Insulin-Resistance Books

I feel very fortunate that I read Miryam Williamson's Blood Sugar Blues first on my search for insulin resistance. She was able to put together pieces of the health puzzle that even my doctor did not see. She is able to clearly convey a lot of complex metabolic issues so that everything starts to make sense. One of the best chapters is the one on choosing a low carbohydrate eating plan, in which she reviews five different plans, pros and cons. This saved me a lot of time and experimentation and was therefore successful from the start.

Miryam Williamson's book is well researched, well written and couldn't have come at a better time in my life. I've been suffering for years with unexplained body pain, headaches, blood sugar crashes, IBS ... the list goes on ad infinitum. Not until I read Blood Sugar Blues (in late February 2004) did I finally find answers to the mysteries of my health issues and can discuss this information with my health care professionals. Her comprehensive book details symptoms of insulin resistance (which I had never heard of) and clearly differentiates between Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. I'm now adhering to a well-balanced, low carb diet and am feeling so much better. Shortly after changing my diet and living a far less driven life, I lost 14 pounds, am sleeping far better and the fatigue and body pain are barely noticeable. I'm convinced that I'm on the right track and will continue to improve.

This book is for both low carb newcomers and veterans alike. It covers the basics for the new folks while keeping us veterans engaged with lots of new little "nuggets," peices to the puzzle of why this way of eating improves health in so many ways. For me, reading books like this keep me motivated and on track. I probably have 30 low carb books, and this is one of my very favorites.

I'm 44 and I've been low carbing for 21 months.I have lost 80 lbs. through diet and exercise, and have reversed all of the following conditions: acne, leathery skin, overgrowth of moles, high blood pressure, painful legs and feet, anxiety, brain fog, PCOS, IBS, asthma, allergy to pollens and nuts, and heart palpitations. I feel like twenty years have been erased.

Miryam E. Williamson is a very intelligent and caring author as you will discover if you read her book. She is commited to this way of eating because it saved her as it as saved so many of us. Add this book to your library and enjoy.

Gave this to my neighbor and she has followed it with great results.

Miryam Williamson's "Blood Sugar Blues" is an excellent book for people who find themselves suffering from a multitude of health problems that are often difficult for mainstream doctors to diagnose.

Although insulin resistance is often the culprit, it is frequently overlooked by traditionally trained internists who, when all common blood and other testing comes back normal, don't understand the condition enough to explore it as the possible answer to their patients' complaints.

Williamson does an excellent job spelling out symptoms caused by insulin resistance-- which makes it easy for the reader to discern if this, in fact, is his or her problem. Her writing shows she has researched this condition thoroughly and understands how it can lead to severe illnesses including heart disease, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and cancer-- and she writes in such a way that her research is easy for the lay person to understand. While the book does provide a good bit of scientific information about disease processes, she has written a book that is highly accessible to most anyone who reads it.

She also clearly presents strategies for altering one's diet and lifestyle to reduce damage caused by systemic dysfunction that leads to the body losing its ability to produce, process, and use insulin the way it is supposed to. She offers concise advice for helping restore the body to its healthier state and offers a comparison of 5 different popular diets in a way that helps the reader choose which one may be best for him/her.

Williamson obviously believes that, with proper information and guidance, many of us can make changes in our lives that will help us feel better and ward off serious disease, and she does an excellent job passing along that hopefulness to her readers.

Finally, she provides lists of 'safe' foods for people suffering from insulin resistance and a number of simple and tasty recipes that incorporate foods in combinations that help relieve symptoms of the disorder. "Blood Sugar Blues" is a well-written and easily understood primer for anyone dealing with insulin resistance and the ills it can cause.

This book will scare you into leading a better lifestyle. I appreciated the science but it may be a little too much science for the average lay person. The recipe and 3 week diet fell a little short. The book advocates Mediteranian and Japanese diet but this is mostly Asian with lots of items most people won't be familar with like agar flakes and umeboshi vinegar. Books says avoid dry fruit but many of the breakfast ideas include raisins. Maybe berries would have been a better pick. Basically the menus don't always jive with the recomendations. I would follow Dr. Weils anti-inflamation diet as it is easier to follow. Also theory gives no explanation for the 40% of people that get cancer and disease and are not overweight. Are these people still insulin resistant but don't gain weight? I was glad I read the book. Finally the medical community is giving us some information that makes sense.

the evidnece presented in this book should encourage and motivate everyone to eat a healthier diet
very informative
C.W. RN and Certified Diabetes Educator

It took the post office almost a month to deliver this book so I'm not as far along as I had hoped. However it is clear, concise, easy to understand and I don't know why someone hasn't put this together before now.

