Managing Type 2 Diabetes For Dummies

by American Diabetes Association

Discover how to manage diabetes for a healthier and happier life! Written for anyone diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (and for anyone who loves someone with diabetes), Managin g Type 2 Diabetes For Dummies is an essential guide to understanding the effects of diabetes and knowing what steps to take to successfully manage this chronic illness. Diabetes can lead to serious complications but people with diabetes can control the condition and lower the risk of its many complications. This is your easy-to-understand guide that shows you how. Under the direction of The American Diabetes Association, Managin g Type 2 Diabetes For Dummies gives hope to the one in 11 people in the United States who are affected by the disease. Written in simple-to-understand terms, Managin g Type 2 Diabetes For Dummies is filled with a wealth of expert advice and includes the most current information on recent medical advances for treatment. Improperly managed diabetes and consistently high blood glucose levels can lead to serious diseases affecting the heart and blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, nerves, and teeth. With the authorities at the American Diabetes Association on your side, you will have a practical handbook for preventing complications and managing diabetes with confidence! Tap into the better living “rules of the road” with Managin g Type 2 Diabetes For Dummies. By modifying your diet, consulting with your doctors, staying active, and understanding what medications are right for you, you will be on the path to a happier and healthier lifestyle.

Genres: Health, Nonfiction, Medicine, Reference

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 10, 2018

About the author

The American Diabetes Association is the nation's premiere nonprofit association devoted to diabetes research and care. The Association is also the largest publisher of diabetes books; in fact, 1 in 3 books on diabetes published in the United States is published by us.

Our books range from cookbooks, lifestyle guides and diabetes self-management resources to texts for health care professionals and researchers working toward better treatment, and ultimately a cure for, people with diabetes.

Many of the books we publish are written by well-respected health professionals and chefs. These books can be found on the "Published by the ADA" shelf on our bookshelf.

Visit diabetes.org or shopdiabetes.org to find out more information on our books.

Reviews

[Deborah · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good overall guide with links to resources.

[Cheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very good reference for people who are caring for those with type 2 diabetes, or those who have just been diagnosed themselves. There is a lot of information you need to know about type 2 diabetes, and this book does a great job of demystifying it without being overwhelming. Highly recommended if you are just starting out looking for information about this disease and don't know where to turn.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book helps people to understand what is going on in their bodies and provides the basics of how to take ownership of your body and manage your type 2 diabetes. They state that type 2 diabetics normally do not need to take insulin, rather most of the medicines focus on slowing down your digestion so that you don’t get a flood of glucose into your bloodstream.

I’ve read diet books that recommend eating vegetables and protein first, then finishing your meal with carbohydrates, this is a more natural way to slows down the digestion of carbohydrates and sugars into one’s blood stream without medication.

Before turning to medicine, the book indicates that most people with prediabetes can manage by adjusting their diet and their level of exercise. It was nice to hear that there was not a specific diet for people with type 2 diabetes, rather it recommends watching ones serving size and total carbohydrates in each meal. Here are some web sites for recipes and cookbooks:

www.diabetes.org
www.shopdiabetes.org

For exercise the book recommends 150 minutes per week, it also says to sit less and move more. That is hard to remember, but my new watch tells me when I’ve been sitting too long. I may need to consider walking around the house as I read. It also recommends resistance training which I like to do a couple times a week at the gym, it nothing else it provides a change of pace to walking. They recommend getting up every 30 minutes to do some type of activity, maybe that is why older folks used to like rocking chairs in the old days.

They provide the straight scoop on the different food groups, and they also debunk the myths about type 2 diabetes. They walk you through the maze of insurance and healthcare issues. A comprehensive book that everyone should read, because everyone knows someone who has to deal with type 2 diabetes and they need your support.

[Ashleh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This guide was immensely helpful and has enabled me to enact a plan to start feeling better and living healthier. I live in a small town with lacking healthcare resources. As a social worker, I’ve been advocating for years to get a more accommodating Diabetes Education Program in my region. Well, sure enough, when I was diagnosed, of course I was not able to find a local resource to work around my schedule. ANYWAY, I thankfully found this book and I feel well-educated and prepared for what I need to do to get better. This book is a great resource for just about anyone impacted by type 2 diabetes, but I feel it is an immensely helpful resource especially for women. I am so grateful to have found this and now I can stop freaking out.

[Daleine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned a lot about diabetes type 2 from this book. I bought the book shortly after I was diagnosed with diabetes type 2. This diagnosis scared me especially with so many people telling me different things. I helped me a lot to understand my own diabetes fears. It told what I needed to know to help my own health both mentally and physically. It also tells you different doctors and specialists you might need. I would consider it an important book to read for people with diabetes and those with family members who have diabetes.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had lots of good information. I have a better idea about the medications my doctor prescribed for me. The food section presented ideas which eliminates boredom in meals. This book is good for the newly diagnosed and those who need new life in their routines.

[Karly Drake · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great and straightforward book, this has been super helpful as I manage this disease. Written by the American Diabetes Association. I looked at dozens of books from the library and this is one I chose to buy, keep, and markup .Grateful for it!

[Kathryn Gritts · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very helpful book. My husband was recently diagnosed with diabetes and I am pre-diabetic so I really wanted to understand what we need to do to manage this disease and stay healthy. It is understandable for a lay person and provides lots of resources for a deeper dive.

[Janice Wrona · Rating 4 out of 5]

learned quite a bit!

[Bonita B. James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Primer

This book was extremely helpful in understanding the basics of the diabetes issue. I would recommend to a novice seeker.

[Kelly Corley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very detailed, informative and easy to read/understand

[James Temple · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good basic overview - from ADA itself, so good material

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of good information!

I am newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes so it is all very new to me. This was a great book to get me started.

[Dale · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book for the newly diagnosed.

[Linda Hartlaub · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book reads like a textbook. I gave it three stars because I learned a lot about diabetes: risk factors, how it progresses, outcomes. However, as far as presentation I would have given it a two. Very dry (like I said a textbook), and rather wishy-washy as far as recommendations. It doesn't come down one way or the other on how to cope with the disease or how to protect yourself from the worst aspects of it.

Is anything off limits as far as diet? No. Should you eat more of one type of food than another? No. Pretty much they recommend what your doctor always tells you, eat healthy food, get plenty of sleep, exercise, maintain a healthy weight and don't smoke. I was looking for a little more guidance about living with the disease.

It spends a lot of time on monitoring your blood sugar; however, when my husband's doctor does not have him monitor his sugars the information doesn't help. They talk about a diabetes educator which is not something that has been recommended. They discuss having a dilated eye exam every one to two years, which is necessary. But they really don't address what can go wrong and how to deal with it. The ADA mentions that you could get diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, cataracts and glaucoma; but say nothing on the effects on the individual except schedule a visit with your eye doctor.

For 264 pages, I expected more depth, more discussion, less glossing over important issues.