by Ruth Mencl, MN RN CDE
Diabetes Program Manager, Saint Luke's Hospital, Kansas City, MO
Two of the books I reviewed were quite similar. 1,001 TIPS FOR LIVING WELL WITH DIABETES and 487 REALLY COOL TIPS FOR KIDS WITH DIABETES are both titles I would highly recommend. They combine a patient perspective with medical information obviously gleaned from a variety of reputable sources, cited throughout both books. 487 also has the added ADA seal of approval. These books have invaluable pearls of wisdom that both patients and professionals could use, and I would recommend them for new endocrinologists and Certified Diabetes Educators.
Both books promote a healthy, positive attitude toward diabetes. They both address the need for support systems. I have not seen such "Living Alone" and "Special Problems" sections in other diabetes books, so 1001 is a unique resource. Having worked with both children and adults over 20 years as a CDE, these helpful hints help fill in the answers to myriads of questions that arise when you live with diabetes.
I agree with the forward of 1001, written by Harry Gruenspan, MD, who reminds patients that the tips inside should always be checked out with their physician if any major change is involved. I agreed with most of Ms. McQuown's tips; however, on one important one, I would beg to differ. People starting insulin should always see a CDE, RD at that time for at least two reasons. One, weight gain, is a common complaint when insulin is started without an updated meal plan. Second, and of paramount importance, is the risk of hypoglycemia related to meal timing and insulin dosing. Otherwise, Ms. McQuown's information is meticulously researched and she provides numerous fresh ideas to an ever challenging area. Her book is especially good at money saving tips. She even discusses coloring your hair as a way to reduce depression.
The young authors, Spike and Bo Loy of 487, make their suggestions with the help of a number of cool kids, a variety of ages, both male and female. The book promotes sports participation, and open communication about diabetes, to decrease myths and fear on the part of teachers and coaches. It also has a comprehensive insulin pump journal written for at a young person's lifestyle.
The authors include websites and other resources for the reader. Their approach to organization and preparation put them in the boy scout category for sure. The cost is well worth the investment in your child with diabetes, $10.17_$14.95 on Amazon, Borders and Barnes and Noble websites.
For parents with children who have diabetes, I would actually recommend both books. 487 covers kid issues from kindergarten through college and is written in a format geared to quick reading, an essential when you have kids. It does seem geared toward middle to upper class families with good support systems. I find that a bit of a weakness, since not every child has access to all those financial and family support resources. However, the tips from Judith McQuown fill the bill. She lists numerous websites related to children, school issues and special needs. Her cost-saving ideas pay for the cost of this book, which runs from $11.53 to $16.95 at all the above web sites.
Richard Bernstein, MD's The Diabetes Diet promotes his idea that the ADA and the AHA dietary recommendations are misguided and ineffective for treating diabetes. The recommendations in this book are outside_the_box, to say the least. I applaud Dr. Bernstein's current health status as described in his book but without references to back up the science, we have to rely on his anecdotal reports for evidence of his success.
His thoughts, about the benefits of monounsaturated fats, lean protein, and the need to avoid refined carbohydrates, do agree with the current cardiac philosophy. He departs from that philosophy with his ban on fresh fruits, and even on vegetables such as tomatoes and onions, which he says "have too much carb." He even considers high-fiber foods, such as whole grains, too high in carbohydrate, excluding another whole category of foods.
His recipes, many employing eggs, cheese and protein, typically average 10 ingredients per recipe. Most of the ingredients are readily available, however he does use Da Vinci sugar-free syrup frequently, which requires a mail order. The recipes look appealing; however, limiting oneself to only these foods harks back to the "low carb lifestyle" craze which is currently losing popularity. Dr. Bernstein's diet would be hard to duplicate outside your own home, thus severely limiting meals away from home.
He does address the "low carb" craze, and the frenzied marketing
associated with these products. As we see the popularity of "low carb"
diets decline, it was predicted that people wouldn't eat hamburgers without
a bun for long. I would recommend this book only for those people looking for
additional low carb recipes. As a way of life, the evidence is not there to
justify the radical lifestyle change demanded by Dr. Bernstein. The cost is
$16_ $19.96 on Amazon and Barnes and Noble websites.
TASTE PURE AND SIMPLE, a cookbook by Michel Nischan with Mary Goodbody, is gorgeously
photographed by Minh and Wass. Unfortunately, the cost of the cookbook reflects
the cost of the ingredients, both in time and money. The concept of the book
is organic, healthy eating, a cause honorable indeed. The author definitely
delivers, as advertised on the book jacket, creative ways to use vegetable juices,
olive oil and alternatives to dairy, or as our CDE dietitian, Barb Simpson,
put it, "radical diet recommendations."
One major problem is that the book has no nutritional information on calories, carbohydrates or fat to guide the cook. The ingredients are both expensive and unusual, requiring trips to specialty stores. Two items, the green zebra tomatoes and ras al hanout, a Moroccan spice, were not even available at health food, or gourmet groceries such as Dean and Deluca. The author's frequent use of creamy corn sauce could create a problem for carb counters.
The recipes are also time consuming, considering the additional steps required to prepare a roasted vegetable stock or sweet pepper sauce, on top of the cooking time for the main recipe. Even my friend Sally, the gourmand who travels to Tuscany for cooking classes, did not perceive the time and effort as "worth it."
Another concern is, when using items like sea salt, or raw cane sugar, there is really not a benefit, they just sound healthier. I do applaud his efforts at creativity; but these recipes are really for a niche audience of individuals, or to be prepared by a professional chef for dinner out. I have eaten at the restaurant where Michel used to work, the W New York, a few years back, so I may have even sampled his cooking. I would not recommend this book for our typical patient with diabetes or prediabetes, who is looking for a quick, inexpensive way to eat healthy, tasty meals.
Available at Borders and Barnes and Noble ranging in price from $22_$35.