[Ellen]

I love to read, and even more so if I can learn about things that concern me. Share any books you have read that helped you with understanding diabetes, and managing it.



I am still reading, but enjoying The First Year: Type 2 Diabetes An Essentail Guide for the Newly Diagnosed by Gretchen Becker. The book is laid out day by day, then week by week. There are sections on learning about diabetes and sections on living with diabetes in each day chapter. The chapter on tests, and their explanations is worth the price of the book. I think the book is a great tool for reference to have on your shelf.

[akrosey49]

Hi Monet..besides taking a diabetic nutrition class i read Diabeties for Dummies..like those yellow condensed books for college students..and it explained alot in simple terms..and was helpful to me..ive lent it out to several friends newly diagnosed and they found it helpful too.. rosey

[Ellen]

I think they have that one at my library, Rosey. I will have to check it out! I like keeping books I like on my shelf, so I might have to buy a copy.
Thanks for the suggestion!

Do you have any diabetic cookbooks you like? I got one that is a Joslin Diabetes Center book, on good carbs. I bought it off Half.com and was really disappointed when it came to find it is a vegetarian cookbook! I am definitely a meat eater!

[meowee]

The Cookbook Fanatic here . . . I have over 300 all told . . . about 20 of them are Diabetes specific. In all honesty, any cookbook works so long as you are willing to make a few modifications along the way.

And I agree with Rosey . . . Diabetes for Dummies . . . is pretty good.

One thing I recommend every diabetic read about . . . The Glycemic Index. I know there has been some controversy about it from the point of view of strictly weight loss, but I don't think anyone disagrees that 'eating low on the glycemic index' can be a godsend for a diabetic. When you need to restrict your carbohydrate intake it is definitely very valuable to be sure that every carb calorie is a good one.

Later, sugar-gaters.

[Ellen]

Meowee, I agree on the glycemic index! When I was first diagnosed, they did not give me ANY information on what to do. I already knew though, that Sugarbusters was good from my previous doctor. I just tightened up on how I was eating, and paid a lot of attention to sticking to it, along with exercise. My glucose levels came down so fast the doctor called to tell me how impressed he was with my faxed numbers. So, the Glycemic Index does work... AND over on the Sugarbusters forum, there are several chicks who have lost over 100 pounds using Sugarbusters and the Glycemic Index, so it CAN work for weight loss in some situations.

[meowee]

Just thought I'd pop back in with the name of my favourite little diabetes-related book . . . My Doctor Says I Have a Little Diabetes . . . written by Martha McCool and Sandra Woodruff. Martha is a nurse; Sandra is a dietician.

Sandra also wrote a very good cookbook . . . The Good Carb Cookbook . . . which has a very good introduction about the glycemic index as well as 200 controlled carb recipes.

A handly little magazine series of mini-cookbooks called . . . Diabetic Cooking . . . is published every two months and usually can be picked up at the grocery store checkout lane.

Go cook up a healthy storm, gang.

[meowee]

Monet . . .

Have to admit I really don't know a lot about Sugar Busters . . . I was kind of under the impression they treated white sugar has an absolutely forbidden and extremely addictive, rather than just not very healthy, food. I didn't realize that Sugar Busters delved into all the good carbs vs bad carbs stuff.

Have to admit, I'm a meat eater, too . . . and no carbs. I do try to stick to fish and chicken because of the lower fat levels.

From the diabetes point of view and from the weight loss point of view, of course, all carbs are not created equal and making sure to avoid the bad ones makes a lot of sense.

One of the most important things for a Type II diabetic is to maintain a healthy weight. I've known that all along . . . too bad I have so much trouble actually doing it.

Think I might just have to pick up a copy of Sugar Busters to add to my library.

[CharZ]

Okay Ladies, here are 3 of the books I bought & use. The Herbal Drugstore by
Linda B. White, M.D., Steven Foster & the staff of "Herbs for Health".
American Diabetes Association Complete Guide to Diabetes.
The Complete Book of Food Counts by Corinne T. Netzer
The GI is a blessing for diabetics & people trying to lose weigth. I researched it & incorporated it into my husband's dieting plan. I showed it to his doctor. I make sure that if he has a medium to slightly high GI food,
that he has a very low GI food (like fresh broccoli) at the same meal. That way there's no BS spiking. And its helped him lose 150 lbs. in a year.
Hope this helps encourage everyone.