What do you think?
Rate this book
Diabetes For Dummies
The straight facts on treating diabetes successfully and living a full life
Want to know how to manage diabetes? Leading diabetes expert Dr. Alan Rubin gives you reassuring, authoritative guidance in putting together a state-of-the-art treatment program. You'll learn about all the advances in monitoring glucose and how to develop a diet and exercise plan to stay healthy.
Want to know how to manage diabetes? Leading diabetes expert Dr. Alan Rubin gives you reassuring, authoritative guidance in putting together a state-of-the-art treatment program. You'll learn about all the advances in monitoring glucose and how to develop a diet and exercise plan to stay healthy.
Audio
First published January 1, 2010
369 people are currently reading
605 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
March 19, 2024
This is one of the better books I have read on Diabetes. I went on a book binge and got myself a fair number of books from Amazon and some of them I just wish that I didn't. Many books were over complicated for the average person trying to understand this complex and life threatening condition not to mention how many of them contradict each other in relation to what you can/can't eat on a diabetes friendly diet. Have some carbs, you need carbs, eat no carbs. What the?
Enter Diabetes for Dummies. Not really for Dummies but certainly for the person who wants clearly presented information that is easy to read, understand and put into practice. The book is a complete read, extensive in it's information right from how you can expect to feel after diagnosis (like you have been given a life sentence and the grieving process often begins for many) to each medical condition that can happen because of diabetes and how to avoid anything nasty happening to you. I took away so much from this book that I put into practice straight away.
It speaks to you in a friendly way and is nicely broken into specific chapters then broken down into smaller sections, you can either flick to topics of interest first or read the book through or like me read it and dip in over a few days as it's a lot to take in. It's a book I would use as a reference book for life and would lend and recommend to any friend or family wanted to understand more. I highly recommend this for anyone with or loving someone with diabetes type I or type II.
It is shocking taking in a lot of the health crisis and dangers but balances it with the positives of eating healthy, exercising and doing what you can to start to bring blood sugars down so the risk diminishes. The chapter on medication and how it works is great also.
A very well rounded book, all you need in the one book. If you only buy one book on diabetes, make it this one. Five stars from me.
::~~~~~~:::::~~~~~:::::~~~~~:::::~~~~~~::
Thanks so much for reading my review!
I hope you enjoyed it, if you did I’d be delighted if you leave me a “like” and I love to read your comments. If you’d like to connect you can follow me or please send me a friend request.
You can also find me on Twitter (X) @bookishcats and on Amazon U.K. where I am a Top 500 Reviewer as Booklover Catlady.
If you are an Author or Publisher and you’d like me to consider reading and reviewing your book(s) please just message me.
Enter Diabetes for Dummies. Not really for Dummies but certainly for the person who wants clearly presented information that is easy to read, understand and put into practice. The book is a complete read, extensive in it's information right from how you can expect to feel after diagnosis (like you have been given a life sentence and the grieving process often begins for many) to each medical condition that can happen because of diabetes and how to avoid anything nasty happening to you. I took away so much from this book that I put into practice straight away.
It speaks to you in a friendly way and is nicely broken into specific chapters then broken down into smaller sections, you can either flick to topics of interest first or read the book through or like me read it and dip in over a few days as it's a lot to take in. It's a book I would use as a reference book for life and would lend and recommend to any friend or family wanted to understand more. I highly recommend this for anyone with or loving someone with diabetes type I or type II.
It is shocking taking in a lot of the health crisis and dangers but balances it with the positives of eating healthy, exercising and doing what you can to start to bring blood sugars down so the risk diminishes. The chapter on medication and how it works is great also.
A very well rounded book, all you need in the one book. If you only buy one book on diabetes, make it this one. Five stars from me.
::~~~~~~:::::~~~~~:::::~~~~~:::::~~~~~~::
Thanks so much for reading my review!
I hope you enjoyed it, if you did I’d be delighted if you leave me a “like” and I love to read your comments. If you’d like to connect you can follow me or please send me a friend request.
You can also find me on Twitter (X) @bookishcats and on Amazon U.K. where I am a Top 500 Reviewer as Booklover Catlady.
If you are an Author or Publisher and you’d like me to consider reading and reviewing your book(s) please just message me.
July 1, 2018
Having no knowledge at all about type 2 diabetes and having close family members who are diabetic I thought I would read this book.
