Diabetes Books

Sugar Bust for Life!... With the Brennans: Cookbook and Companion Guide
Wonderful recipes,. Lousiania cooking for weight loss and diabetes. How terrific!!! Love this. Made several recipes and they were delicious..

Collaboratively compiled by Ellen and Theodore Breenan, Sugar Bust for Life!: Cookbook And Companion Guide is a collection specifically for those concerned with weight loss, energy levels, diabetes and cholesterol control, and wanting an easy, healthful, culinary lifestyle. From Cauliflower and Cheddar Soup; Shrimp Stuffed Artichoke Vinaigrette; Chicken & Sausage Jambalaya; and Dijon Mustard Coated Sirloin Steak; to Pistachio Parmesan Sauce; Lemon Broiled Red Snapper; Barbecue Oven Smoked Brisket; and Maude's Peanut Butter Ice Cream Pie, Sugar Bust For Life! features more than 400 recipes, menus, a Red Wine List, Brand Names, and more. Also very highly recommended is the companion cookbook by Ellen and Theodore Breenan, Sugar Bust For Life! With The Brennan's: Part II (0966351924 ... ) offering an additional 300 recipes, easy one-dish meals, an updated shopper's Brand Name Guide, and more.

My husband started on SugarBusters almost a year ago, after my boss lost 50 lbs on it. We bought the SugarBusters book and also the cookbook. Never used any of the recipes in either. Instead, I was cooking only a meat and several veggies for each meal, and we were getting a little burned out. THEN, we found this in a bookstore! Everything we've tried has been terrific, not to mention easy. Hubby has lost 55lbs, thanks to SugarBusters and regular exercise. We're eating better tasting food than we ever have, and it is healthy, to boot! The shopping guide is extremely helpful and more comprehensive than the one put out by SugarBusters. I have since given at least 5 copies of this as gifts, along with Sugar Bust for Life Part II.

Sugar Bust for Life! is based on the diet principles from the Sugar Busters Cut Sugar to Trim Fat book. Ellen Brenan the author of Sugar Bust for Life! was the consultant and publisher of the original Sugar Buster's book. The book Sugar Busters describes a healthy way of eating to gain vitality and lose weight. Sugar Bust For Life! expands on the book with a ton of information to make the Sugar Buster way of life simple!

The Sugar Bust for Life! book includes over 400 recipes, menus, an extensive supermarket shopping list with brand names, a glycemic list of foods, detailed information on the program, low fat modifications and even a list of acceptable red wines!

The recipes range from simple appetizers to savory entrees. Each recipe was carefully formulated to maximize your taste experience yet help you lose weight, control cholesterol, and improve your health by using ingredients that have a low to moderate glycemic level and little refined sugar.

Appetizers include Oysters Rockefeller, Crabmeat Mariniere, Fresh Salsa and Mexican Layer Dip. Soups include basic stocks, Red Bean Soup, and Cream of Broccoli. Tomatoes and Wine, Ketchup and Alfredo are among the sauces. Breakfast dishes, salads and salad dressings, grilling and marinades, side dishes and vegetarian fare are also included. The entrees are extensive ranging from Baked Chicken Supreme to Lasagne to Steak Diane. Over 400 recipes and all made with easy to find ingredients and simple to prepare!

The Brennan's include 2 weeks worth of meal plans and suggestions on how to maximize your weight loss. They also have a wonderful section of brand names to look for in your supermarket to help make, selecting healthy choices easy. And they include a list of hidden sugars to beware of.

Another welcome section to the book is a list of acceptable wines you can drink in moderation, while following the Sugar Busters program. Theodore Brennan is the co-author of the book and owner of Brennan's restaurant of New Orleans. His brother James, a wine expert and connoisseur, selected the wines. Brennan's restaurant has won numerous awards, for its fine wine cellars. The wines selected are the best choices that are acceptable within the Sugar Busters guidelines.

The book Sugar Bust for Life! was formerly called Sugar Less for Life! Unfortunately (...)is selling these two books together as a set when they are the same book! The Brennan's do have a another book out called Sugar Bust for Life with the Brennan's Part II. It's also available through (...). I just received a copy, and like its sister book, it looks wonderful!

Sugar Bust for Life! With the Brennan's is certainly a delicious easy way to lose weight and get healthy!

