Diabetes and You

January 17, 2011
Intended for a popular readership but remarkably comprehensive, this reference manual begins with the important distinction between the relatively rare Type I form of Diabetes (which mostly afflicts people at a young age and affects only 5 to 10% of diabetics) and the increasingly more common Type II, which is related to obesity, lifestyle, genetic predisposition and, in a small number of cases, pregnancy. Ali (Are You Fit to Live?) reviews signs of the disease, such as thirst, frequent urination, and fatigue; discusses a simple blood-sugar test that can be administered by a primary-care physician; and provides in-depth treatment options. Diet and exercise, he states, may lower blood sugar in early-stage Type II Diabetes sufficiently to prevent the need for insulin, but careful monitoring is stressed. An overview of different methods of administering medication is also included, and Ali reviews potential medical complications from failure to receive proper treatment, including the slowing of mental functions and a greater risk of heart attack. The author also gives advice on food: what to avoid, what to eat, and in what amounts. This guide will prove very useful for Diabetics and their families.

January 1, 2011

Diabetes has become a chronic epidemic in the United States. Ali, lecturer and online contributor of medical articles, attempts to show how diabetics can control their disease and work toward wellness. The nature of diabetes is explained along with diet's effects upon it. Conditions that may resemble or be related to diabetes, such as hemochromatosis or frozen shoulder, are noted but not explained, and this omission leaves the reader wondering about the connection. The use of medical words such as macrovasular, polyuria, and osmotic dieresis are common, as are acronyms. Special meal plans and exercise are mentioned, but no actionable concrete advice is given. The use of insulin is discussed far more than oral medications, and mental health, heart health, and pain management all have separate chapters. VERDICT Explanations here are unnecessarily complex, and the heavy use of medical terminology will confound even sophisticated readers. The text focuses more on what can go wrong in the disease and projects a negative outlook. Not recommended; a far better choice is Bob Greene's Best Life Guide to Managing Diabetes and Pre-Diabetes.--Janet M. Schneider, James A. Haley Veterans Hosp., Tampa

Copyright 2011 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2011
In this well-organized guidebook, physician Ali gives diabetics and their families understandable information about an increasingly common and ultimately debilitating disease. More than 23 million people suffer from diabetes in the U.S. alone. Ali expertly covers the causes, treatment, and early and later symptoms. (The first signs are excessive thirst, urination, and appetite. Later, people can suffer from erectile dysfunction, acne, headaches, and cramps.) Ali also explains the diseases mind-boggling alphabet-acronym soup: BMI, SMBG, DCCT, NP, DKA. Rather than blaming type 2 diabetics for sufferers condition, which is often brought on by obesity, Ali tries to motivate them to exercise and lose weight. He also includes a thorough glossary (whoever heard of Goodpastures syndrome?) and several pages with contact information for research groups, diabetes centers and clinics, and other resources. His advice isnt always earthshaking; learn portion size, keep a food diary, eat more fruits and vegetables, quit smoking. But it may be lifesaving.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)