Reading this book has greatly improved my knowledge of diabetes and the problems associated with it.
Easy to understand and packed with information I was really impressed with this book.
Highly recommended.
Reading this book has greatly improved my knowledge of diabetes and the problems associated with it.
Easy to understand and packed with information I was really impressed with this book.
Highly recommended.
August 7, 2011
This is the second worst book on diabetes I've read. (I see that the worst book has got good reviews on amazon.com, and is not available on amazon.co.uk. I myself have reviewed it on Facebook.)
After much consideration I've given the book presently under review two stars (at first I wanted to give it only one). It gets the two stars for the vast amount of medical information given, though as it is written by two traditional doctors, this is traditional information, much of it in my view erroneous. But it also provides a lot of presumably correct information I've seen nowhere else, such as practical information about driving in relation to diabetics and dealing with discrimination at work. This is a British book (I don't know whether there is also an American version), so much of it refers to British legislation and help available in the U.K.. It also contains information I haven't seen before about coping with diabetes and pregnancy, sexual function and diabetes foot care.
I learn something from nearly all the books on diabetes I read, and in this case I learnt that the B-vitamin nicotine amide constitutes a protective factor against diabetes, Nice to know.
The main criticism I have of the book is as follows:
Though the authors in various places mention the importance of a low-carbohydrate diet, in practice it turns out that they have apparently little understanding of what this in fact involves. It is of course correctly stated that all refined carbohydrates should be avoided - at least theoretically they got that right. Except that they actually didn't since sugar, lots of fruit and sweet desserts are absolutely permissible in the view of these two doctors.
But it is not even enough to eat only complex carbohydrates with a low GI-Index. You have to eat a reduced AMOUNT of these carbohydrates. Dr. Bernstein, the author of "Dr. Bernstein's diabetes solution", whom I regard as the absolute authority on managing diabetes, if not curing it, recommends a carbohydrate content of 6 g. for breakfast and 12 g. for each of the two subsequent meals. He has himself suffered from type 1 diabetes since the age of 12, and is totally dependent on insulin.
The book under review contains a small section on counting carbohydrates. but there is no indication at all about how many grams of carbohydrate should be allowed at each meal for optimal blood sugar control. And in a, for me, shocking section of the book under the heading "Carbohydrate counting to maximum health" an example is given of a typical "well-controlled" type 1 patient's carbohydrate intake. His breakfast intake is stated as containing, for example, 80 (!) grams of carbohydrate, his lunch contains 120 grams carbohydrate and his supper "only" 60 grams of carbohydrate! Compare please these amounts to Dr. Bernstein's recommended 6g, 12 g and 12 g.
There were innumerable irritating not to mention fallacious or outrageous statements in this book:
1)Statins and aspartame are described as "excellent" (See "Fat and cholesterol are good for you" by Uffe Ravnskov and "The great cholesterol myth" by Malcolm Kendrick on the so-called "excellence" of statins) and google "aspartame" to find information on the toxicity of this potent sweetener. The use of the word "excellent" in connection with both these toxins seriously tarnishes the credibility of the authors of this book.
2) The authors dismiss the possibility that chromium, Gymnema silvestre and other substances can be at all useful in the regulation of diabetes. Being doctors, they seem to regard minerals, vitamins and other natural substances as they would regard potent drugs, and don't realize that what is important is the COMBINED factors of a good (low-carbohydrate) diet and the provision of all essential vitamins and minerals, including, for example, Vanadium, which they have neglected to mention as an important mineral relevant in the treatment of diabetes, the importance of which they would call in question. Moreover, they claim that British people are not deficient in chromium. How do they know this?
3) They state: "Genetic inheritance causes type 2 diabetes". This is a sweeping statement, the truth of which I would absolutely contest. There may of course be genetic factors involved, but the vital factor must be lifestyle.
4) The authors propagate the myth that "you generally get enough vitamins for your daily needs." Especially as regards chronically ill persons such as diabetics this statement is absolutely fallacious.
5) They keep reiterating that "diabetes lasts for life", which is a negative affirmation to keep hearing, especially since in fact it is possible for some to be cured of diabetes, but only as long as they adhere to a correct diet (see Cass Ingram's book "Natural cures for diabetes").
6) Being doctors, their main focus as regards a "cure" for diabetes is new drugs, and we know that drugs generally prove harmful in the one way or the other.
