Now in paperback, this vivid and often beautifully written account of the realities of diabetes (Chicago Tribune) is essential reading for diabetics and their friends and families. Lisa Roney was diagnosed with diabetes just before her twelfth birthday. This is her candid and exquisitely written account of how the disease directly affects the choices she makes every day, in every aspect of her life, from food and exercise to career and family. What sets this apart from other testimonies about living with an illness is Roney's remarkable willingness to reveal the usually hidden emotional consequences of her affliction: erosion of her self-esteem, feelings of vulnerability, the influence on her sexual choices, and heightened awareness of mortality. Full of wisdom, humor, and practical advice, Sweet Invisible Body will be welcomed by diabetics and their friends and families who have never before had a spokesperson as articulate, honest, and insightful as Lisa Roney.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Library Journal
More than 16 million people in the United States have diabetes. Despite the ability of medicine to control the disease partially, its long-term complications make it the seventh leading cause of death in this country. Diabetics are more likely to suffer from heart disease, strokes, blindness, renal disease, and lower-limb amputations. Roney was diagnosed with diabetes in 1972, just before her 12th birthday, and her life has been indelibly marked by the physical and psychological effects of the disease. Candid, beautifully written, and touching, this exploration of the hidden sequelae of diabetes will spark recognition in anyone who lives with a chronic condition, especially those physical and psychological conditions that are invisible to casual observers. Suitable for the general public and highly recommended for all libraries.AStacey Hathaway-Bell, State Lib. of Louisiana, Baton Rouge
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Kirkus Reviews
A poignant, painful life story. Roney was diagnosed with diabetes in 1972, just before she turned 12. Since then, it has turned her life into a balancing act, an ongoing internal reckoning as to ``whether a given interaction is worth the energy, about the timing of every walk, jog, movie, lecture, airline flight, nap, phone conversation, and meal.'' Her story is cold water in the face of the oft-held attitude that diabetes is simply a condition easily handled by medication and a prudent lifestyle. Rather, decades later, Roney has come to wonder whether she has an identity apart from the disease, or are they so inextricably linked that by now she is defined by diabetes? Beginning at her diagnosis, she paints a wrenching portrait of a life lived apart. While appearing outwardly normal, Roney's reality was, and is, that an error in her calculations, a delayed meal or exercise session (often caused by thoughtless friends who couldn't, or wouldnt, understand Roney's situation) could mean insulin reaction, even coma and a very real brush with death. Roney brings home clearly the extent of her loneliness and separateness, needing to be always on the alert for a life-threatening episode of low blood sugar (particularly common in the middle of the night). Several long-term relationships with boyfriends have foundered, and Roney lives, sometimes perilously, alone. The realities of diabetes also altered Roney's career course. ``As I grew up, the official medical word was that I could do anything I wanted to do with my life. Well, except to become an airline pilot, bus driver, or any other kind of employee in control of large equipment.'' A talented visual artist, Roney chose instead to become a writer because of the very real threat of blindness later in life. Courageous, obstinate, poetic, Roney paints us a crystal clear picture here: a devastating portrait of a young life altered by diabetes. -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Ms. Roney's beautifully written memoir describes all too accurately what it is like to be at once separate from one's chronic illness and yet aware that separating oneself from the disease is impossible. I found the book's reflections on how diabetes affected every aspect of her life to be right on target, and I identified with much of what she said. I love the prose, too, and have recommended the book to friends, healthy and otherwise!
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Lisa Roney is astonishingly on-target with her story of life with diabetes. I have had Type 1 diabetes for over 20 years. I can relate to much of what she said in her book. Ms. Roney clearly captures the pain of life with a chronic disease. I think people who are long-term diabetics will get the most from her book. Absolutely terrific!
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Thank you Lisa Roney for making those of us with type I juvenile diabetes feel like people again instead of a statistic!! I was diagnosed at the age of 13 and after having diabetes for 16 years, I have to say reading this book has made me feel less alone. Never thought I'd ever be able to say that. Your writing and honesty is very real.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Describes the EMOTIONAL aspects of being a diabetic
This book was recommended to me by my very good friend who is a Type 1 diabetic. He said he had been trying for years (when first diagnosed 30 something years ago) to find... Read more
Published 22 months ago by Shelly from Madison
Interesting insight!
Providing interesting insight into the emotional impact of Type 1 diabetes in the author's life. Have not finished this book yet but look forward to doing so. Read more
Published on April 28, 2009 by C. Wayne Beck
Too flowery for my taste
Roney provides a great description of the struggle with diabetes that, as a Type I, I can relate to, but it was really mush to pore through. Read more
Published on December 27, 2005 by A reader
Good book!
I have been a type1 diabetic for 32 years. I found the stuff Lisa went through to have a lot of parallels in my own life, and I was also an art major in college, and like horses. Read more
Published on July 1, 2005 by Pocofan
Author describes diabetic events well,but relishes herMISERY
The first third of this book was great. Roney provides a great description of many of the difficulties & experiences that I encounter on regular basis as a person with Type 1... Read more
Published on June 10, 2005 by wagginpitbull
Ignore the Negative Reviews, This Book is Awesome!
I had the unique opportunity to meet one-on-one, have phone conversations, and exchange emails with the author while I was reading this work. Read more
Published on January 14, 2005 by FL Counselor
Absolutely awful
This book seems to be the author's search to justify her existence. It's self-indulgent twaddle.
I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 1969 at the age of 4, and although the... Read more
Published on April 16, 2004
depressing and uninspiring
I was very disappointed with this book. I have had Type 1 diabetes since I was 15 and I am 26 now. I couldn't relate at all to Ms. Read more
Published on July 1, 2002 by Kaley
I AM NOT ALONE...
Unlike most books about diabetes, this one takes care to explore the emotional implications of this potentially deadly disease. Read more
Published on January 13, 2002 by allison evers
An Author That Can Relate!
I thought this book was a very real and true account of someone living with Juvenile Diabetes. I like the fact that the author touches on the emotions and anger of the disease. Read more
Published on February 24, 2001 by Jessica
Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
The French blue kitchen of my grandparents' house on Moody Avenue in Martin, Tennessee, is only part of a pile of scavenged rubble now, but it was one of my favorite places as a child. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
beige foam, blood sugar test, glucose tablets Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
American Diabetes Association, New York, United States, Penn State, East Tennessee, Mexico City, Smoky Mountains New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
The French blue kitchen of my grandparents' house on Moody Avenue in Martin, Tennessee, is only part of a pile of scavenged rubble now, but it was one of my favorite places as a child. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
beige foam, blood sugar test, glucose tablets Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
American Diabetes Association, New York, United States, Penn State, East Tennessee, Mexico City, Smoky Mountains New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 5
books:
2
books
cite this book:
- Rat Man of Paris by Paul West in Front Matter
- Fat Is a Feminist Issue by Susie Orbach on page 131
- A Death in the Family by James Agee on page 221
- The Doctor Stories by Richard Selzer in Front Matter
- The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera on page 184
- Clarence Major and His Art: Portraits of an African American Postmodernist by Bernard W. Bell in Back Matter
- The Writer's Mentor: Secrets of Success from the World's Great Writers by Ian Jackman on page 171
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