Short Review - this is an excellent book. People need to take responsibility for their personal wealth by managing their own diet and exercise and to stop assigning blame to parents, heredity, and their doctors. Type II diabetes is not inevitable and actually can be reversed in its early stages if the patient chooses to change their lifestyle.

I have been following the suggestions of this book for eight weeks.
I have lost a lot of inches and weight. My blood sugars have dropped to an acceptable level and I feel a great deal better. I have recommended the book to several family members and friends. They are also seeing very positive results. My grateful thanks to Peter Morgan Kash and Jay Lombard.

Dr. Zaidi has written an excellent examination of Diabetes, the causes, and the treatments to give the reader the perspective of a practicing doctor who is leading the field of research and practice.

This book will serve any and all patients and family members in terms of education and ability to have a conversation with their doctor(s). The book describes many of the misconceptions that still exist today and the many misinformed decisions doctors make when diagnosing and treating diabetes.

The book also examines case studies and human behavior and tendencies to give a more personal related insight to how we slowly develop into the symptoms that lead to diabetes and how patients have recovered.

Having this book will arm you with the information to essentially take charge of the disease and to get the best treatment possible.

I am a patient of Dr. Zaidi and actually found this book online before I was referred to his practice. I am very lucky to have Dr. Zaidi as my endocrinologist as he is what I would refer to as a 'boots on the ground' doctor who researches and treats the disease every day. I find his perspective extremely insightful on all fronts of treatment, including not only drugs, but supplements, diet, exercise, environment (work/family/stress), behavior, emotions, and alternative approaches to treatment as well.

Even if you have been getting treated for some time, I would still recommend this read. You may find some very interesting facts about either why you are getting better or why you are not.

It is very informative book brilliantly written by Dr. Zaidi. It is very helpful for diabetics. I gave it to my brother, 67 years old, who is an insulin dependent diabetic type 2, who also has beginning stages of dementia. His wife found it very helpful and now has a better understanding of the complications and management of diabetes. The daily menus also offer an important guideline for every day care. Definitely a 5 star book.

A comprehensive book that explains diabetes in detail and different ways to control it. I believe this book is a must for anyone who wants to learn more about diabetes even though he/she may believe they will never use it. This book is well written and is easy to understand for people with no medical background.

I have been a patient of Dr. Zaidi and his medical approach used in this book has kept my diabetes under control for many years. I highly recommend the book and the doctor to anyone seeking help with diabetic problems.

I am finding this book interesting to read and not dry. It clearly explains what happens in our bodies if we have Insulin Resistant Syndrome or diabetes and what can be done, both medically and holistically. I like that it is easy to read, well organized, and one can quickly move through it. I have learned more than I expected to learn. I thought I had done a lot of research on this subject, but now I am learning the details I have been wanting. I want to get copies for my family members who are resistant to looking at what is happening to them, before it is too late. I think internists should read this, too. I have noticed by talking to others with blood sugar problems that they and their doctors have not heard of Insulin resistant syndrome.

This is a unique diabetes book. First of all, there are alot of case studies with specific information which illustrate Dr. Zaidi's points. He tells you which drug (and what dose) he used and why and what the result was for the patient.
Dr. Zaidi also has a unique, but scientifically sound treatment plan that gets at treating the root cause of diabetes, not just treating symptoms.
From this book, you can figure out if your doctor is giving you the optimum treatment for your diabetes.
To avoid complications, he tells you which tests you should have and what the results of the test mean.
His focus is on treating diabetes as a part of Insulin Resistance Syndrome (Metabolic Syndrome). He explains why it's important to treat all components of insulin resistance in order to effectively treat diabetes.
Also, there is specific information on drugs used to treat diabetes as well as information on herbs and vitamins.
This book really does give you an immense amount of practical information, but it is easy to digest and understand.

Can we review this book and then either purchase or return the book? I will write the review within 3 days of getting the book. Please send us a review copy as soon as possible.

