Product Description

Written by a team of Johns Hopkins practitioners, this accessible guide addresses everything about diabetes that patients need to know for good control and good health. The book offers detailed discussions of managing the disease with blood glucose monitoring, diet, exercise, and medications. 34 illustrations.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #968104 in Books
• Published on: 1997-06-12
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 422 pages

From Library Journal
Written by a team of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine practitioners, this valuable guide presents critical information about the physical, emotional, and psychological effects of diabetes. The nature of the disease, diet and exercise, treatments, complications, sexuality, pregnancy, and research are covered, often using the stories and concerns of actual patients. The language used, while sometimes complex in concept, is clear, enlightening, and reassuring to the reader. Positive examples stress the importance of individual knowledge and flexibility in daily life. An excellent beginner's guide, more comprehensive for the motivated reader than the American Diabetes Association Complete Guide to Diabetes (LJ 8/15/96), this book complements The Joslin Guide to Diabetes (LJ 7/95), providing additional information on the subjects of complications, treatments, research, and genetics. A required purchase for all health collections. [See also Laurinda Poirier and Katharine M. Coburn's Women & Diabetes, reviewed above.?Ed.]?Janet M. Schneider, James A. Haley Veterans Hosp., Tampa, Fla.
-?Janet M. Schneider, James A. Haley Veterans Hosp., Tampa, Fla.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
A diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, though not the death sentence it was 80 years ago, can still shock a patient's sense of mental as well as physical well-being. To deal with the many aspects of such a shock, a clinically oriented academic physician, a private practice physician with mental health counseling experience, and a diabetes nurse-educator pool their viewpoints to produce a broad depiction of a difficult disease. Readers learn immediately and forcefully that a person either has or does not have diabetes--there is no middle ground. The authors then describe the tests leading up to a diagnosis, differentiate the disease's various forms, and examine current treatments. Control of diabetes depends not only on many types of insulin and its introduction into the body but also on diet, exercise, self-monitoring, and the patient's psychological state. A well-rounded, accessible resource. William Beatty

Review

"This valuable guide presents critical information about the physical, emotional, and psychological effects of diabetes... An excellent beginner's guide, more comprehensive for the motivated reader than the American Diabetes Association Complete Guide to Diabetes... A required purchase for all health collections." -- Library Journal

"Combining the perspectives of the authors -- a physician, a mental health counselor, and a nurse educator -- and drawing largely on their experiences at Johns Hopkins Diabetes Center's self-management program, this comprehensive six-part guidebook aims to help diabetics take control of their condition. Aided by tables, diagrams, and lots of patient anecdotes, the authors identify major types of diabetes, how they are diagnosed and the various treatment options, including diet therapy, insulin, and oral medications. Practical advice on all aspects of care ranges from procedures for monitoring one's blood glucose, eating wisely, and exercising safely to handling the stress of a job interview and working with an HMO." -- Publishers Weekly

"I have read just about every book on diabetes written for persons with diabetes, their families, and the general public, and not one comes close to matching this outstanding book. It covers virtually every issue of concern about diabetes and in a thorough and understandable way provides information that is not generally available to nonprofessionals." -- Sherman M. Holvey, M.D., past president of the American Diabetes Association

Customer Reviews

Facing Your Fears
_Fear is sometimes a positive force. In moderation, it can motivate people. Realistic fear of complications can strengthen your resolve to take the best possible care of yourself...The key to making your fears work for you..is to keep reminding yourself of the positive. The power to control blood sugars...improves everyday_. (p217)

Two months ago, I was diagnosed with diabetes. Since then, THE JOHNS HOPKINS GUIDE TO DIABETES has been my handbook and I feel fortunate that Christopher D. Saudek, M.D. and his staff have developed such a valuable tool. It is extremely easy to use, yet covers completely the topics associated with successful living with diabetes.

The Preface states, _This book grew out of our experiences in caring for people with diabetes, particularly at the self-managment program of the Johns Hopkins Diabetes Center. Much that we discuss in this book is drawn from the material used in our teaching sessions -- and indeed, from the material taught by diabetes educators throughout the country_.

I appreciate the self-management program promoted in this text. _A central theme of this book is that [I] can live a long and healthy life with diabetes, but it is a dangerous disease to ignore_. (p4) I learned that the diagnosis of diabetes is objective and ammoral, based solely on the level of glucose in the blood. Knowing that it really does not matter how my blood glucose levels got to be the way they were helped me to accept that something needed to be done to control them. I was able to adjust to daily life with diabetes, learning that I can in fact cope with it.

Understanding Diabetes is the first part of this book and the first part of successfully controlling this disease. The bulk of this book is in the next part, Controlling Diabetes. Their approach to goal setting is representative of this book's healthy attitude:

_We are talking about redefining the quality of life. We admit to looking through rose-colored glasses, downplaying the things you can't do or eat that you used to love. There's no denying that some things ought to be avoided some of life's patterns ought to be adjusted. But none of this has to impair your quality of life. You have the choice. You define quality. You set the goals._ (p36)

If you are interested in controlling your blood glucose levels, this text can show you how.

There is a strong spiritual component that comes into play when changing behaviors. The task of accepting the realities of diabetes; turning from destructive behaviours and turning to life-affirming behaviours is at the crux of repentance. Moving from denial to acceptance requires an element of faith. Faith in the diagnosis, faith in the cure, and faith in ourselves that we are able to take up the task day after day with a fresh re-commitment. My experience with diabetes has strenghtened my own spiritual confidence. The hard won changes to my glucose levels has given me confidence that I will be able to control other parts of my life.

PEACE

Deals with diabetics as a person and not just a patient
I bought this book after having a diabetic reaction while driving. I was diagnosed 20 years prior and in good control. After my accident I needed something to help me cope emotionally. This book has comments about the psycological aspects of being diagnosed to dating to dealing with diabetes at work. It is easy to read and filled with imformation that is helpful to the diabetic and their family and friends.

I reccommend this book for anyone who has been diagnosed recently or not and for their family and friends too.

Important information - helpfully organized
If diabetes has entered your life because of your own health or the health of a loved one you need to get a lot of information in order to control the disease as best as you can. This book is a GREAT place to start.

The book provides a good overview of what diabetes really is and why it is so destructive. But MUCH MORE important is the help it gives us in understanding how the disease impacts the way one lives. If the diabetes is responded to constructively the situation can be improved. Depending on the severity of the condition it can be improved a little bit to, in a mild case, something like normality. Most are somewhere in the middle.

The danger is to ignore the condition. This book can help make clear all the good things that can come from responding positively to the condition and gives helpful information on how to do that. And you can find specific information very quickly because the book is so thoughtfully organized.