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Blood Sugar 101: What They Don't Tell You About Diabetes
In this brand new edition, revised and expanded for 2016, you will learn what peer-reviewed research published in top medical journals has to say about:
+ What is a normal blood sugar?
+ How does diabetes develop?
+ What really causes diabetes?
+ What blood sugar levels cause complications?
+ Must you deteriorate?
+ What diet is right for you?
+ How can you make that diet work?
+ What medications are safe?
+ What supplements lower blood sugar?
+ What kinds of exercise are best?
Written in clear and understandable language, this book provides all the tools you need to understand how your blood sugar works. The time-tested techniques you will learn from it will enable you to lower your blood sugar to the truly normal levels that prevent or reverse complications and restore normal health.
"this book should be read by all diabetics because of the valuable material that cannot be found elsewhere." --Dr. Richard K. Bernstein
+ What is a normal blood sugar?
+ How does diabetes develop?
+ What really causes diabetes?
+ What blood sugar levels cause complications?
+ Must you deteriorate?
+ What diet is right for you?
+ How can you make that diet work?
+ What medications are safe?
+ What supplements lower blood sugar?
+ What kinds of exercise are best?
Written in clear and understandable language, this book provides all the tools you need to understand how your blood sugar works. The time-tested techniques you will learn from it will enable you to lower your blood sugar to the truly normal levels that prevent or reverse complications and restore normal health.
"this book should be read by all diabetics because of the valuable material that cannot be found elsewhere." --Dr. Richard K. Bernstein
240 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 4, 2008
178 people are currently reading
249 people want to read
About the author
Jenny Ruhl
8 books6 followersJenny Ruhl, a well-known author of business books, was diagnosed with diabetes in 1998. Nothing doctors told her about how to control her blood sugar corresponded to her own experiences and observations. To answer the questions "What causes diabetes" and "What blood sugars prevent complications" she dug into the medical journals newly available online and spent a year tracking down the facts. The result was the bloodsugar101.com web site which now gets well over a million visitors a year.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
August 30, 2014
I keep thinking of an alternate universe where people with diabetes II or prediabetes are given this wonderful book and the support they need to put the book's recommendations into practice. There would be so much less diabetic complications. Instead, most MDs just throw meds at their diabetic patients which at least keeps the drug reps happy. Jenny Ruhl is my hero!
November 30, 2009
Great book. She aligns with Bernstein in general, but does diverge on a couple of key points and gives clear well-thought reasons for doing so. They author also has several excellent websites on diabetes and low-carb eating.
December 6, 2019
Поредната книга относно борбата с диабета посредством нисковъглехидратния начин на хранене, който напоследък все повече си пробива път даже сред закостенелите световни медицински организации.
Джени Рул цитира неколкократно Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution и доразвива неговата теза, обяснявайки отлично механизмите на метаболизъм на захарта, начините за нейното измерване, сравнява проучвания и данни за ефектите на различните нива на захар в кръвта върху влошаването на здравословното състояние и т.н.
Дадените методи за ограничаване и "обръщане" (т.е. излекуване) на диабет тип 2 са разнообразни, но всичките са съобразени с основната идея на "целева захар" - постигането на ниво на захар в кръвта, което пациентът е преценил за постижимо в момента. И разбира се постепенната адаптация на тази цел за постепенно подобрение на болестта.
Единственото, което ми остави неприятно впечатление е отношението на авторката към физическите упражнения, което показва, че тя няма ни най-малка идея от спорт и изводът й е, че "енергична разходка 5 пъти седмично е физическата активност, която изследванията сочат за напълно достатъчна за постигане на максималните ползи от спортуването". LOL.
Джени Рул цитира неколкократно Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution и доразвива неговата теза, обяснявайки отлично механизмите на метаболизъм на захарта, начините за нейното измерване, сравнява проучвания и данни за ефектите на различните нива на захар в кръвта върху влошаването на здравословното състояние и т.н.