Thank you,

Ralph La Forge, M.Sc. Duke University Lipid Clinic 8 North Poston Court Durham, NC 27705 (919) 490-3794 ralphlaforge@msn.com

It was in 1986 at the end of his Banting Memorial lecture that Reaven said: "At first blush it appears outlandish to suggest an association between hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia and hyperinsulinemia.." His words have rung in my ears ever since! Yes hyperinsulinemia is now widely understood to be the measurable outcome of insulin resistance, now known by the international acronym "IR". Insulin resistance is the "hidden resistance" that leads to an incredible diversity of clinical disorders which "at first blush" appear even more unlikely; these disorders in fact range from diabetes to polycystic ovary disease; and from hypertension to unwanted facial hair in women to name just four conditions! It is highly appropriate that Reaven has now given the world the benefit of his understanding of this ubiquitous Metabolic Syndrome. This syndrome has baffled science for decades and has lead to an incredidible explosion of research papers on this theme; it is almost impossible to even read and understand all the abstracts for "insulin resistance" on Medline let alone read the published papers! Reaven's book is a welcome addition to our resources.

I followed this diet for 3 months and as a result, lowered my triglycerides from 498 to 210! It's very easy to follow and certainly has improved my health.

Althought this title is found when searching "pediatric endocrinology", the search fails to provide the information regarding Volume II and the Set information.
ISBN:142004270X is Pediatric Endocrinology Volume II
ISBN:1420042718 is Pediatric Endocrinology Set ( Volume I & Volume II)

This book is a must read for anyone interested in health and dieting. it explains why we need to eat certian foods and why we do NOT need to eat others. This book will open a new window to the way you view protein, carbs, sugars and fats.

This book really sells itself short by marketing as a "weight loss" book. It is a fantastic reference for people who don't understand insulin resistance and the medical background to why carb overloaded diets are so unhealthy. It has changed the way I eat and think about everyday food. As an added bonus, my post pregnancy weight is just falling off. I would HIGHLY recommend this book.

The Power Protein Plan is an excellent program. The book details every aspect, including cholesterol, triglycerides, heart disease, diabetes...and explains how this protein plan can actually positively affect each.
My husband is diabetic and is on insulin and oral drugs to maintain his out of control blood sugar. I put him on the protein power plan and his blood sugar dropped enough that he could do away with 3 shots and the oral drug. He never felt better, but his self-destructive nature has caused him to forego sticking to the plan entirely-which is why I give it 4 stars instead of 5: If you cheat on this plan, you will gain weight and probably cause your blood levels to rise.
All in all, a healthy, easy plan--the included recipes are really quite good-though time-consuming.

I am the author of a new book entitled GENOCIDE;HOW YOUR DOCTOR'S DIETARY IGNORANCE WILL KILL YOU. I am a family physician with over ten years experience introducing a low carbohydrate, more fat, more cholesterol, more protein diet into my patient's lives. Through this dietary approach I have cured type 2 diabetics, treated people with high blood pressure with little or no need for meds, seen tons of weight lost and the list goes on and on. Protein Power was the first book I read espousing the virtues of low carb diets.

Unfortunately most physicians will never read this book and if they do they will dismiss it as an opinion, not based in fact. For some reason, the scientific method is not followed in dietary clinical trials. The scientific method should be: I have an idea (theory, supposition, opinion, hypothesis whatever you want to call it), I perform an experiment to either prove or disprove my idea; if I prove my theory-great-look how smart I am. But if the results do not prove my idea, I am supposed to re-evaluate my initial idea, not call the experiment flawed or the results inconclusive.
The reason the dietary clinical trials appear contradictory is because the researchers in these trials start off with a conclusion--not an idea-- perform an experiment, and when the results of the experiment do not support what the researchers already 'think' they know; they now call the experimental design flawed or the results inconclusive, which is generally not the case.

I have literally treated thousands upon thousands of my patients with low carb diets over the last decade. I love when the labs come back with higher HDLs, lower triglycerides and normal blood sugars. I love teasing my patients and ask if they are eating more fat and cholesterol. When they say yes, I ask them "Well, if you are eating more fat and cholesterol, then why did your fat level drop and why did your HDL rise, and why did you lose weight?" I always get a smile back, because my patients know what I am getting at. And what I'm getting at is the fact--and I mean FACT, that low cholesterol, low fat diets DO NOT WORK to any degree to help people stay off or reduce their medications.
This book should be required reading in all medical and undergraduate colleges. If physicians actually understood the correct way to tell their patients to eat--many disease processes would become extinct--instead of the human race. I recommend my patients to purchase this book (along with mine of course :-), to help them understand why they must start low carb diets----NOW. By the way, my apologies to Dr. Michael Eades, I mistakenly called you Dan in my book, even though I must have said your name thousands of times to my patients--but I have recommended your book thousands and thousands of times, so I hope you forgive me for that.

Allow me to end my post with the three biggest dietary myths in America;
MYTH # 1
Eating fat makes us fat. FALSE. The truth is that eating fat does not make us fat, unless we're eating too many carbohydrates along with that fat.
MYTH #2
Eating cholesterol containing foods causes heart disease. FALSE. There has never been any study which has shown, convincingly, that eating cholesterol containing foods causes heart disease.
MYTH #3
Probably the biggest dietary myth out there is that the calorie actually means something in human nutrition. FALSE. The calorie means nothing in human nutrition.

Thank you Dr's Eades, for helping save my life and the lives of my patients. It inspired me to write my own account of what I've seen work in my practice over the last decade.Genocide: How Your Doctor's Dietary Ignorance Will Kill You!!!!

2000 years ago man thought Earth was the center of the universe. 400 years ago the world was flat; some people who questioned this wisdom were even burned at the stake for heresy. Before the beginning of 19th century engineers thought man would "disintegrate" if he exceeded 100 mph, hence train speed was limited on purpose. Just 20 years ago "high-carb" diets were supposed to help people improve their well-being. Well, we know the disastrous epidemic the high-carb diet did to our Nation - 60% overweight! We Americans are so fat that the western hemisphere created a planetary imbalance, skewing the earth's rotation about its axis. So there, forget global warming. The world's climate has drastically changed because we are literally heavy on this side of the globe. How's that for a theory, Al Gore?? All kidding aside, what I'm getting at is that you should approach this book (as well as life in general) with an open mind.

I am a hardcore bodybuilder, and yes, I have been on the high-fat, high protein, low carb diet for a while now. If there is anything that the sedentary general population can learn from us bodybuilders, it is that we are vain, and we love to look at ourselves in the mirror. But more significantly, we are experts at building muscle and losing fat. Many bodybuilders may not have the credentials on paper with those fancy letters, such as a BS, an ABC, an MD or a PhD. But trust me, we know fat loss. And I am here to tell you that "Protein Power" works.

The reason I bought this book is that I wanted to understand the "why's." I already know "low-carb" works; I just wanted to know for myself the scientific reasons behind it. The doctors go in great detail explaining why and how. The science behind the "low-carb" concept is explained in a level that 8th graders can understand. The doctors did an excellent job. In addition to the easy-to-understand format, but well-researched and scientific findings the book outlines, I love the fact that the doctors were kind enough to include a recipe section. Yummy!!


Chances are if you are reading this section in Amazon, it is because you wish to lose weight. In closing, I'd like to offer the following:



There are four pillars to losing weight. They are: a) your mind; b) weight training; c) cardio exercise; and, d) nutrition.



a) Your mind. You have to believe that you can do it. Whether you think you can or you can't, you're right. There are no magic pills that you can take and melt the fat off when you wake up the next day. YOU HAVE TO WORK HARD!! And don't blame genetics. Take accountability for your own lifestyle. Once you understand and accept this, you are on your way to losing fat.



b) Weight training. You should consider adding weight training to your regimen. You want to keep and / or add muscles. Muscles burn fat due to increased metabolic rate. You don't want to "lose weight" by losing both fat and muscle. That's another thing. You should focus on "fat loss" and not "weight loss." I'm not saying you should be a bodybuilder, all I am saying is that weight training is an effective fat burner. Get yourself an Accu-Measure caliper (also sold at Amazon for $20) so you can measure fat loss on a weekly basis.



c) Cardio. You will lose fat if you create a calorie deficit. You can do this in two ways. You can either burn the calories by doing cardio, OR you can consume less calories by eating less food. BUT, and here is a big BUTT (pun intended), the best way to burn fat is eat a little less AND exercise more.



You can certainly lose weight just by consuming less calories without exercising, but you will be a "skinny fat person." You know, those dudes with a low body weight, but little if any muscle, and the last 15 pounds of stubborn fat is left defiantly clinging to their hips and butt.



d) Nutrition. Read "Protein Power." This is perhaps the only fat loss book you will ever need.



I wish you the best of luck in your quest to have a leaner, meaner physique. HOOAH! (It's an Army thing.)

After trying both Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig several times and losing only 5-8 pounds after months of dieting, I finally found out why I couldn't lose weight -- I had insulin resistance. I bought this book and started linking and balancing protein, fiber and carbs the way the book recommends and my weight is finally coming off. I totally recommend this book. :-)

All my life I have struggled with my weight. I recently discovered what I had was Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, and have insulin resistance. This book is very clear on what combinations of food work together, and which to avoid. I have lost 5 lbs so far without very much effort at all. In fact, I am eating more now, and enjoying it more.

Went by the guide-lines in the book-found out stuff about some of my health issues and it is working for me-so far I have lost 10 lbs!

I was diagnosed with insulin resistance, PCOS, and chronic hypertension at the age of 19. I went on blood pressure medicine and metformin at that time. This year (seven years and many failed weight loss attempts later) I decided that enough was enough and I wanted to lose the weight so I purchased and followed the diet in this book. In 10 months, I have lost over 100 pounds, lowered my cholesterol 75 points, and have successfully stopped taking my blood pressure medication (under doctor supervision of course) and I have done all of this by following the diet outlined in this book coupled with moderate exercise. I highly recommend it if you have been diagnosed with insulin resistance. I can't speak to this diet's effectiveness if you do not have this condition, I just know that it worked wonders for me and drastically improved my quality of life.

I don't want to just repeat what so many other reviewers have already said. So suffice it to say that I also enjoyed reading this book and have found a wealth of useful knowledge in it.

However, a few points that I haven't seen mentioned yet...

-- Insulin resistance increases a person's risk of heart disease. The authors awknowledge this and briefly suggest making food choices that reflect a "heart healthy" lifestyle. However, they also tell the reader not to worry about salt intake and many of the items on their food lists are very high in sodium. This is not at all heart healthy. Watching my salt intake is fairly easy, but it does add a layer of complexity to this plan that is not advertised.

-- The only focus of this book is weight loss. There is no mention of how to tweak the plan for weight maintenance. I am trying to reverse my insulin resistance (and PCOS), but I am not overweight. There isn't a single sentence in this book that addresses my situation.

-- There is a heavy reliance on artificial sweeteners. For those who do not use artificial sweeteners, a level of complexity is added to the plan.

-- One of the selling points of this plan is that there is nothing to count. That is technically true. But there is a lot of estimating to be done. Some people see great success with estimating and keeping things in their heads. I prefer to be a little more exact. Again, it's not hard to count carbs and proteins and keep track of calories (rather than estimating them), but it adds a level of complexity.

So, because I'm a bit of a perfectionist, I've made this plan a little more complicated than it was originally advertised. But I still enjoy following it and I hope to see my insulin resistance reverse over time.

This book made the zone diet very easy to understand and stick with. There are alot of easy zone meals that give you a great start on the zone. I would recommend this book if you are interested in this kind of diet. I believe it to be a very healthy way to eat. Includes lean meats,lots of fruit and vegtables and healthy fats.

Any diet is no good without the exercise! So throw in both and you have it made!

The book does a good job of covering the basics of the Zone diet. I needed to supplement the info with some items off the web, otherwise I would have given it 5 stars.

I've purchased 2 other zone books, the original and a recipe guide. This was my favorite of the 3. Often times you find in diet books, even the good ones, an overwhelming amount of information. Not to say this information isn't all true, but when I incorporate a diet into my busy life I expect or at least want it to be a simple transition. After all, we're only talking about food. A week in the zone provides simple, effective, and point blank guidance for the successful incorporation of the already proven Zone Diet, without all the fluff. It's an easy read and it makes sense.

Second only to The Zone, this book is thorough and can help you jumpstart your zone diet in only one week. Though it is not as intensive and the original Enter the Zone, it is more accessible and helps the reader begin a diet very quickly and easily.

I had been struggling with understanding what sugar does to someone who is intolerant to sugar, and this book instantly got rid of all the mystery. I know what foods make me feel good, and which ones just dont sit right afterwards, and the common factor was always sugar or foods with a high glycemic index. As a healthy athlete, I wanted to learn the best fuel to put in my body, and I stick to this diet, with predictable results. What I really enjoyed about this book was the proactive approach to help me increase my energy, and to understand the supplements to take. I am now very mindful of high glycemic foods, and plainly just avoid them, to keep my mind, body and spirit operating at the optimum rate. Thanks for educating me! Andrea Samadi, author of The Secret for Teens Revealed: How Parents, Teachers, and Teenagers Can Inspire Leadership and Transform Lives

Syndrome X is High Cholesterol, Obesity, High Triglycerides, High Blood Pressure and the centerpiece: Insulin Resistance. The book provides the reasons for many people's poor heath and practical solutions to improve it greatly. It is also applicable to those who are already healthy and want to stay that way.

The authors clearly explain that Glucose is our biological gasoline and insulin is escorts the glucose from the blood into cells where it is burned as energy. As with the carburetor of a car, when this isn't working right, we are not going to be at our best!

Knowing what to eat is crucial in good health today. With our fast paced, fast food society this is no easy task. Syndrome X addresses the wide array of good foods, vitamins and nutrients to return to good health. It explains in layman's terms but never talks down to the reader about the benefits of eating right and the terrible effects of eating poorly.

Powerful topics include: The importance of diet, Glucose, the body's fuel and the secrets of living to age 100. Other subjects include, individualizing your Anti-X program, what to buy at supermarkets and more.

Vitamins C, D, E and more are explained in excellent detail. Minerals such as chromium, Zinc, Magnesium, are also addressed as well as nutrients such as antioxidants, good and bad fats and more.

The easy to understand explanations of how the body processes food and supplements is some of the best I have read. Overall Jack Challem, Dr Burton Berkson, and Melissa Diane Smith have done an exceptional job at providing a common sense guide to healthy living through good diet, vitamins and supplements!

The Re-Discovery of Common Sense: A Guide to: The Lost Art of Critical Thinking

Stop Prediabetes Now: The Ultimate Plan to Lose Weight and Prevent Diabetes

Syndrome X was a breakthrough book when it first came out in 2000. Of course Syndrome X is a form of prediabetes, which increases the risk of full-blown diabetes and heart disease. Jack Challem (the lead author of Syndrome X) has outdone himself with his latest book along these lines: Stop Prediabetes Now, which came out in October. The description of the problem, his dietary recommendations, and his supplement recommendations are all much clearer and easier to follow. The recipes are superb -- I love the curry chicken salad, in particular. Jack addresses the bigger picture of prediabetes, of which Syndrome X is only one part.

This should be required reading for all senior citizens on medicare/medicaid...all high school students...all college students and everyone else not on this list. As a nation, with the world close behind us, we are in deep trouble ALREADY and running faster down a slippery slope towards diabetes , type 1, 2 and will probably require a number 3 lable soon!!!

When a huge entity like the Federal Food & Drug Administration bows to the wishes of food product manufacturers, we are like sheep heading to the slaughter. You get a creepy feeling that some unknown, unseen persons are slowly killing you. Honestly? The Bible says that THE LOVE OF money is the root of all evil. And our grocery stores are a brightly colored, attractivly marketed example.

This book doesn't preach on the political aspect of our eating....that's me. But it teaches what your body is doing and will continue to do (and worse) if YOU don't take another path. Garbage in...garbage out.
Healthy eating...healthy body.

the menu plan was too low carb and the supplement suggestions were worse!
it claims that folks 20 pounds overweight and over should take a supplement called L-Carnitine, Alpha Lipoic acid etc.
Well when I took the Carnitine, I swear the first time I took it, my heart was beating too fast and the second time, I felt a heaviness in my chest and I had dry mouth! When I did further research on these supplements, it had said that we really don't need the Lipoic acid and the Carnitine because it is already present in our systems!
So the authors owe me $$$ back for those supplements that got me sick! Heck they should give me $$$ back for buying this dumb book lol