Colberg (Author), Steven V. Edelman (Author)

Book Description

Series: Marlowe Diabetes Library | Publication Date: January 1, 2008

The latest scientific research confirms that you can live well and long with diabetes without suffering from its more devastating health complications. Whether you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, you have the ability to improve the quality and length of your life through physical activity, a positive mental outlook, and certain diabetes tools and medications. Now, the longest living people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes share the secrets that have helped them achieve longevity and wellness.

From interviews with more than fifty people who have thrived with the condition for as many as 84 years, diabetes authorities Drs. Colberg and Edelman distill their lifelong habits into fifty user-friendly, easy-to-adopt secrets. Featuring profiles of ten people who have each lived an average of 65 years with diabetes and practical advice for incorporating each secret into your daily life, this invaluable resource will inform, inspire, and motivate you to live well—and fully—to 90 and beyond.

Find out what some of the secrets are:

• Live first and be diabetic second
• Know your numbers and assume nothing
• Have kids if you want to
• Erase your mistakes with exercise

No matter what type of diabetes you have, you control the ability to escape serious complications (or control the ones you may have) and add years, if not decades, to your life.
 

Editorial Reviews

Review

""50 Secrets of the Longest Living People with Diabetes" is full of inspiring examples...Indeed, diabetes is treatable and is more and more treatable all the time, while many other chronic diseases are not. This is another of the excellent and positive points that these two authors make throughout this important book."--David Mendosa, coauthor, "The New Glucose Revolution What Makes My Blood Glucose Go Up...and Down?," and author, "Losing Weight with Your Diabetes Medication

""While at the University of Michigan we developed the notion of 'patient empowerment' and 'taking control, ' which Sheri Colberg and Steven Edeman have captured in a most elegant manner with case histories of people who have thrived for many years despite having diabetes."--Aaron Vinik, MD, PhD, director, Strelitz Diabetes Research Center

"Encouraging, informative, and easy to read...this is my kind of diabetes book! If nothing else, you'll be delighted to discover how many of the secrets you've already mastered."--Amy Tenderich, journalist/blogger, www.diabetesmine.com, and coauthor, "Know Your Numbers, Outlive Your Diabetes"

About the Author

Sheri R. Colberg, PhD, is an exercise physiologist and professor of exercise science in the Exercise Science, Sport, Physical Education, and Recreation Department at Old Dominion University. She has authored more than 100 articles on exercise and diabetes, along with five books, including The 7 Step Diabetes Fitness Plan.

Steven V. Edelman, MD, founder and director of Taking Control of Your Diabetes, is a professor of medicine in the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism at the University of California, San Diego, and director of the Diabetes Care Clinic at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in San Diego. The author of four books on diabetes for consumers and professionals, his research has appeared in more than 200 publications.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Da Capo Press; 1 edition (January 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1600940188
• ISBN-13: 978-1600940187
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #435,581 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Sheri Colberg, PhD, is an author, college professor (Old Dominion University), exercise physiologist, clinical exercise researcher, and international lecturer on healthy lifestyles, diabetes prevention and management, exercise and physical activity, and much more (see www.shericolberg.com for a full biography and access to her many articles and books). In addition to writing columns for DiabetesInControl.com and dLife.com, she is frequently interviewed by the media, with recent interviews appearing in USA Today, New York Times, International Herald Tribune, Diabetes Forecast, "Diabetes Living Today" radio show, and other media outlets. Her favorite pastime (besides being physically active) is sharing information to help people live not just longer, but especially healthier lives, and she practices what she preaches as she has been exercising and living well with type 1 diabetes for over 40 years.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Read this if you or a family member has type 1 diabetes, January 7, 2008

By 

Anita Ashland (Madison, Wisconsin) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: 50 Secrets of the Longest Living People with Diabetes (Marlowe Diabetes Library) (Paperback)

As the mother of two young daughters with type 1 diabetes, I've read a lot of websites and books with highly technical medical information about diabetes.

It was refreshing to sit down and read a book full of stories. When's the last time you read a book about diabetes that was actually hard to put down? This is a book like that.

One can't help but be encouraged by stories like those of the two brothers, ages 87 and 91, who have had diabetes since early childhood. Both have avoided major complications even though they lived most of their lives in the "dark ages" (pre-glucometers). The 87-year-old brother often rides his bike 20 miles at a time. The book is full of stories like these.

Interspersed between the stories of these inspiring diabetic people are the 50 secrets. I'll list ten of them here:

1. Live first and be diabetic second.
2. Control your problems before they control you.
3. Consider being a grazer.
4. Always carry a toothbrush.
5. Erase your mistakes with exercise.
6. Love (and hate) your pump.
7. Involve your family and friends.
8. Have kids if you want to.
9. Understand possible diabetes complications.
10. Respect the power of diabetes.

The 50 secrets aren't earth-shaking but there is commentary from these diabetics on all of the secrets and it is motivating and encouraging. The advice is very, very practical.

The authors don't shy away from the grim statistics: "just by having diabetes, you already have twice the risk of dying young as someone who is diabetes-free." Some of the 50 people in the book share stories about scary hypoglycemic episodes while driving. The authors make it clear that facing the reality of possible complications is much better than denial.

There is some information about type 2 diabetes in the book too. Overall, the book is easy to read and I think every teen and twentysomething with diabetes should read it. Parents of diabetics should read it too. It will wake you up a little and also encourage you.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must -read for anyone with diabetes..., February 6, 2008

By 

Jane A. Dohrmann "MT-to-be" (Norfolk, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: 50 Secrets of the Longest Living People with Diabetes (Marlowe Diabetes Library) (Paperback)

This is one of the best books about diabetes and people living with diabetes that I have read in a very long time. As a person living with the disease for over 40 years, it was such an inspiration to read about other people that have lived with it even longer than I and to read about others who are dealing with the same issues that I deal with all the time. It is so important for people to know that diabetes does not have to be a death sentence...it is a manageable disease and the proof of that is in reading this book.

I suppose I shouldn't brag too much since I'm quoted quite a bit in this book, but it is truly a book for anyone with diabetes. It is filled with amazing suggestions, (yes, even I learned some new things!) and it should encourage all who take the time to really absorb the contents.

Dr. Sheri and Dr. Steve are both wonderful people and certainly experienced in their field as they, too live with diabetes.

Jane Dohrmann

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great book for diabetics, October 22, 2009

By 

Tom T. Halverson - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: 50 Secrets of the Longest Living People with Diabetes (Marlowe Diabetes Library) (Paperback)

This is a really informative book for diabetics. It is so nice to know so many others are dealing with this disease. To read of their struggles over so many years of their lives and surviving and thriving is encouraging. There are many practical tips, also. Well worth the time and money to read.