Дадените методи за ограничаване и "обръщане" (т.е. излекуване) на диабет тип 2 са разнообразни, но всичките са съобразени с основната идея на "целева захар" - постигането на ниво на захар в кръвта, което пациентът е преценил за постижимо в момента. И разбира се постепенната адаптация на тази цел за постепенно подобрение на болестта.
Единственото, което ми остави неприятно впечатление е отношението на авторката към физическите упражнения, което показва, че тя няма ни най-малка идея от спорт и изводът й е, че "енергична разходка 5 пъти седмично е физическата активност, която изследванията сочат за напълно достатъчна за постигане на максималните ползи от спортуването". LOL.
March 6, 2017
magnificent book about diabetes management and low carb way of eating
Read
November 1, 2017This book educated me about Diabetes like nothing ever before.
March 17, 2014
A first rate book on the basics of blood sugar in insulin resistance, pre-diabetes, and diabetes. Jenny Ruhl explains the basic dynamics of how the body regulates blood sugar and how and why this process can go awry. She reviews the research on the relationship between blood sugar and illness including heart disease, diabetic complications, and cancer. She reassures diabetics that if they can get good control over their blood sugars they can prevent the complications that too many doctors still believe are an inevitable part of the illness. She describes how to "eat to the meter" to lower carbohydrate intake and bring your blood sugar under control, and also provides valuable information on both medications and supplements. This is a wonderfully informative book that offers good common sense practical helpful advice. I love the way the author reviews research that gets beyond the often misleading takeaway headlines reported to the press (and often believed by physicians) to get at the true meaning of the research results -- sometimes not even understood by the researchers themselves! This is a good "first book" for any diabetic or pre-diabetic, but even old hands can learn valuable information. The author is less strict in her low carbohydrate recommendations than some other experts based on her observation that most low carbers have trouble adhering to stricter diets over the long haul and her belief that finding a low carb diet you can actually stick to is better than chasing perfection and then falling off the wagon. Readers can decided for themselves whether to be more lenient or strict based on their self-assessment of their psychological needs and resources.
February 21, 2023
Highly recommended. If you aren’t diabetic yet, this book gives you all the tools you need to stave off diabetes in the future. What your doctor may consider normal could actually be pre diabetes. Pre diabetes doesn’t have to mean a slow decline into full blown diabetes and all the associated health problems.
If you are diabetic, this book arms you with tools you need to control your sugars with practical easy to follow steps that are customized to your own needs.
Jenny follows a highly scientific approach and uses common sense. She’s not affiliated with any drug company and isn’t swayed by big pharma pay outs.
If you are diabetic, this book arms you with tools you need to control your sugars with practical easy to follow steps that are customized to your own needs.
Jenny follows a highly scientific approach and uses common sense. She’s not affiliated with any drug company and isn’t swayed by big pharma pay outs.
January 6, 2021
I've read this book hoping to learn how to lower my elevated blood sugar, but it's so very hard to read that I had to give up.
Not helpful at all.
Hopefully "The End of Diabetes" by Dr. Joel Fuhrman will be easier to read and understand.
Not helpful at all.
Hopefully "The End of Diabetes" by Dr. Joel Fuhrman will be easier to read and understand.
September 19, 2023
Doom and gloom
I found that most of this book is very negative about everything. The writer must be a pessimist. I have had diabetes for 35 years and have never felt so down about it as I did after reading this book. I will continue to do what I’ve always done.
I found that most of this book is very negative about everything. The writer must be a pessimist. I have had diabetes for 35 years and have never felt so down about it as I did after reading this book. I will continue to do what I’ve always done.
March 13, 2024
At first I thought this might be one of those medical "scare" books, but it's not. Contains huge amounts of good information for a diabetic, some of which I have already started incorporating. Was disappointed that there were editing errors toward the end of the book.
March 9, 2022
3 1/2 stars
November 13, 2023
Loads upon loads of information! Recommend getting this book in print rather than audiobook. It’s a great resource.
June 24, 2024
This is a well researched and reasoned guide to dealing with diabetes. Basicaly, everything your doctor should have told you.
January 15, 2025
This ok is full of ideas and suggestions on how to lower your blood sugar. I highly recommend it for anyone newly diagnosed with diabetes.
March 20, 2025
Really informative.
The information is only fully helpful if you have a blood sugar monitor, though.
The information is only fully helpful if you have a blood sugar monitor, though.
March 22, 2025
Good examples on how to get blood sugar under control.
April 8, 2022
* Truly normal fasting blood sugar values fall in the range between 70 and 85 mg/dl.
* Rising blood sugars now stimulate the beta cells to secrete more insulin. At the same time, as blood sugars rise to a threshold—somewhere between 100 and 120 mg/dl—incretin hormones released by the gut also stimulate the beta cells to secrete insulin. These early releases of insulin that occur as soon as we begin eating a meal are called first-phase insulin release. In a healthy person first-phase insulin release keeps the blood sugar from rising much over 125 mg/dl.
* Beta cells start to die off in people whose fasting blood sugar is over 110 mg/dl.
* Large increase in the risk of cancer with fasting blood sugars over 110 mg/dl or who scored over 160 mg/dl two hours after a glucose tolerance test.
* Neuropathy appears to strike when blood sugars remain over 140 mg/dl for two hours or more.
* When doctors kept the blood sugars of seriously ill hospitalized patients below 140 mg/dl at all times they improved their survival and to decrease the death rate.
* Beta cell dysfunction may begin when blood sugar spends more than a few hours at levels over 100 mg/dl. Beta cells start to die off in people whose fasting blood sugar is over 110 mg/dl.
* Subjects who developed retinopathy over a nine year period had an average fasting blood sugar of 130 mg/dl and an average A1c of 6.4%.
* One Hour OGTT Result over 155 mg/dl Correlates with Markers for Cardiovascular Disease. Heart disease risk that began as A1c rose above 4.6%
* The risk of stroke also rises as blood sugars rise.
* Post-Meal Blood Sugars Predict Carotid Artery Wall Thickening
* Exposing kidney cells to blood sugar levels that fluctuated between 135 mg/dl and 270 mg/dl did more damage to those cells—in terms of causing the growth of fibrous tissue.
* Post-meal blood sugars between 140 and 150 mg/dl being the highest safe levels.
* Try to keep blood sugars under 140 mg/dl as much as possible.
* Increased intake of dietary magnesium corresponded with a reduced risk of diabetes.
* The more selenium in blood plasma, the more likely people were to develop diabetes.
* Berberine should also be treated with caution as it affects the liver in a way that can block the elimination of many other drugs.
* Once your beta cells are wiped out, you can experience the life-threatening condition caused by extremely high blood sugars called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) when blood sugar remains consistently higher than 300 mg/dl over a period of several hours.
* Rising blood sugars now stimulate the beta cells to secrete more insulin. At the same time, as blood sugars rise to a threshold—somewhere between 100 and 120 mg/dl—incretin hormones released by the gut also stimulate the beta cells to secrete insulin. These early releases of insulin that occur as soon as we begin eating a meal are called first-phase insulin release. In a healthy person first-phase insulin release keeps the blood sugar from rising much over 125 mg/dl.
* Beta cells start to die off in people whose fasting blood sugar is over 110 mg/dl.
* Large increase in the risk of cancer with fasting blood sugars over 110 mg/dl or who scored over 160 mg/dl two hours after a glucose tolerance test.
* Neuropathy appears to strike when blood sugars remain over 140 mg/dl for two hours or more.
* When doctors kept the blood sugars of seriously ill hospitalized patients below 140 mg/dl at all times they improved their survival and to decrease the death rate.
