American Dietetic Association Guide to Eating Right When You Have Diabetes

I bought this book almost immediately when I was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes. It (along with general info from with web) got me acquainted with how I should eat with my diabetes, and made me feel more comfortable with my ability to cope with my condition. This book contains a wealth of information on what kinds of things you can eat, as well as various tables and lists of things you can eat along with relevant data on each item in many cases. Overall, this was an excellent book for me, and I am sure it would help others in my same situation.

This book stands out from others because goes beyond just telling you WHAT to do to manage your diabetes, it also tells you the WHY. By helping you understand the reasoning behind dietary and exercise guidelines, the author gives you the knowledge you need to make intelligent decisions when presented with situations not covered by guidelines alone. She seems to understand that everything isn't always black and white in life, and you have to make choices based on many factors. I'm newly diagnosed. Since I'm not on any medications (and hope to keep it that way for as long as possible), the two tools I have to manage my diabetes are exercise and diet. This book addresses the diet aspect very well, while touching on the importance of exercise. It's not a scientific text, so it doesn't go into excruciating detail. It's an easy read. She helps you understand how the body works without diabetes, and then explains what happens differently when you have diabetes. You'll come to understand how different foods affect your blood glucose level - and WHY. Which allows you to understand and develop your own meal plan if you don't have access to a nutritionist. If you do, you'll better understand why your nutritionist makes the recommendations she does, and you will have the knowledge to discuss various options with her. This may not be the first thing you want to read if you've just discovered you need to live in a way that manages your blood glucose levels. There are higher level overview books; educational websites run by the Joslin Center or American Diabetes Association; or better yet, diabetes management programs taught by diabetes educators and nutritionists at most local hospital that will give you a solid foundation. Ask your doctor about local programs if he hasn't recommended it to you already. With that knowledge under your belt, this is an excellent book to take you down to the next level of detail.