As regards point 6), I would state that much of the book is focussed on the various drugs available for diabetics, and though many of these are recommended by the authors, to their credit their dangers are stated. I'm no expert on diabetes drugs, but I would like to point out that Dr. Bernstein, who is, advises against the use of sulphonyureas.
I could write pages more on the criticizable elements of this book, but this must be more than enough.
Suffice to say that I do not recommend this book, though it does contain theoretical and practical information about the disease and its complications.
After much consideration I've given the book presently under review two stars (at first I wanted to give it only one). It gets the two stars for the vast amount of medical information given, though as it is written by two traditional doctors, this is traditional information, much of it in my view erroneous. But it also provides a lot of presumably correct information I've seen nowhere else, such as practical information about driving in relation to diabetics and dealing with discrimination at work. This is a British book (I don't know whether there is also an American version), so much of it refers to British legislation and help available in the U.K.. It also contains information I haven't seen before about coping with diabetes and pregnancy, sexual function and diabetes foot care.
I learn something from nearly all the books on diabetes I read, and in this case I learnt that the B-vitamin nicotine amide constitutes a protective factor against diabetes, Nice to know.
The main criticism I have of the book is as follows:
Though the authors in various places mention the importance of a low-carbohydrate diet, in practice it turns out that they have apparently little understanding of what this in fact involves. It is of course correctly stated that all refined carbohydrates should be avoided - at least theoretically they got that right. Except that they actually didn't since sugar, lots of fruit and sweet desserts are absolutely permissible in the view of these two doctors.
But it is not even enough to eat only complex carbohydrates with a low GI-Index. You have to eat a reduced AMOUNT of these carbohydrates. Dr. Bernstein, the author of "Dr. Bernstein's diabetes solution", whom I regard as the absolute authority on managing diabetes, if not curing it, recommends a carbohydrate content of 6 g. for breakfast and 12 g. for each of the two subsequent meals. He has himself suffered from type 1 diabetes since the age of 12, and is totally dependent on insulin.
The book under review contains a small section on counting carbohydrates. but there is no indication at all about how many grams of carbohydrate should be allowed at each meal for optimal blood sugar control. And in a, for me, shocking section of the book under the heading "Carbohydrate counting to maximum health" an example is given of a typical "well-controlled" type 1 patient's carbohydrate intake. His breakfast intake is stated as containing, for example, 80 (!) grams of carbohydrate, his lunch contains 120 grams carbohydrate and his supper "only" 60 grams of carbohydrate! Compare please these amounts to Dr. Bernstein's recommended 6g, 12 g and 12 g.
There were innumerable irritating not to mention fallacious or outrageous statements in this book:
1)Statins and aspartame are described as "excellent" (See "Fat and cholesterol are good for you" by Uffe Ravnskov and "The great cholesterol myth" by Malcolm Kendrick on the so-called "excellence" of statins) and google "aspartame" to find information on the toxicity of this potent sweetener. The use of the word "excellent" in connection with both these toxins seriously tarnishes the credibility of the authors of this book.
2) The authors dismiss the possibility that chromium, Gymnema silvestre and other substances can be at all useful in the regulation of diabetes. Being doctors, they seem to regard minerals, vitamins and other natural substances as they would regard potent drugs, and don't realize that what is important is the COMBINED factors of a good (low-carbohydrate) diet and the provision of all essential vitamins and minerals, including, for example, Vanadium, which they have neglected to mention as an important mineral relevant in the treatment of diabetes, the importance of which they would call in question. Moreover, they claim that British people are not deficient in chromium. How do they know this?
3) They state: "Genetic inheritance causes type 2 diabetes". This is a sweeping statement, the truth of which I would absolutely contest. There may of course be genetic factors involved, but the vital factor must be lifestyle.
4) The authors propagate the myth that "you generally get enough vitamins for your daily needs." Especially as regards chronically ill persons such as diabetics this statement is absolutely fallacious.
5) They keep reiterating that "diabetes lasts for life", which is a negative affirmation to keep hearing, especially since in fact it is possible for some to be cured of diabetes, but only as long as they adhere to a correct diet (see Cass Ingram's book "Natural cures for diabetes").
6) Being doctors, their main focus as regards a "cure" for diabetes is new drugs, and we know that drugs generally prove harmful in the one way or the other.
