Losing Weight with Your Diabetes Medication: How Byetta and Other Drugs Can Help You Lose More Weight Than You Ever Thought Possible

(Published in the newsletter of American Mensa's Diabetes Special Interest Group) I expected to like this book. I've been a fan of David Mendosa's writings for several years, and how can you argue with a book about weight loss written by a man who has lost over 100 pounds? So I posed a tough question when I started. I'm a diabetes writer also, although on a much smaller scale; I initially lost 30 pounds (which has stayed off) on Byetta, but my weight loss then stopped. Does this book contain any new or helpful information for me? In the past, I haven't liked diabetes books that 1) lost me in pages of technical terms and numbers, 2) included lengthy anecdotes and case histories that might be irrelevant or even unsafe to use as models, or 3) gave so many recipes that I found I'd bought a cookbook instead of the information I was seeking. This book does none of those things. There's a lot of detail about the history of diabetes, current drugs and treatment options, and it's all based on solid research. But the research is in the Endnotes section, where it doesn't interfere with the reading. The personal anecdotes are brief and on point, and the author gives only one recipe, a breakfast dish whose main ingredient may surprise you. It's written in a clear and engaging style, with bits of humor and some behind-the-scenes peeks at the drug industry. I enjoyed the story of Dr. John Eng, the discoverer of Byetta; the doctor was unaware of the drug's weight loss benefit until much later, when it appeared during clinical trials. But Dr. Eng is unable to prescribe Byetta himself, because it's not on the formulary of the Veterans' Administration where he has spent his career. If you're diabetic and overweight, this may be the only book you'll need to start you off toward better health. The main thread of the book, of course, is the author's own journey and an outline of his current diabetic routines: diet, exercise, medication, and the reasoning behind them all. But you won't be bored, and I picked up several new techniques to try. There are many good books about diabetes; David Mendosa traveled the weight loss road himself before drawing the map for others, and that perspective is invaluable.

I get David's newsletters and noticed that he had a new book coming out, 'Losing Weight with Your Diabetes Medication', I thought anything he writes would be worth reading so pre-ordered it. I have to say that I live in England where Byetta is just being prescribed so I thought that the information might come handy in the future. I have to confess I'm only half way through the books but I can't stop raving about what I have read so far. He explains Byetta so simply and his one recipe in the book has come as a G-dsend because I have real problems finding foods that I can eat as a type 2 diabetic. I've recommended this book to every diabetic I know on all the message boards I belong to. It's a must read for all type 2s. One fantastic piece of news? I was called today by the diabetes nurse and have been put on to Byetta. All I can say is thank you David for this wonderful book.

This book is very well written and a easy read. The drug information is good for anyone on a type 2 drug. He puts a very human face of the struggles with this condition. Byetta looks like it is a good fit for many type 2.