* Beta cell dysfunction may begin when blood sugar spends more than a few hours at levels over 100 mg/dl. Beta cells start to die off in people whose fasting blood sugar is over 110 mg/dl.
* Subjects who developed retinopathy over a nine year period had an average fasting blood sugar of 130 mg/dl and an average A1c of 6.4%.
* One Hour OGTT Result over 155 mg/dl Correlates with Markers for Cardiovascular Disease. Heart disease risk that began as A1c rose above 4.6%
* The risk of stroke also rises as blood sugars rise.
* Post-Meal Blood Sugars Predict Carotid Artery Wall Thickening
* Exposing kidney cells to blood sugar levels that fluctuated between 135 mg/dl and 270 mg/dl did more damage to those cells—in terms of causing the growth of fibrous tissue.
* Post-meal blood sugars between 140 and 150 mg/dl being the highest safe levels.
* Try to keep blood sugars under 140 mg/dl as much as possible.
* Increased intake of dietary magnesium corresponded with a reduced risk of diabetes.
* The more selenium in blood plasma, the more likely people were to develop diabetes.
* Berberine should also be treated with caution as it affects the liver in a way that can block the elimination of many other drugs.
* Once your beta cells are wiped out, you can experience the life-threatening condition caused by extremely high blood sugars called diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) when blood sugar remains consistently higher than 300 mg/dl over a period of several hours.
August 4, 2011
This is a different sort of book than the other diabetes books I've read. It is a practical, down-to-earth guide to managing the disease in the best possible way.
The book contains a lot of useful information about blood sugar tests, the various types of diabetes, blood sugar level and organ damage and how to lower your blood sugar.
The author explains how the best option for diabetes sufferers is to follow a low carbohydrate, high-fat diet. In the latter respect she differs from another diabetes author I've recently reviewed, who insists that an absolutely low-fat diet is essential for diabetes 2 patients, at any rate, since he claims an excess of fat increases insulin resistance. Moreover, Ruhl fails to distinguish between harmful fats and beneficial oils, classifying them all under the same category.
She is herself a diabetic and has a wide knowledge of the whole field. She provides us with detailed information about both the various diabetes drugs and forms of insulin. I have never found information like this in any other book.
An important point Ruhl makes is that organ damage will occur when blood sugar levels repeatedly rise to 140 mg/dl or over. According to her, doctors are generally permissive of these dangerous blood levels over 140 mg/dl, but in my view it would be wise to heed her advice and ensure by means of the low carbodhydrate diet she prescribes that your own blood sugar levels do not reach this level.
I must admit I have difficulty in understanding why one would want to use any of the diabetes drugs she mentions, since all of them seem to be dangerous. However, the author explains which are most beneficial, or the lesser evil.
She also includes a chapter about supplements, but in my opinion is overly negative about the benefits of most of them.
An appendix lists low carb treats, but unfortunately the recipes are based on the inclusion of the artificial sweetener Splenda, which research indicates may be harmful.
This book has not helped me much personally, since I would be unlikely ever to consider the use of diabetes drugs or insulin, but I'm sure it could be a considerable help to those who do use these products, and most of her advice is absolutely sensible and helpful and could be life-saving.
The book contains a lot of useful information about blood sugar tests, the various types of diabetes, blood sugar level and organ damage and how to lower your blood sugar.
The author explains how the best option for diabetes sufferers is to follow a low carbohydrate, high-fat diet. In the latter respect she differs from another diabetes author I've recently reviewed, who insists that an absolutely low-fat diet is essential for diabetes 2 patients, at any rate, since he claims an excess of fat increases insulin resistance. Moreover, Ruhl fails to distinguish between harmful fats and beneficial oils, classifying them all under the same category.
She is herself a diabetic and has a wide knowledge of the whole field. She provides us with detailed information about both the various diabetes drugs and forms of insulin. I have never found information like this in any other book.
An important point Ruhl makes is that organ damage will occur when blood sugar levels repeatedly rise to 140 mg/dl or over. According to her, doctors are generally permissive of these dangerous blood levels over 140 mg/dl, but in my view it would be wise to heed her advice and ensure by means of the low carbodhydrate diet she prescribes that your own blood sugar levels do not reach this level.
I must admit I have difficulty in understanding why one would want to use any of the diabetes drugs she mentions, since all of them seem to be dangerous. However, the author explains which are most beneficial, or the lesser evil.
She also includes a chapter about supplements, but in my opinion is overly negative about the benefits of most of them.
An appendix lists low carb treats, but unfortunately the recipes are based on the inclusion of the artificial sweetener Splenda, which research indicates may be harmful.
This book has not helped me much personally, since I would be unlikely ever to consider the use of diabetes drugs or insulin, but I'm sure it could be a considerable help to those who do use these products, and most of her advice is absolutely sensible and helpful and could be life-saving.
January 21, 2013
With some one of three Americans being told they have diabetes, this book is valuable and timely. Personally I had one doc tell me I had the condition and two tell me I don't. So what's a person to do? I went and did some research and found Jenny Ruhl's book and website to be exactly what I wanted.
Her information is clearly written and well augmented with anecdotal stuff and side bars. She answers every question you could possibly have from the point of view of a person with diabetes. Her advice is straightforward and fits with what many doctors are now telling patients. I recommend you read this one cover-to-cover if you;re at all concerned about diabetes or managing diabetes, then talk about what you learned with your doc. I dinged her a star because of an uneasy feeling I had that she is almost too much of a crusader and I wonder if ALL of her advice is well-founded and universally applicable.
Her information is clearly written and well augmented with anecdotal stuff and side bars. She answers every question you could possibly have from the point of view of a person with diabetes. Her advice is straightforward and fits with what many doctors are now telling patients. I recommend you read this one cover-to-cover if you;re at all concerned about diabetes or managing diabetes, then talk about what you learned with your doc. I dinged her a star because of an uneasy feeling I had that she is almost too much of a crusader and I wonder if ALL of her advice is well-founded and universally applicable.
August 31, 2018
Obesity does not cause diabetes. Diabetes is not a disease but a symptom. What is the cause? There are many underlying causes of diabetes ranging from defective genes causing insulin deficiency to years of post-meal high blood sugar levels causing insulin resistance to toxic environment chemicals.
The book is packed with many research paper studies and is a well-organised compilation from her website https://www.bloodsugar101.com/
You will learn a lot about the medicines for controlling blood sugar, how hormones (GLP-1, DPP-4, insulin, glucagon) interact with pancreas, liver, carbohydrates and body cells, how a low carb diet supplemented with healthy portion of fat and protein has been proven to work to control low flat blood sugar levels, what the healthy level for A1c and post-meal blood sugar level should be and more...
The book is packed with many research paper studies and is a well-organised compilation from her website https://www.bloodsugar101.com/
You will learn a lot about the medicines for controlling blood sugar, how hormones (GLP-1, DPP-4, insulin, glucagon) interact with pancreas, liver, carbohydrates and body cells, how a low carb diet supplemented with healthy portion of fat and protein has been proven to work to control low flat blood sugar levels, what the healthy level for A1c and post-meal blood sugar level should be and more...
November 27, 2020
Eye opening information.
Detailed information that doesn’t pull any punches. Reading this book is empowering for anyone with type 2 diabetes. I have struggled with diabetes for nearly 20 years and understand why it is considered a progressive disease. From being treated as though it was my fault that made me diabetic to utilizing insulin as a threat if I didn’t get my blood sugars down. I’ve had severe reactions to several of the newer drugs prescribed to me over the years be completely ignored by my doctors who would treat the symptoms with more drugs rather than acknowledge the origin of the problem.
Knowledge is empowering. This book is a life saver.