This book is light reading and lacks knowledge sharing of glycemic foods. I was not looking for a Dr.'s book on food and recipes but this book was not fullfilling for me. It encourages the use of the 'bad' fats. It does encourage low glycemic foods and low sugar foods. What I am trying to share is that I bought two books at the same time, the other by "GALLOP" - Living the G.I. Diet, and found this one to be greatly lacking by comparison.
Just one person's opinion - All the best

Dr. Peters, right from the first word, reaffirms my right to control my own health, and I sincerely appreciate this approach. Real lifestyle eating changes have made sense to me after reading this book. It is a very welcome addition to my library.

This book is generally helpful and easy to understand. I ordered three books on diabetes and found this to be the most helpful.

Dr Peters gives excellent information in an easily understood format. Good advice for everyone (diabetic or not) on how to stay healthy and be an active participant in life even if you are diabetic or are diabetic prone.

This is a very helpful book, especially if you are newly diagnosed as prediabetic or diabetic. It answers questions you don't know to ask. Helps you make a plan for living the rest of your life without suffering. Don't get depressed and ignore the diagnosis. Don't think it's the end of your life as you know it.

As a doctor with diabetes, I was very surprised at how much I didn't know about what I needed to do to maintain good health. Dr. Peter's book is an outstanding source of information to patients, family members and loved ones. It's very complete, easy to read, and very educational. The book is excellent and I've learned a lot from her.

This is an excellent book on hypoglycemia. It is comprehensive, balanced, and well written. People with hypoglycemia typically abuse sugar. I'm a recovering sugar addict with a genetic tendency toward low blood sugar. Anita's suggestions are helping me get the low blood sugar aspect of sugar addiction under control.

This book is a great source if you're looking to learn about hypoglycemia. The author writes from her own experience, and shares some experience from other hypoglycemics. Her overview of the disease and its symptoms is easy to read, and doesn't overload on medical jargon. The book includes a discussion of how hypoglycemia is diagnosed, and gives tips about how to talk with your doctor or health care professional about it. Tips are also included about diet, including some review of often suggested diets for hypoglycemia. Tips are also included in some detail about possibly helpful supplements. The author advocates eliminating sugar from the diet completely, and following a complex carbohydrate & protein based diet. I thought the book was very informative, but found myself wishing for more detail about the diet - specifically regarding those foods that fit the suggested parameters. A helpful read nonetheless.

Anita Flegg's book, "Hyperglycemia The Other Sugar Disease" is a timely, must have book that everyone should read.
The author chose to share the knowledge she learned from experts in the field as she is a fellow Hypoglycemic. The book mainly covers chronic Hypoglycemia and how you can control and live with it by making changes in your lifestyle and diet.
The beginning of each chapter showcases a person with the disease and their story. "Hypoglycemia" defines what the disease is, the cause and effect of it and how to recognize the symptoms that may point to a diagnosis.
An informative, useful, step-by-step workbook is included. It gives you a symptom checklist and teaches you how to track your eating habits by using a food journal. You are shown how to change when and what you eat, reduce your sugar intake and find hidden sugars in foods.
This is a well researched book that lists all of Ms. Flegg's sources. She also supplies the list of organizations where a Hypoglycemic can find support groups.
This is a book everyone can benefit from as they take care of their health. A definite help and one you will turn to time after time in your quest for a better life. Congratulations Ms. Flegg for giving the public a definitive book on the disease.

If you are wondering why you feel lousy, have mood swings and can't master your cravings for certain foods, this book may hold your answer. I tried for years to figure out if I had a food allergy or some other problem. Even doctors didn't seem to understand my symptoms. What a relief to read Anita Flegg's excellent book about "The Other Sugar Disease". Armed with information I put her suggestions to the test -- and THEY WORKED! It has changed the quality of my life. I wish I had found this book years ago.

This informative book will be of interest to sufferers of hypoglycemia as well as anybody who is interested in knowing about the disease or suspect they may have it. The author is not a doctor or expert, so the book is more a practical guide that offers general information without being too detailed or technical. That said, the book seems to be well researched, as one can guess from the extended bibliography.

Major topics include what hypoglycemia is, the symptoms, diagnosis, testing and interpretation, the Do's and Don'ts, the use of supplements, among others. Flegg compares various diets like the South Beach Diet, Rosedale, and Atkins and their influences on hypoglycemics.

At the end there's also a helpful workbook to help hypoglycemics keep track of their dietary progress step by step. The information is well organized and structured, the language straight forward, and the style engaging.

If you're new to hypoglycemia, this is the perfect book to begin with before jumping into heavier books. It will give you a general, clear idea of this misunderstood condition that strikes so many people.

