"This is not a book to answer all your questions about the use of alternative or complementary care, but it is a resource from which you may choose to make decisions and learn the guidelines for making such decisions," explains author Diana Guthrie. She organizes the content into the "PARENT" approach: Positive thinking, Assertiveness, Relaxation, Exercise, Nutrition, and Touch (or Treatment). She emphasizes practices that aren't likely to do any harm, and are likely to do some good (such as journaling, biofeedback, hypnotherapy, walking, and yoga) rather than the more controversial alternatives.
The nutrition chapter ("Foods and Folly") is too accepting--she presents detailed summaries of the major diet plans, including bestselling diets, but doesn't pass judgement on any of them, instead just passing along the authors' claims. Guthrie is more vigilant about warning us about the use of herbs, pointing out the risks and unknowns. She includes a helpful review of herbs that might influence diabetes management and wisely warns against substituting alternative care for your medical regimen. She also reminds you to discuss with your medical providers any complementary therapies you are using or considering using: "Combine both types of information and determine what you are going to do to make a better life for yourself and a healthier life for your body." --Joan Price
From Kirkus Reviews
General discussion of some possibilities offered by alternative therapies to improve the health of those with diabetes. Guthrie (retired from the University of Kansas School of Medicine) is certified in holistic nursing and healing touch. She treads carefully, reminding those affected that they must continue with traditional medical therapy while experimenting with any supportive complementary care. Guthrie uses the acronym PARENT as shorthand for the responsibilities of those with the disease: Positive thinking, Assertiveness, Relaxation, Exercise, Nutrition, and Touch. The positive aspect of diabetes, as proposed by Guthrie, is that simply by having the disease you will be forced to take better care of your health. Emphasizing positive thinking, she is quick to point out, by no means negates the fact that diabetes is a terribly threatening disease. She goes on to cover such therapies as the use of herbs, chiropractic, relaxation techniques, massage, and journaling (youre writing to yourself, she counsels, so feel free to write whatever you please). A broad introduction, then, rather than a self-help guide; and any serious application of these techniques would have to be undertaken with the guidance of a knowledgeable practitioner and the knowledge of ones medical caregiver. -- Copyright ©2000, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
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