Diabetes For Dummies (For Dummies (Health & Fitness))

The book is divided into sections on "Dealing with the Onset of Diabetes," "How Diabetes Affects Your Body," "Managing Diabetes: The 'Thriving with Diabetes' Lifestyle Plan," and "Special Considerations for Living with Diabetes." Each chapter is packed with facts and strategies on topics such as monitoring, battling complications, medications, diet, and exercise. If you skim, it's an introduction to diabetes; if you read it carefully, it's a textbook. Web surfers will appreciate the "Dr. W.W. Web" appendix, where Rubin lists many useful diabetes Web sites. (If you'd rather click than type, you can visit Rubin's Web site, where he offers links to all the diabetes sites.) Also included is a mini-cookbook of multiethnic recipes from noted restaurants, mostly in San Francisco (with the restaurant address, in case you want to order instead of cook). --Joan Price

Product Description
Covers the latest glucose meters and insulin treatments The straight facts on treating diabetes successfully and living a full life

Want to know how to manage diabetes? Leading diabetes expert Dr. Alan Rubin gives you reassuring, authoritative guidance in putting together a state-of-the-art treatment program. You'll learn about all the advances in monitoring glucose, the latest medications, and how to develop a diet and exercise plan to stay healthy. You'll also see how to overcome insurance and on-the-job obstacles.

Discover how to:

• Reduce your diabetes risk
• Understand the different types of diabetes
• Manage diabetes in children and the elderly
• Prevent long-term complications
• Get the support you need

Many patients flee. Others roam around frightened and vulnerable.

Dr. Rubin, however, clearly, calmly, and intelligently guides the patient in this book through the chaos and confusion of the diabetes care circus. He really makes sense out of what is available. The book is unfailingly clear.

I was also impressed with his anecdotes, drawn from his practice, about the emotional experiences of his patients, and with his tips on how to cope with setbacks, glitches, and successes.

Many books on diabetes lecture the patient. In this book, diabetics will find a physician-author who does not lecture and who is not afraid to evaluate treatments and approaches. He seems intent on helping diabetics, and their families and caregivers, return to wonderful lives.

Get your physician to read it too.


Great Book   June 22, 2001
K. S. Roman (Glen Burnie, MD USA)
101 out of 102 found this review helpful

OK. Hubby's just been diagosed with type II diabetes. Go the to library and get a million confusing books. I don't have time for this. No, wait, there's GOT to be a "Dummies" book on this subject. Amazon.com - "Diabetes for Dummies" - BINGO! Aaaahhhh, all the information I need in an easy-to-understand format.

The only problem we found in this this book is that the calculation for body mass index (BMI) was a bit confusing, and some of the websites have changed, but the rest of the book was EXTREMELY helpful and presented in a non-threatening way.

Knowledge is power and banishes fear. This book helped save my sanity.

Also, when I had a question, I sent an e-mail and got a prompt response from Dr. Rubin himself!


Excellent, POSITIVE Book   July 19, 2000
92 out of 95 found this review helpful

Easy-to-read and entertaining book that explains not only what diabetes is and how it's treated, but also what you can do to prevent (yes, PREVENT) long-term complications. The message throughout the book is one of hope; you can live with this disease, you can have a full, long, happy life.

Since being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, I have received several "basic" books on the subject, including this one which I purchased for myself. Although I haven't read the other books word-for-word yet, I have browsed through them and they seem to be geared more toward people with type 1. This book, however, addresses types 1 & 2 equally, which I was very grateful for.

If you want to educate yourself about diabetes, this is the book! It's informative, entertaining, easy to read and will remind you page after page that your life is not over -- in fact, it's just beginning!


A Great Resource for Diabetics AND Non-Diabetics   May 27, 2001
Jennifer F. Johnston (Parkersburg, WV USA)
45 out of 45 found this review helpful

This was the first book on diabetes I bought after being diagnosed. I've bought LOTS more. But this is the one I continually go back to for information, reminders, and research. Dr. Rubin's approach to managing diabetes makes a lot of sense. I particularly like his recommended division of carbs/protein/fat (40-30-30). After attending a daylong nutrition class on diabetes, being given a diet with a 60% carb ratio, failing to avoid "spikes" in glucose, and failing to continue losing the weight I'd been losing using Dr. Rubin's approach, I returned to this book. My weight loss picked back up, I felt better and -- best of all -- I was again successful at managing my Type II diabetes. I highly recommend this book to diabetics and those with risk factors for developing diabetes, as well as to friends and relatives of diabetics who just want to learn a little bit more. Check out Diabetes for Dummies Cookbook, too!


Great book if you have or know someone who has diabetes   March 15, 2001
David M. Ng (Palo Alto, CA USA)
37 out of 37 found this review helpful

I was looking for a book that gives a good overview of all aspects of diabetes, and this book satisfied that goal. The book covers both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The first part of the book talks about the onset of the disease: the psychological reactions, what a diagnosis of diabetes means ("it's the glucose"), and the two types of diabetes. I found particularly interesting the list of famous people who had diabetes, including Thomas Edison and Elvis Presley. The second part of the book discusses the complications of the disease and their treatment. The author claims he did not intend to frighten the reader, and he does give you practical steps you can take to deal with and even prevent the problems. The third part talks about lifestyle changes, including glucose monitoring and other tests, nutrition, exercise, and medication. Chapter 11, "Diabetes Is Your Show," really didn't work for me. It tries to make an analogy between diabetes care and the cast and crew of a stage show--but it seemed terribly contrived. The fourth part covers special issues: diabetes and children, diabetes and the elderly, insurance and job issues, advances in diabetes care, and bogus treatments. Overall, the book was interesting; even the lists of drugs and their characteristics was probably as interesting as it could be. The book provides both background information and practical advice. The orientation of the book is very positive, focusing on how you can take control of the disease. I especially like this quote: "Is it possible that you could be healthier with diabetes than your friends who do not have diabetes? ...the answer to that question is yes." (page 102)