This book is changing my life. After watching my weight creep up, up, up for the past 8 years and dealing with the usual results...high blood pressure, high cholesterol, clothes not fitting, depression, and most recently, mild type-2 diabetes, I got my hands on this book and I now have a clear understanding of what I've been doing to my body and what foods I need to really watch. By following the book's guidelines I've been able to lose 14 pounds in about 5 weeks. I still have a ways to go but I'm confident that I'll be able to accomplish my goal. And, without hunger. Even if you're not (yet) diabetic but need to lose some unwanted pounds, I guarantee you'll be able to quickly do it with these guidelines. After my fantastic results so far, my doctor is ordering a copy and will be recommending it to other patients. One of the biggest things I learned..."Sugar is the #1 poison!"...which it states throughout.

I was initially very excited to read this book, based upon most of the reviews as well as the preliminary information I read. However, after carefully reading the information, I'm afraid I cannot recommend this book to anyone else in good conscience, due to the issues I point out in the following note, which was e-mailed to the author at the address given in the book (and subsequently returned as "undeliverable," as the e-mail listed in the book is apparently incorrect or no longer working).

Not only didn't the figures from the book's Daily Meal Plans add up (which as you can see from my note below, were WELL beyond their stated limit of 40g of carbohydrates per day, even for a partial list of items from their very own recipes), but the e-mail itself was returned as undeliverable at the address listed on page 149 of the book (ezrin-ctrs@aol.com).

If the daily menus contained in the book don't even conform to the author's very own stated requirements and even the author's e-mail address is incorrectly listed, why in the world would a reader ever entrust their own health and well being to this dietary program?

I assure you I am in no way connected to any other dietary program of any kind, nor do I have any ax to grind against either the authors or their Insulin Control Diet program. I'm just a guy very recently diagnosed with a condition of "Type II Diabetes" whose doctor recommended weight loss as a solution and who turned first to this book in order to try to find it.

I even gave the authors the benefit of the doubt by trying to contact them based upon the information they gave in the book to obtain clarification on the apparent inconsistencies in the text, in case my observations were incorrect. But as I mentioned, I was unable to receive a response, due to the apparently inaccurate listing of the e-mail address for the author.

I am extremely disappointed in the book, not only due to its incomplete or inconsistent information, but also due to its extremely haphazard presentation.

My note to the author (returned as undeliverable) is included below.

R. McGowan
Los Angeles, CA

-----Original Message-----
Sent: Wednesday, January 05, 2005 11:44 AM
To: 'ezrin-ctrs@aol.com'
Subject: Figures for the Figure don't Figure
Importance: High

Dr. Ezrin,

I am a 46-year-old male recently diagnosed with Type-II Diabetes and was excited to discover your "Type 2 Diabetes Diet Book," since it was written from the perspective of an endocrinologist. While the program does seem to make sense overall, what is most perplexing to me is how you arrive at a daily carbohydrate intake limit of 40g for your meal plans (which you say the daily meal plans maintain).

You mention several times throughout the book that a standard serving of fruit consists of 15g of carbohydrate (also referenced in the Appendix on pp. 303- 304). Since each of the meal plans consist of 2 standard servings of fruit (or even 2 ½, such as in the example I give below), this means that fruit alone counts for a full 75% - 94% (30g - 37.5g) of the daily carbohydrate intake amount, leaving only 10g carbohydrate for all the rest of the foods combined throughout the day.

As an example, following is the carbohydrate breakdown for Day Two of the Insulin Diet Meal Plan (from p. 135), based entirely upon the carbohydrate figures referenced in the Appendix:

Breakfast

Decaffeinated coffee- (not in Appendix)- 0g?
1 soft-cooked egg- 0.6g
1 cup chicken bouillon (not in Appendix, but listed separately on p. 243)- 1g
1 peach- 15g


Lunch

Iced coffee (not in Appendix)- 0g?
Salmon Salad Sandwich- 5oz (1tbs chopped onion- 0.6g; mayonnaise- 1g; lettuce- 1g)
Salad (not defined) with Low-Cal Vinaigrette (iceberg lettuce- 2.9g; Vinaigrette dressing- 6.6g)
Gelatin (why not specifically state "sugar-free" here??? I'm assuming it is...) with D-Zerta topping- 0g?


Snack (afternoon or evening)

1 ¼ cup watermelon cubes- 15g


Dinner

Decaffeinated coffee- 0?
Chinese Fish Steaks- (1/2 cup chicken bouillon- .5g; mushrooms- NOT EVEN LISTED ON THE VEGETABLES LIST IN THE APPENDIX!- 0.5G?; soy sauce- NOT LISTED IN THE APPENDIX- 0.5G?)
Beans with Basil (It doesn't specify the KIND of beans. However, based upon the Appendix under "Vegetables," `1/2 cup of cooked beans shows 15g carbohydrate)
Salad (not defined) with Low-Cal Vinaigrette (iceberg lettuce- 2.9g; Vinaigrette dressing- 6.6g)
1 cup beef bouillon- 1g
Gelatin & Fruit (again, it doesn't specify "sugar-free," but I'm assuming so. However, even ¼ cup of fruit is still 7.5g carbohydrate, no matter how you slice it)


You separately caution to allocate fruit portions sparingly, and yet even in this ONE DAY of the meal plan, the fruit portions alone that you specify already account for a full 37.5g of carbohydrates of the 40g maximum daily intake of carbohydrate that you recommend (in fact, you even state a recommended limit of between only 20 - 35 grams of carbohydrate in any 24-hour period elsewhere in the book).

The total amount of carbohydrate of all the other ingredients combined for this one-day's meal plan alone (the carb amounts for which are all pulled from the book's Appendix) which even then only constitute a partial list, based upon what the recipes call for, comes to 46.7g (already over your 24-hour maximum limit). When added to the amount of fruit indicated, this makes a carbohydrate consumption of 84.2g for this one-day's meal plan alone- well over TWICE the daily carbohydrate intake you recommend throughout the book (FOUR-TIMES the amount, if you go by your lower recommendation of 20g carbs per day).

Examples from the text, for reference:

p. 109, paragraph 2: "For the duration of your weight loss period, we ask that you limit your total carbohydrate intake to 20 to 35 grams." (while it doesn't specify "per day" here, elsewhere you do indicate no more than 40 grams during any 24-hour period).

p. 109, paragraph 3: "In other words, more than 40 grams of carbohydrate in any form will trigger your overproduction of insulin and return you to the weight gain cycle you know so well." (again, based upon other references, this indicates "per-day").

p.111, paragraph 3: "Be advised, however, that regardless of total calories consumed, carbohydrate intake for the day should never exceed 40 grams."

Which begs the following question: "How can any reader reasonably trust the advice given, when the numbers for your own daily meal plans don't even come close to remaining within your stated limitations for daily carbohydrate intake?

Secondly, it took me over an hour-and-a-half to determine the actual carbohydrate amounts listed for this one day's meal plan listed above alone, since it required me to constantly flip back-and-forth between the meal plan listing (which DOESN'T indicate any carbohydrate/protein/fat information), the recipes (which are also difficult to track down and which also don't list any carbohydrate/protein/fat information for any of the ingredients) and the Appendix (which doesn't include information on all the items in the recipes and, even if it does, does not give information equivalent to the amounts the recipes call for).

It would be a FAR more usable resource if the information was:

a. more comprehensive, including carb/protein/fat amounts listed right along-side meal plan and recipe ingredients;

b. more logically presented, so that a reader doesn't have to shift back-and-forth between the meal plans, the recipes (which are also hard to locate), and random information sprinkled throughout the text itself (such as the information on boullion, which is not in the index, but only in a separate section I was able to locate) and

c. constructed to stay within it's own set of stated parameter guidelines.

For example, the appendix lists "1 celery stalk" as having 2g carbohydrates, but the recipe for "Salmon Salad Sandwich" calls for "1 tbsp of chopped celery." How are you supposed to make the conversion between "1 celery stalk" and "1 tbsp of chopped celery?," in order to evaluate that "all-important" carb-per-day total? And while "1 tbsp of "chopped chives" is listed in the Appendix, "1 tbsp of onion" called for in the recipe is not and "green pepper," which is also called for in the recipe, is not even on the Appendix under vegetables at all! (nor, by the way, are mushrooms, which are called for in a separate recipe).

The fundamental question is this: If "more than 40 grams of carbohydrate in any form will trigger your overproduction of insulin and return you to the weight gain cycle you know so well," as you state on page 109 and your own meal plan doesn't even maintain those guidelines, then how on Earth can the Insulin Diet program that you recommend possibly accomplish the weight loss goals that you claim? The figures simply don't add up. Either your statements regarding a daily limit of 40g carbohydrate are incorrect, or else your meal plans simply do not work, according to the parameters you yourself have indicated.