As regards point 6), I would state that much of the book is focussed on the various drugs available for diabetics, and though many of these are recommended by the authors, to their credit their dangers are stated. I'm no expert on diabetes drugs, but I would like to point out that Dr. Bernstein, who is, advises against the use of sulphonyureas.
I could write pages more on the criticizable elements of this book, but this must be more than enough.
Suffice to say that I do not recommend this book, though it does contain theoretical and practical information about the disease and its complications.
November 17, 2022
This review is for the 4th edition (Published 2012). I think this is a GREAT book for someone newly diagnosed with diabetes and/or their clueless family members. This is a summary in plain language for you to understand the ins and outs of your illness and what you can do about it. It is not the be all and end all. I like the organization of the book - you can go to what interests you immediately and if you ever get around to the other sections, great. If not, there is an appendix in the back that explains each term briefly.
I have three gripes. First, I feel he should stress testing your blood sugar 2 hours after a meal regularly. Occasionally just isn't enough. Use that 2 hour alarm on your meter!
Second, I feel he doesn't go far enough to stress the inherent dangers of gastric bypass or banding. Starvation is unhealthy, no matter what weight you start out with, but worse if you are obese. The complication rate is higher than many patients are told, IMHO.
I also disagree that vegetarians are less likely to have diabetes. That is totally wrong. Diabetes is rampant in Asia, where many people eat little to no meat. Even in India, there are regions that have been vegetarian for generations, and they still get diabetes at a high rate, though not has high as in the US (Obesity is always a high factor for type 2, regardless of how you got there).
I had originally read the 2nd edition. I particularly like that he mentions in this edition to take what the ADA (American Diabetes Association) says with a grain of aspertame. Their diet recommendations have been wrong for years, having way too many carbs. This edition also does a much better job with tables although the .jpg images should be bigger. Some I can't read at all, even on the computer with a big screen. This is an unacceptable publisher oversite.
I have three gripes. First, I feel he should stress testing your blood sugar 2 hours after a meal regularly. Occasionally just isn't enough. Use that 2 hour alarm on your meter!
Second, I feel he doesn't go far enough to stress the inherent dangers of gastric bypass or banding. Starvation is unhealthy, no matter what weight you start out with, but worse if you are obese. The complication rate is higher than many patients are told, IMHO.
I also disagree that vegetarians are less likely to have diabetes. That is totally wrong. Diabetes is rampant in Asia, where many people eat little to no meat. Even in India, there are regions that have been vegetarian for generations, and they still get diabetes at a high rate, though not has high as in the US (Obesity is always a high factor for type 2, regardless of how you got there).
I had originally read the 2nd edition. I particularly like that he mentions in this edition to take what the ADA (American Diabetes Association) says with a grain of aspertame. Their diet recommendations have been wrong for years, having way too many carbs. This edition also does a much better job with tables although the .jpg images should be bigger. Some I can't read at all, even on the computer with a big screen. This is an unacceptable publisher oversite.
January 25, 2013
My husband was diagnosed about a month and a half ago. I was aware of a family history of diabetes, but I did not realize that this disease would visit us this young (we are in our mid-40s). This book was an excellent introduction to all things diabetes. The author's humor at times gets old, but if the reader can overlook that, it's a worthy read, especially for those impacted by diabetes. I bought another copy to share with one of my relatives who has diabetes. I was able to share with my children their risk and how they can prevent diabetes. Similarly I hope I am never diagnosed, and I am glad I have an arsenal of preventative know-how from reading this book.
August 25, 2012
This is an awesome up to date reference if you have diabetes - or even if you don't. With the huge increase in diabetes cases. Around the world, you can prevent or slow down systems in your self or understand what's going on when a loved one or friend is diagnosed. Reading this book helped me so much!
January 6, 2014
Really great tips of all kinds in this book. As just one example, this was the first place I've seen an explanation for how soon to exercise after eating (for blood sugar)! A must read for diabetics and pre-diabetics!
April 13, 2011
Unfortunately, I knew everything in it. It is the same stuff rehashed over and over again. I would have been better off just sticking with Google.
August 27, 2012
I agree with Iona. If we followed this book, my husband would be in the ER with high sugar glucose.
February 25, 2014
Nice introduction to diabetes. Not a book to read page by page. It has pin pointers for the newly diagnosed person to take note.
