4.23

4

Jun 03, 2007

This book is awesome if you are indeed lucky enough to have type 2 diabetes and a weird doctor whose summation of your new life is "Don't eat potatoes or sugar." Because, apparently, THERE'S MORE TO IT THAN THAT.

5

May 07, 2015

If Gary Taubes is the theory, Becker is the practice. i am neither a diabetic nor pre-diabetic, but this has changed my life. I recommend Your First Year to anyone concerned about their health. Becker is clear, sensible, and convincing.

5

Oct 09, 2010

This book has been a big help to me. It was my primary information source when I was first diagnosed. I recommend it to anyone newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

4

Feb 12, 2018

Essential reading for a diabetic, at risk to be diabetic or other interested folks. Not everyone will be interested in every facet covered but there is a lot of ground covered.

5

Feb 15, 2018

Excellent book for the newly diagnosed. I re-read a lot to keep myself in check.

4

Jun 10, 2016

This year, my Mom was diagnosed with diabetes. And her doctors did not give her any information about living with diabetes. Just said, "You have diabetes. Have a nice day." Mom was like:



From being a freelance writer, I knew that Mom had mild diabetes and that some doctors would not even consider her test scores in the diabetic range. Because we freelance writers have to know this shit. It's part of the job. Anyway, Mom refused to believe anything I told her because that's the job Moms do.

So I This year, my Mom was diagnosed with diabetes. And her doctors did not give her any information about living with diabetes. Just said, "You have diabetes. Have a nice day." Mom was like:



From being a freelance writer, I knew that Mom had mild diabetes and that some doctors would not even consider her test scores in the diabetic range. Because we freelance writers have to know this shit. It's part of the job. Anyway, Mom refused to believe anything I told her because that's the job Moms do.

So I had to scour my library system and discovered three books for her about diabetes. Two of them she didn't bother to read more than 30 pages and then there was this. I thought I better read it, too, since Mom couldn't be bothered to finish this one, either. And since I have hypoglycemia I know that the odds of me getting diabetes is honkin' huge.



The best thing about this book is that it's written not only by a good writer but someone who suffers from Type 2 diabetes. She lets you know what you are in for -- including fights with snot-nosed doctors, how to talk to people who keep urging you to break your diabetic diet and even what expenses to consider (if you are an American diabetic.) There are also good lists of websites, support groups and where to find the latest information on diabetes studies and research.

After reading this, you'll still have diabetes but at least you know it isn't the end of the world. And you'll also know more about your condition that most doctors seem to.

...more

5

Jan 20, 2014

Gretchen writes from experience and also knowledge in a very clear way. She conveys information and useful advice and highlights problems and possible alternative solutions or methods to seek one, in a down to earth and accessible format. The chapters are short, clear and concise. They can be read in sequence or stand alone.
After diagnosis, many of us, find it hard to take on board what we are told at the clinic as often there is shock and denial present after what feels like intimations of our Gretchen writes from experience and also knowledge in a very clear way. She conveys information and useful advice and highlights problems and possible alternative solutions or methods to seek one, in a down to earth and accessible format. The chapters are short, clear and concise. They can be read in sequence or stand alone.
After diagnosis, many of us, find it hard to take on board what we are told at the clinic as often there is shock and denial present after what feels like intimations of our own mortality.

This book can help you review and learn at your own pace in your own home as and when you are ready. The format is set out to take you step by step through the first year after your diagnosis. It's a bit like someone walking alongside you and is very helpful and non-threatening.

Gretchen Becker also tackles the thorny issue of diet or way of eating and gives a comprehensive review of the various options.

There are good references, glossary and for this version she asked me to include information on resources available to us Type 2 Dmers (people with Type 2 diabetes) here in the UK.

Other than a flat fee for writing the chapter (already received), I have no financial interest in recommending this book.

I first read the US version and learned a lot despite 23 years of living with this darn disease. 26 years on after diagnosis and I am still learning. I would highly recommend anyone with Type 2 diabetes, (or their family) or even medics or DSN's (Diabetes Specialist Nurses) to read and have this as a reference and even better a loan copy for newly diagnosed people with Type 2 diabetes.

If you want to learn about your newly diagnosed disease and how best to manage it so you live with it and not be managed by it, then buy a copy, read, take on board the info in the book, and you'll be empowered to live a full and healthy life even with Type 2 diabetes. ...more

5

Dec 27, 2015

This book is part of a "First Year" series for various diseases. Unfortunately in the American healthcare system, despite its enormous cost, doctors often have very little time to sit and talk to patients. As a result, books like this are extremely useful. This book is especially valuable insofar as many other books about diet and/or diabetes are just pure gibberish, telling people, for example, that they can have French toast as long as they make it with maple syrup. Becker's book does a good This book is part of a "First Year" series for various diseases. Unfortunately in the American healthcare system, despite its enormous cost, doctors often have very little time to sit and talk to patients. As a result, books like this are extremely useful. This book is especially valuable insofar as many other books about diet and/or diabetes are just pure gibberish, telling people, for example, that they can have French toast as long as they make it with maple syrup. Becker's book does a good job of explaining what is more evidence-based, while also maintaining a very supportive tone helping people with the emotional aspects of a diabetes diagnosis.
The calendar organization of the book is artificial, with some items at the very end useful right away, so most people would benefit most from just reading the whole thing at once if possible. There is a great deal of useful practical information here that most doctors, nurses and dietitians probably never tell most patients. It's not fair that people with a distressing diagnosis have to go and find this book and read it, but it's wonderful that it exists. ...more

4

Jul 07, 2008

This book is very helpful; I'm so glad it was recommended to me and that I sprung for my own copy. So far I've learned several useful things from it after the first couple chapters. Becker is good at explaining things diabetics should know in ways most laypeople can understand (I'm really bad at anatomy and biology). She explains things I was unaware of from my doctor, diabetic nurse, and the ADA website, as well as offering a lot of additional resources. She writes in plain English that doesn't This book is very helpful; I'm so glad it was recommended to me and that I sprung for my own copy. So far I've learned several useful things from it after the first couple chapters. Becker is good at explaining things diabetics should know in ways most laypeople can understand (I'm really bad at anatomy and biology). She explains things I was unaware of from my doctor, diabetic nurse, and the ADA website, as well as offering a lot of additional resources. She writes in plain English that doesn't require the time or concentration of a textbook. I already have a better understanding of what I can eat and where my Type 2 diabetes probably comes from, genetically/evolutionarily. I think I understand what *kind* of Type 2 I am, which gives me more insight into what my body does and how to work with it. ...more

4

Sep 16, 2011

Very helpful, great info, and easy for a lay-person to understand.

5

Apr 01, 2010

Excellent self empowering approach to dealing with all the challenges you could imagine.

3

Feb 27, 2013

A lot of the information is a little dated, but overall a good book for new diabetics.

5

Jan 21, 2010

I am learning a lot from this book and I can see it as a reference that I will be going back to time and time again.

5

Aug 20, 2008

Very practical guide to diabetes. Can be read one chapter a month as it covers the first year from being diagnoised.

4

Sep 26, 2007

Read it because it's come down through my grandpa and my mother, and because I wanted to know everything I could when my mom was diagnosed.