I'd love to receive clarification on this issue at your earliest convenience, since I do want to get a handle on the effects of added weight on the symptoms for Type II Diabetes. However, I can only do that if I have complete confidence in the logic of the information that's being presented. As it is, my confidence in the program is shaky, since the figures on how to improve my figure just don't figure.

I look forward to your reply.

Best,
R. McGowan

When I first looked at this book, I thought there's no way - how can I go without bread, rice, pasta, etc. After thinking about it for a couple of weeks I decided to give it a try. I loved it. I truly never missed the processed foods and surprisingly was never hungry. I feel like my diet is much more nutritionally sound than what I had been eating, and after the first couple of weeks I had pretty much trained myself what and how much to eat. I've lost 18 pounds so far and a lot of it has been the "stubborn belly fat". Couldn't be happier and feel great. I think that as much as following the diet you need to include the exercise, which is talked about in the book. This diet may not be for everyone, but as someone who has been unsuccessful with weight loss, even with exercise, it's been a Godsend.

OK, this is less about the book than it is about the diet. It works. I have tried everything including Atkins and Weight Watchers. I had 15 pounds to lose. When my doctor said elevated blood sugar was the only thing he could find to explain why I wasn't losing the weight, I bought this book. Now, it is NOT an 'eat all you want of certain foods' diet. And sometimes I've been hungry. But it is easy to follow, not the least complicated and there's no measuring (aside from knowing what 3-4 ounces of meat/chicken/fish looks like, and 1/2 cup of fruit/vegetable.) I'm down 14 1/2 pounds. One caviat: since I didn't have a lot of weight to lose (I'm guessing this is the reason) it's taken me awhile. But it's the only thing that has worked. Right now I'm slowly re-introducing grains (bread, brown rice) and the loss continues (this was a problem with Atkins - the minute I ate a dinner roll, the weight came back). It really works.

I per chance picked up this book as I thought I was heading for Diabetes Type 2. I am in the Medical Profession this book is sound and well researched. I started on the diet 3 weeks ago lost 6 kilo's and don't feel hungry. I don't use all the menus and adapted my own. The book is incredibly informative and once you have this knowledge you realise how other diets and pills and potions cannot work.
I just have a problem with the email address I cannot contact either author on the email printed in the book.
Well done for this valuable information

I CAN'T RECOMMEND THIS BOOK ENOUGH.

Anyone who has diabetes (newly diagnosed or veteran), is insulin resistant, has metabolic syndrome, or PCOS or knows someone who has any of the above should read this book. Positive, never condescending, always informative! A real touchstone.

As someone who comes from a diabetic family, I thought I knew plenty. I now feel like I know exactly what's going on with my body (and what was going on with it for years before my diagnosis!), why, and exactly what to do for it to avoid diabetic complications later. Extremely enlightening and interesting. Not just another diabetes book that tells you you're doomed, or that it's your fault because you're fat, or blah blah blah. It lets you draw your own conclusions with ALL the information.

After this I plan on fleshing out my knowledge with more biology research. And I have a community to go to if I'm ever needing more, which I am endlessly grateful for. Thank you, Jenny - here I come 5% club!

My doctor recommended this book; as he seemed to feel I didn't take my Type 2 diabetes seriously. That was pretty true, as my A1Cs always run 6.0 & my FBS are 90 or less. Meds keep me controlled - what else is necessary???

A lot. I waited 6 months before finally ordering this book & regret the delay. It contains a lot of information I already knew (but chose to overlook or forget) as well as a lot of info that I had never considered.

The author is also very forthcoming in that the book was developed at user request. Her FREE diabetes website contains lots of info & dialog - but she was convinced of the benefit of pulling together a book so it would be a handy reference. I've looked at the website, it is valuable - but I love the book. I can highlight things, put post-it notes on important pages .... refer to it often.

Great, valuable product.

The author presents information you won't get at your endocrinologist's office, because most doctors don't have the time to read the latest research and often blindly follow the recommendations of the ADA. You'll learn what a truly normal blood sugar looks like, the development and course of diabetes, how to control or reverse the disease through changes in diet, etc., all based on recently published peer-reviewed studies which are cited in the book. A really helpful chapter is "Working with Doctors and Hospitals," which not only tells how to choose a good doctor, but what you have a right to expect from your doctor and what to do if he or she does not match up to the critera outlined by the author. In short the book is an invaluable source for getting your blood sugar under control and keeping it there.

I was recently diagnosed with gestational diabetes, and searching for information. This book is WONDERFUL. It gave me hope, and a reason to take good care of my body, as the horrible side effects (neuropathy, retinopathy, etc.) are NOT inevitable! The author does a great job of explaining research and every aspect of diabetes in a way that the average person can understand. This should be required reading for any person diagnosed with diabetes.

I didnt like the book very much and found it to be just a way for someone to make money. save your money dont buy this book. I bet the reviewers are her friends.

Reviews of this book - particularly from sufferers of diabetes - tend to be favourable. However, for me, this book was unreadable.

Her style is that of a diary, with sentences comprised of just a few words. You encounter a period/full stop on nearly every line. There is hardly a chance to get going with this book.

I skipped chapters hoping that the style would settle down. It does not and I gave up reading this book depositing it in the trash bin. I very much doubt I could sell it on ebay for anything apart from the cost of postage.

Perhaps the content may be of interest to diabetics, but otherwise it's a depressing mournful series of short sentences.

The book was good, no doubt. The writing was compelling, but as I sit back having just finished the book, I don't really understand how it made me feel.

I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes almost a year ago now, and have learned a lot about dealing with the disease since then.

This books scares me in a way because of the pessimism Andie and Denise seem to have toward the disease in the book.

But I must remind myself, this was a different time. The past 25 years or so have improved things tramatically. They had hard-to-work with insulins they took two shots of a day. I have a pump the delivers precise doses tailored to my needs.

Two things I found difficult with the book, besides the heavy subject material, was how hard it was to follow the time frame- dates are rarely mentioned, but it pulls together at the end. Also, toward the second half of the book it deals a lot with complications, but mentions little about what she is doing to control the disease at that point.

All in all, a good read, but if you have diabetes, don't be discouraged by it.

In all, Needles was a good memoir of living life with Type 1 diabetes. If you're looking for a happy, positive story about living with a chronic condition, this probably isn't for you, but the other 99% of books on diabetes are usually full of advice (though not necessarily practical) on that subject. What this book does, however, is shows one person's real experience with living with diabetes, which isn't always as great as the medical professionals would have everyone believe. Andie Dominick is a good author and helps provide a perspective that is noticably absent from the field of publishing on diabetes.

This book was a great book!! It may not be the most hopeful book, but it is the most true. Being a diabetic, I could relate to many of the things she said. I constantly found myself thinking "Oh my gosh!!! THAT HAS HAPPENED TO ME SO MANY TIMES!" or "THATS EXACTLY HOW I FEEL!!!" Some reviews have stated that she was very pessimistic when it comes to the disease, I don't think so. Diabetes made a major impact on her life I am sure that some good things did come from it, but it is a disease and who honestly really wants to praise a disease? She was very hard on the medical industry, but I think that was fair. Even when I was in the hospitle in 2003, the nurses still did things that were very ignorant. She also didn't just lash out at them for no reason, she always validates her reasons for being so firm and even combative with them. I think the book was very inspirational. I've never had a book stir so much emotion in me!

I have a 12 yr. old child with diabetes and had been looking for information to do a research project on; diabetes seemed to be what I was heading toward when I accidently came across this book. Looking at someone's point of view who has dealt with type 1 diabetes for most of her life and how she handled her care, monitoring of blood sugars, medical personnel, emotions, and relationships has put a whole new look on how I should or shouldn't teach and help my own child with this disease. The author made me understand completely what she had dealt with and how, making living with diabetes more understandable.

As a mother of a child with "special needs", I found this book to be quite inspiring. In the introduction, it is recommended you read a few essays at a time. While the information can be overwhelming at times, they are also joyous. I read the entire book in two sittings. It was so wonderful to see how these parents overcame their own fears and depression so they may enjoy their children.
You will truly realize "You are not alone" after reading these collective essays. There is also a wonderful place at the end of the book for parents to turn to for help and support.

I am a Genetic Counseling student and this book was a great read before I started my program. It really inspired me and reminded me of why I was going to go into this field.
I bought it to keep on my book shelf in my future office so that I may share some of these stories with patients if I feel they would benefit from them.
It is a book of hope, caring and emotion.

Perhaps I'm taking the title of the book "You Will Dream New Dreams" a bit too literally. This collection of stories written or dictated by parents of children with disabilities offers information, insights, anecdotes, and snippets from their lives and experiences.

Many of the chapters are indeed sobering and deliver a welcomed jolt of optimism and hope. Some recount the efforts required to get the medical professionals to get off their high horse and focus on the evidence they either cannot grasp or discount. Many recount the work, progress, and advocacy that are required as parents have to become social, educational, legal, and even medical icebreakers that plow through the morass of societal obstacles imposed on anyone outside the narrow confines of what is deemed "normal." Some of the best advice here is that parents let go of guilt and blame about unchangeable events---advice that mirrors some of the Buddhists texts I've read as well.

A few stories fail to convince me that those involved are not still legitimately in denial, particularly those that convey sentiments such as "we would not change anything," or "we would not be given anything we could not handle." I'm also bothered a bit by assertions of gratitude toward a disabled child for helping a parent gain insight, strength, or wisdom because all children potentially should provide these opportunities.

Overall, this is quite valuable book for families who are coming to terms with the death of their dreams while new dreams are being fomented. The sage advice to focus on abilities not disabilities rings true, again, as much for "normal" children as for those without a disability. In that regard, this book should probably be required reading for anyone who plans to have a family and who is naïve about the way the genetic lottery works

Moreover, without delving too deeply into this subject, the focus of this book, in my opinion, is not to diminish the lives, experiences, or contributions of anyone who has any sort of disability, but to convey the idea that matters beyond anyone's control do affect and transform others. No judgment should be implied or inferred by such recognition about the intrinsic value of any person.

So do I dream new dreams? Sometimes, at some levels, I do when I'm awake. But dreams during sleep have their own odd reality, and when my daughter appears in those dreams free from her disabilities, what am I to make of the incongruity of reality and hope?

My very pro-life girlfriend sent me this book as a gift the week I was due to go in for invasive testing to find out if I would be in these parents' shoes. She meant it well but it was poor and inappropriate timing. Once I had my test results, which said my baby was 'normal', I then read the book and learned a lot. I'll give you the perspective from a parent who has never had extra challenges to raising my children.

This book is geared to those who have just learned of a diagnosis. I would also recommend it to anyone who works in related fields. It doesn't address the long-term issues and doesn't hand out answers. The parents were mostly disarmingly honest in how they felt and how they coped. Some of the parents of children with Down Syndrome were a little rightious but most were refreshingly forthright.

While I feel grateful that I never had to face what these parents have, I didn't pity them. I also felt, and it is always the possiblity that I might still find myself in similar shoes, that the strength is there. I would learn and grow and cope with what we would face and it wouldn't diminish the love I have for my children, including the one en route. I could adjust my dreams.

The book is engaging and reads easily. I want to learn more on the subject. You also learn what to say and not say to other parents. We're all equals. It's a tough job and maybe some of us have a job a little more difficult but we'll all get it in the end, whatever the goals and aspirations are.

As a sibling of a child with special needs, You Will Dream New Dreams helped me evaluate the dreams I have had for my brother in the past, and how I should change them for the future. It also helped me better understand my parents, and how they have coped with having a child with a special need.

I would highly recommend this book to parents, and older siblings of children with special needs, and to professionals that are planning on working with children with special needs. I feel that this book would provide parents a feeling of support and hope for their child and their child's future. I think that this book would help older siblings understand their parents better, and why they have done things in life in a certain way. As for professionals, I feel it allows them an insight into the types of families they may be working with, which will allow them to empathize with the family rather than sympathize for the family.

After six years of managing the health aspects of diabetes well, I never could deal with the emotional aspects. Every day was like a spelling test I flunked even though I knew the words. This book taught me about accepting 'less than perfect' blood glucose numbers. Now maybe I can relax and stop beating myself up with guilt and worry, something that also makes things worse. This book has wonderful questionaires and evaluations that really help narrow down the reader's needs then offers concrete steps to help overcome whatever aspect is a problem in diabetes care. I will recommend this book to my friends who ask about diatetes.
Thanks.

The first think that is important to point out that while Diabetes Burnout is published by the lobbying group the represents the interests of those who PROFIT from Diabetes, not those afflicted, THAT Dr. William H. Polonsky, DOESN'T REPRESENT THE ADA, at all and the book wasn't written for the ADA.

Dr. Polonsky however started a clinic in California to help psychological issues of the grind of maintaining glucose levels as well as trains and lectures doctors from all over the globe to STOP BLAMING THE DIABETIC for the challenges and changes in dealing with Diabetes.

Heck, after reading Diabetes Burnout, it was the first time I ever have had it acknowledged that my feelings that are natural about the challenge of ATTEMPTING to manage my Diabetes are natural and not some sign of weakness.

Understand that the book was published in 1999 (I think), where there are some changes in the understanding of Diabetes and choices.

I agree that the book is not perfect and that a few parts of it seem a little simplistic on working through the psychological issues dealing with the attempt to manage diabetes.

But I would give it 10 stars if I could. It is the first and best book of its kind and Dr Polonsky does GREAT work on this subject. I have spoken to him because, I am immediately be suspicious of anything that comes out of the ADA. Dr Polonsky has never worked for, been paid by or been sponsored by the ADA. The publishing arm of the ADA just saw that they might make some money as publishers of the book.

Just look at the 238 million received by the ADA last year and look at their funding sources. The ADA posts their "Golden Circle", those are entities that have given them over a million dollars in a year. Then look at those in the 500,000 group, etc. As you will see, the funds are from Large Pharm, Insurance companies and Cadbury Schweps (sugar loaded candy and soda). Understand that the money they receive and spend on "research", just goes back to those in their "Golden Circle".

With diabetes, there is no walking away from the difficulties of the illnes; it can't be laid aside when the going gets tough. This great book helps look at and deal with the everyday difficulties that are real parts of living with diabetes. Dr. Polonsky is like a friend who understands and furthermore, has good suggestions for how to handle what you feel you can't live with any more. Great tone, helpful information, comforting message. Great book!

I read this book, hoping it would be written on an adult level. It is not. It is patronizing and condescending toward those diabetics like myself who have lived with the disease for many years. I was diagnosed 61 years ago and still need help with the stress and anger associated with a difficult life. Yes, I know how to manage my disease. I would not have survived this long had I not had good self-management skills. Yes, I have had both counseling and been put on antidepressants. In spite of what is going well in my life with diabetes, I still scored poorly on every test! Unbelievable, so now I am feeling worse than when I started the book. I think the book is geared for those who need lots of help within a few years of diagnosis. It is of no use for those of us in this for the long haul who need more than the same old solutions and are apparently worse off than we had ever dreamed!

EXCELLENT book for those living with diabetes. Diabetes burnout is very common. This book is full of tips, suggestions, and even tests, to help you in dealing with diabetes.

Book was very very good. A lot of the infomation out there like this is not as easy to handle as this book. Good job.

I found this book to be helpful when learning more about carb counting and meal planning for people with diabetes. Thank you.

I bought this from Amazon without realizing it was old--the third edition was already out and for sale on Amazon, too, but I missed that. Do not buy the second edition!! As soon as my shipment arrived I ordered the third edition and suppose I'll be sending this one back--as hassle. Wish they had made this more obvious!

I was recommended this book by a dietician...it basically helps you make informed choices when planning what to cook, when you're out shopping at the grocery store, and especially when you're eating out. It is amazing how many calories some of our meals contain and if we only took the time to really scrutinise the food we consume, I think it can make a lot of difference to our health. I keep this as a guide when I prepare meals at home, and it has also taught me how to read labels on packaged foods etc...won't it be great if all restaurants did the same when we eat out?

Lots of good information. Cumbersome and hard to read due to the fact that it is landscaped and you have to turn the book to the side to read it.

Being a diabetic, I am always looking for great recipes. This cook book is an answer to my prayers. It gives me a broader spectrum of selection instead of the normal recipes. I don't feel like I am tied down to every day foods. With the recipes in this book, I feel like I am not diabetic and am eating sinful foods.

I was impressed with the extent of information about diabetes and cooking that preceeded all of the recipes. What a great resource this has turned out to be for me. I have enjoyed several of the recipes very much and was especially pleased to find that they include more nutritional analysis than other cookbooks I have (including saturated fat, sugars and fibre). Lots of recipes low in fat, sugar, salt and cholesterol and lots of real, whole food instead of processed foods and chemicals. I think this book was worth every cent and recommend it.

A great book with lots of good food. Very healthy, and good for you even if your not diabetic!

My mother loves it and I love it too. I first ordered this book as a gift for my mother who has type 2 diabetes. After enjoying the recipes that she made, I went ahead and picked up a copy for myself at the local store seeing as I can use a good dose of healthy eating. Of the main dishes we tried, I found the servings to be quite filling and the recipes were easy enough to make. I also found the sections about diabetes to be very helpful and easy to understand. Hopefully I'll be able to avoid getting diabetes like my mom by following the advice of cookbooks like this. Definitely gets a thumbs up from us.

For me , it was really a very good choice to get this book, and I recommend it to averyone who has to follow a special diet for diabetic, and also anyone who want to learn to eat better.