August 6, 2017
Extremely detailed information but, as is standard for this series of publications, US-centred when giving details of medication and treatment options. As a European reader, this is my only criticism.
That said, the advice regarding glucose monitoring, diet and exercise is universally applicable. The complications arising from poor management of diabetes were set out in detail for different age-groups, ethnicities and those with additional health considerations.
Lots of scientific terminology - but don't be put off. Several reads May be necessary to absorb all the information. It will be worth the effort to improve your health, or the health of a loved-one.
That said, the advice regarding glucose monitoring, diet and exercise is universally applicable. The complications arising from poor management of diabetes were set out in detail for different age-groups, ethnicities and those with additional health considerations.
Lots of scientific terminology - but don't be put off. Several reads May be necessary to absorb all the information. It will be worth the effort to improve your health, or the health of a loved-one.
March 16, 2021
I found this book really hard-going. I've had diabetes for a while, but found there was a lot of technical jargon that it was assumed the reader would know - certainly, it would not be the sort of text that would have been helpful when I was newly-diagnosed. Quite disjointed too, and missing important facts and explanation such as what to do if you develop ketoacidosis. Very disappointing book and not written by authors who actually live with diabetes day-to-day.
June 19, 2018
Simple to understand!
Love it! Love it! Love it!
Excellently and simply written.
Learned information about diabetes that was new to me.
I suggest it as an excellent reference book.
Love it! Love it! Love it!
Excellently and simply written.
Learned information about diabetes that was new to me.
I suggest it as an excellent reference book.
April 13, 2019
Good book
I gave it 5 stars because it was EXCELLENT. I 've had diabetes 2 for more than 20 yrs, yet some things I didn t know. I .like the way it is organized and the facts. Would recommend to any person with diabetes.
I gave it 5 stars because it was EXCELLENT. I 've had diabetes 2 for more than 20 yrs, yet some things I didn t know. I .like the way it is organized and the facts. Would recommend to any person with diabetes.
February 21, 2020
Not very helpful to me. Quite a lot of medical jargon and I found it hard to find what I needed in the index, if the book covered it at all - for example, diabulmia. A book written by doctors, telling people with diabetes what to do rather than actually knowing what it's like to live with it.
Read
June 30, 2021An Outstanding Introduction to Diabetes Self Care
Alan Rublin does an amazing job in providing resources and insight into having diabetes. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with diabetes, GET THIS BOOK!!!
Alan Rublin does an amazing job in providing resources and insight into having diabetes. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with diabetes, GET THIS BOOK!!!
December 30, 2022
Mi se pare o carte excelenta pentru o persoana care tocmai a descoperit ca are diabet, informațiile sunt clare și concise, se explica baza științifică și mecanismele principale ale bolii și tratamentului, îmi place ca subliniază iar și iar importanta sportului și a dietei.
September 16, 2017
I learned more about diabetes from this book than any other I have read. Lots of great information. I would recommend it to any newly diagnosed diabetic as well as family and friends.
September 23, 2017
Another successful offering by For Dummies.
The information is basic enough for everybody to understand this terrible disease.
The information is basic enough for everybody to understand this terrible disease.
May 27, 2018
Great, simple, over-all view.
This was recommended by our Family Physician to give us a general understanding about Diabetes.
This was recommended by our Family Physician to give us a general understanding about Diabetes.
October 8, 2018
Outdated information. Definitely a good starter for someone that knows NOTHING about diabetes.
January 20, 2019
This book was a good overview of diabetes. It answers many questions for the reader.
January 8, 2020
Informative. It is an overview of the subject.
May 9, 2020
Short but dense with information. I think I will have to listen again to get the most out of it. It gave me a more holistic understanding of the condition.
July 13, 2020
Great information
Thank you for putting this out there. I learned so much from this. It is a great reference for me to come back to if I have any questions.
Thank you for putting this out there. I learned so much from this. It is a great reference for me to come back to if I have any questions.
September 26, 2020
Like very much.
I rated this book a 4, because it was written so everyone can understand it. I will be referring to it often.
I rated this book a 4, because it was written so everyone can understand it. I will be referring to it often.
October 14, 2021
easy to read learned alot
November 23, 2022
It had the quick and simply explained information I needed, having been newly diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes.
October 20, 2020
Somewhat helpful. I found the author's tone a bit condescending at times.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews