The Best Life Guide to Managing Diabetes and Pre-Diabetes | 
| Authors: Bob Greene, M.D. John J Merendino Jr., M.S. R.D. Janis Jibrin
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Category: Book
List Price: $26.00
Buy Used: $11.59
as of 9/2/2010 23:00 CDT details
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Seller: Adam Online
Rating:  40 reviews
Sales Rank: 17,654
Media: Hardcover
Pages: 384
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.1
Dimensions (in): 9.4 x 6.2 x 1.3
ISBN: 1416588388
Dewey Decimal Number: 616.4620654
EAN: 9781416588382
ASIN: 1416588388
Publication Date: November 3, 2009
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Bob Greene has helped millions of Americans become fit and healthy with his life-changing Best Life plan. Now, for the first time, Oprah's trusted expert on diet and fitness teams up with a leading endocrinologist and an expert dietitian to offer a Best Life program tailored to the needs of people with diabetes and pre-diabetes. Coping with the unique challenges of living with these conditions can feel like a full-time job. That's why The Best Life Guide to Managing Diabetes and Pre-Diabetes takes a gradual, three-phase approach to improving diet and increasing physical activity and provides strategies for staying motivated. While offering clear guidance, the program is flexible enough that you can tailor it to your needs and abilities. The result: A way of living that improves blood sugar and helps you stave off heart disease, neuropathy, and other diabetes- and pre-diabetes-related conditions while reaching and maintaining a healthy weight. This comprehensive yet readable volume offers the information you need to protect your health whether you are controlling your disease simply with diet and exercise, are taking drugs orally, or need injected insulin. Detailed but flexible meal plans take the guesswork out of eating without making you a slave to the food scale or measuring cups. With complete nutritional analyses, the recipes for budget- and family-friendly dishes such as Vanilla Peanut Butter Smoothie, Cheesy Cornbread, and Slow-Cooked Pork ensure that you never have to sacrifice tasty food. Extensive reference sections, including a complete guide to diabetes drugs and a chart of the carbohydrate value of foods, give you quick answers you can trust, while a log for tracking your blood sugar readings, exercise, and medication helps you stay organized without hassle or added expense. With The Best Life Guide to Managing Diabetes and Pre-Diabetes, you won't have to let your life be defined by your diagnosis.
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 40
 Pleasantly Surprised--Good for Pre-Diabetics, GD, or Type 2 November 25, 2009
umsami (Brooklyn, NY USA)
59 out of 59 found this review helpful
I've read a few of Bob Greene's other books, so I thought he'd basically be packaging the same info. I was pleasantly surprised (perhaps because one of his co-authors is a prominent endocrinologist). As a side note, I had insulin-dependent gestational diabetes for three pregnancies, which did not resolve after the last one (so I have type 2). I've kept my HbA1C <6% for the past two years (since diagnosis).
The first chapter does a really good job in explaining HbA1C, blood glucose monitors, and testing. There's a good chart which shows what a HbA1c translates into in terms of average blood glucose. The best part is that Bob acknowledges that testing strips are wicked expensive--and recommends focusing on a different meal each day for testing. Basically, you end up doing two testings per day rather than 5 or 6. So, Day 1 you might do your fasting a.m., and 2 hours after breakfast. Day 2, before and after lunch (2 hours post prandial). Day 3, before dinner and post-prandial. Etc. There's also a great chart on how to interpret your highs and lows (p. 46).
Like Bob's previous books, he believes in small changes. The difference is you won't have a month of getting ready/mental prep type stuff. You have diabetes (or are pre-diabetic)... your body really can't stand another month of sky rocketing blood glucose levels. Still, he starts out gentle. The basic diet plan is a carb controlled...looked at low-GI foods whenever possible. The first 4 weeks, phase one, you're supposed to focus on blood glucose testing (see above), watching carbs, and a gradual increase in exercise.
Food-wise, phase one, we're talking three meals and two or three snacks (depending on your calorie level). There are four calorie levels with corresponding carb levels: 1500 (144 g.), 1700 (154 g.), 2000 (191 g.), and 2250 (212 g.). Bob breaks the carb levels into meals and snacks so that you're not over-consuming at any one meal. Like Bob's other books, he's against night-time eating...so no eating two hours prior to bedtime (probably a good idea to help prevent a high a.m. fasting.) He also says cut out alcohol in phase one as well as sweetened beverages.
Exercise-wise, phase one and if you're a couch potato, he's hoping to get you moving. Something aerobic, 15 minutes, 3x/week ideally. Add 2 minutes each week until you hit 30 minutes. If you're already exercising, then you'll add strength training. One surprise is that it is recommended that you get a stress test if you're over 40 and diabetic. Period.
Phase two is about fine-tuning your diet. Increasing your exercise another notch (optional, but recommended), looking more at high quality food on your plate (low G.I., low refined, high quality protein, healthy fats), and adding vitamins.
The book also has chapters on diabetes drugs as well as drugs diabetics often take... including statins and ACE inhibitors.
The last part of the book includes some meal plans and recipes... as well as charts you can use to track carbs, blood sugar, etc.
Two negatives:
1) Limited info on resistance training. Bob describes his basic 8 exercises.. but there are no pictures. One is told to go to the [...]video website to learn how to use them. (May not be realistic for all readers of the book.)
2) Not that many recipes. I wonder how the other recipes from his books work with the plan. It would be nice to have a list of which recipes in his other books worked with the plan, how to modify them, etc.
Once again, I was really surprised. It's a well-done book. I'd recommend it for anybody just diagnosed with gestational diabetes, pre-diabetes, or Type 2. My favorite book for new Type 2's is "The First Year: Type 2 Diabetes" by Gretchen Becker. I think this book would be a good complement or could even stand on it's own. It's that well done.
Awesome even if you are not at risk December 3, 2009
Bunson Honeydew (White Plains, NY)
6 out of 7 found this review helpful
I do not have a sugar problem, but some of my relatives have Type II diabetes. My wife avoided gestational diabetes with our first child, and so far she's okay with the second child. Of course my relatives living with diabtes ate without thinking and rarely excercised. I did not know that Bob Greene is involved with the Best Life plan. However, I have seen the best life on certain foods I buy.
That being said, this is a robust 'bible' of the who, what, when, where, how and why. I must be honest, I am familiar with how to help reduce my risk for diabetes. In the past, I have read up on low glycemic foods. But I wanted to drill down more into the diet and science behind it. Of course having a meal plan is great too. Despite my background knowledge, I still found his charts and plan to be great. This is a roadmap that we can all learn from.
As a sidebar, you should Google Steven Burd of Safeway supermarkets. Read how they cut their healthcare costs based on lifestyle changes. Notice what he said about diabetes.
Update... My mother-in-law tried to take the book from me. She's not at risk, but knows way too many people with Typee II diabetes.
A Great Book on Understanding and Living With Pre-Diabetes and Diabetes December 15, 2009
scesq (New Milford, New Jersey USA)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I picked up this book because two of my friends have diabetes and unless I lose weight and exercise my doctor thinks I am a very likely candidate for it as well. This book offered me the best explanation of what diabetes and pre-diabetes is and how to prevent pre-diabetes and better live with diabetes. It also offered me a practical guide on how to prepare foods for my friends who have the disease and what to eat so I won't come down with the disease.
Four criteria are important to me when I pick up a health book like this. I want it to be up to date when it comes to information, I want to explain things in a thorough but understandable fashion, I want it to be interesting enough to finish and I want it to give me practical advice on what to do to prevent or address my health problem. This book successfully addresses all the criteria.
The book has seven chapters all which lead to the next. All flow well together as a whole. The chapters are thorough so while I will attempt to summarize them I know I am leaving things out.
Chapter one looks at diabetes and pre-diabetes. It looks at everything from the causes of the disease to how it is diagnosed and talks about how both are managed. People with Pre-diabetes can, in many cases, stop the disease with simple lifestyle changes. The chapter leads directly to the second, third and fourth chapters.
Chapter two is titled "Phase One: Taking Control of Your Blood Sugar". It looks at ways of measuring blood sugar as well as ways of controlling blood sugar through eating and exercise. It explores foods that are good to eat and examines subjects like artificial sweeteners and when to eat what food.
Chapter three is titled "Phase Two: Fine Tuning Your Diet". It is a chapter that is good for anyone who wants to understand nutrition and how it affects the sugar levels in your body as well as what foods are less likely to lead to weight gain. It looks at carbohydrates, proteins and fats. It talks about vitamins and different types of grains. It is thorough but easy to understand.
Chapter four is titled "Phase Three: Living Your Best Life". It gives practical advice about working with your doctor. It also addresses concerns about the disease such as depression or concerns that a person can't control their diet. Most importantly, it lets the reader know that diabetes will not ruin your life.
Chapter Five looks at the drugs used to treat diabetes. It looks at cost, how the drugs work and what side effects may occur from them.
Chapter Six looks at Diabetes Friendly Meal Plans and is full of recipes that even non-diabetics can enjoy. It has some great easy recipes.
The book has three appendixes that include a diabetes management log, a list of carbohydrate counts and a 12-week fitness plan. There is also a book index and a recipe index.
I don't have diabetes and if I learn from this book I will not get it. When my diabetic friends come over I will now be able to offer them meals and treats that will be good for them as well as myself. I will be lending this book to them so they can learn from it as well.
This is a great book for those who care about someone with diabetes, for those leading a lifestyle that may lead to diabetes or I imagine for those who have diabetes (since I don't I can't say definitely.)
This is a great resource and program for a motivated diabetic. January 14, 2010
Laura (USA)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I have been an RN for over 20 years and I have to say this is one of the best diabetic books writtenfor adults with the disease I have read. It is mulitlayered in the sense that you can read it and follow the plan for the diet and excercise and get results of having more stable blood sugar results. And you can also keep the book and use it as a resource about your diabetes and how it effects your body under all sorts of conditions. If you are feeling well it has information on how to make day to day choices. If you are feeling ill it explains how illness can effect your blood sugars and how your blood sugar effects your immunity. This is a book that is very accurate in the diet, exercise, physiology, and medical information it provides. The author has written a valuble resource for people with diabetes.
Excellent~Everything you need to know to prevent Diabetes or Manage it well. December 19, 2009
kindred spirit (God's Country)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I took my time with this book as it is a bundle of information. It is a college level textbook worth of good sound information. I am suffering with Metabolic Syndrome and do not want to progress into pre-diabetes or diabetes! With this plan I now have hope that I can take charge of this and change my future for the better.
You learn how the body breaks down foods for energy and storage. How the body handles glucose and the effects of too much or too little. Everything is laid out in a fashion that is easy for the everyday non medical person to understand. There are many charts that help you understand what right portions are. What foods to eat and what to avoid.
I especialy like how Bob Greene is so encouraging. He realizes that many of us are at an activity level of 0 or 1 and fear what extreme exercise will do to us. He lets you start out one step at a time and encourages you that it is fine. Small changes add up to bigger results.
You will be encourgaged to check you glucose daily if you are not already. My doctor had wanted me to start this on my last visit but Medicare will not pay for the supplies unless you are already diabetic. Man I don't want to be diabetic, I want to take action so I won't be. I found that right here on Amazon and in stores you can buy glucose meters and strips, lancets, everything you need. Much more reasonable here! I have mine on order and have already started in to Phase one of the program. There is also no pressure at each phase, if you cannot say yes to the questions that qualify you to move on no sweat, you stay a few more weeks. It's all about a new healthy way of life.
Most impressive is the calorie limits he has set. Finally someone has it right. Never go under 1500 a day! You end up hungry and blowing the plan and slowing your metabolism not increasing it. I myself fit into the 1700 calorie plan. Yipee.
There are of course many tasty recipes in the book as well as log charts you can copy to keep track of your numbers. You can also download them from his website. I am sure any doctor will be most grateful when you bring in the records you will learn to keep. Most of all he also makes the point over and over. WORK WITH A DOCTOR. You need to be under frequent medical care.
What have you got to lose? If it's weight you will on this plan. You will gain better health and a wealth of knowledge you can share with others who may not know what serious shape they are in.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to live a healthy lifestyle. Even if you don't have metabolic syndrome, pre-diabetes, or diabetes now. You can avoid it with this lifestyle. Good luck to everyone and God Bless.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 40
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