Detailed information that doesn’t pull any punches. Reading this book is empowering for anyone with type 2 diabetes. I have struggled with diabetes for nearly 20 years and understand why it is considered a progressive disease. From being treated as though it was my fault that made me diabetic to utilizing insulin as a threat if I didn’t get my blood sugars down. I’ve had severe reactions to several of the newer drugs prescribed to me over the years be completely ignored by my doctors who would treat the symptoms with more drugs rather than acknowledge the origin of the problem.
Knowledge is empowering. This book is a life saver.
May 3, 2014
This little book lays out the necessary information in a no-none sense, practical way. I appreciate Jenny Ruhl's easy-to-read approach. It is evident to me that she is sensitive to people who have been hit with the potentially devastating realization that they have a disorder that has no cure. And despite such a sobering realization, she offers an intelligent, well thought-out means of understanding what can be done and how to go about it by empowering her readership with a solid base to build upon. I am thankful I happened upon this wonderfully written book.
April 7, 2020
After 30 years, I finally understand what diabetes is all about and why I have received such contradictory advice from medical professionals. None of them could adjust their knowledge to my lifestyle. And I was unable to adjust to their plan.
This is the book you should read about diabetes. Jenny Ruhl has transferred her understanding as a business analyst to the research and recommendations related to diabetes.
This is the book you should read about diabetes. Jenny Ruhl has transferred her understanding as a business analyst to the research and recommendations related to diabetes.
April 27, 2021
This book helps the reader understand they will probably get the same level of quality care and concern from their doctor regarding their diabetic diagnosis as one would get from a McDonalds employee regarding their order mix-up.
Point: you gotta do the work yourself, or you’re going to end up with the horrid side effects this disease causes.
This book, rightfully, scared me into taking action. I just wish I had known I had to take a pre-diabetes diagnosis much more seriously than I had.
Point: you gotta do the work yourself, or you’re going to end up with the horrid side effects this disease causes.
This book, rightfully, scared me into taking action. I just wish I had known I had to take a pre-diabetes diagnosis much more seriously than I had.
May 8, 2016
Disclosure: I wrote this book under another pen name. I just wanted to post a thank you here to all the people here and on Amazon who have taken the time to write reviews and make this book an indie bestseller.
Please note that there is a new edition of this book available, updated as of 2016, which you will find here:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
Please note that there is a new edition of this book available, updated as of 2016, which you will find here:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
March 28, 2013
Really informative even for type 1 - although more for type 2. I found her explanation of the science behind the disease really interesting and easy to follow. Some good insight into low carb eating also - along with tips for the long term. Her views on the medicines were also helpful as there is somewhat of a lack of constructive discussion on it, in such as objective manner.
March 29, 2015
excellent primer for the newly-diagnosed diabetic
Full of good information for a recently diagnosed diabetic. Solid information with references regarding diet and medications. Should be part of the information given to diabetic patients from the doctor or diabetes nutrition specialist!
Full of good information for a recently diagnosed diabetic. Solid information with references regarding diet and medications. Should be part of the information given to diabetic patients from the doctor or diabetes nutrition specialist!
June 6, 2012
The best book you can read when you are diagnosed with diabetes. I've read a handful, and no other covers the key elements of diabetes management with such and emphasis in actual research.
Really, everything else just seems like biased hoopla.
Really, everything else just seems like biased hoopla.
October 8, 2012
This book is a revelation, as it discloses much scientific information that many doctors (and you!) are likely to ignore.
It also gives much practical and proven advice on how to improve life of a diabetic. I love it!
It also gives much practical and proven advice on how to improve life of a diabetic. I love it!
December 11, 2014
Clearly written explanation of Type 2 diabetes, its treatment, dietary concerns, and possible medications. Prior to reading the book, I did not understand the relationship between Blood Glucose, Insulin, the Liver, the Pancreas, beta cells and Diabetes. Now I do and just in time!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews