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BOOK REVIEWS ���������������������������� by Marilyn Helton The Magic of the Season ���� The frost
is almost on the pumpkin and our grapes are sweet and lush this year!�� Autumn is my favorite season and I think it is because I have always loved the start
of� the new school year and the anticipation of reading new
books. ��� ���� Appetites
dwell on things long remembered.� I am intoxicated with the magic of the season and the memories
of the heart.� Now
it's time to move inside, a little closer to the fire, and enjoy the comfort of some wonderful autumn reading. ���� The "best of the best" of my autumn
reviews must be reserved for DIABETES BURNOUT:� WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE, by William H. Polonsky, PhD, CDE. ���� If you're
depressed about having to deal with diabetes day in and day out, worried about complications, getting angry about the never‑ending chores of self‑care,
or frustrated by poor�
results, when it feels like you've worked so hard, then you MUST read this book. ���� ���� Other than
being a diabetic, I cannot imagine a better combination of credentials for a knowledgeable author
on the topic of diabetes than a degree in psychology plus
experience as a Certified Diabetes Educator.� William Polonsky has both, along with� brilliant insight and perception that makes you swear he can read the "diabetic's mind." ���� I was so
impressed with this book, which speaks to me in my own language of experience, that I read and re‑read certain sections more than once.� Dr. Polonsky addresses such issues as how to overcome a hate for blood sugar monitoring; the uses and mis‑uses of fear‑of‑complications; the tough combination of depression and diabetes; the "diabetes police" (friends and family); and
how stress influences diabetes, and what you can do about it. ���� This book
shows the rollercoaster of emotions a diabetic has to live with, and how easy it is to get discouraged, frustrated, depressed and just plain burned out.� More than
once I found myself saying, "I never thought of looking at it THAT way,"� in response to Dr. Polonsky's solutions for overcoming barriers. � ���� Give this
book as a gift to yourself� and
to others ‑‑ It's wonderful! DIABETES BURNOUT: WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU
CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE, by William H. Polonsky, PhD, CDE (1999), $18.95, American Diabetes Association. � ���� Managing
diabetes is more than insulin regimens, diet, exercise and preventing or treating complications of
the disease.� In
her book, WHEN DIABETES HITS HOME:�
THE WHOLE FAMILY'S GUIDE TO EMOTIONAL HEALTH,� Wendy Rapaport, LCSW, PsyD, addresses the importance of coping with the range
of emotions you and your� family will encounter when someone in your home has diabetes. ���� Packed
with case studies, Rapaport offers examples of how people with diabetes can successfully cope with
the emotional challenges of the disease.� I'm always drawn to good books which explore the development of your spiritual self in discovering the meaning of living with disease;
not only is the process enlightening, it's almost essential
for success in coping with chronic disease. � ���� Consider
this little‑known statistic: According to author Rapaport, "People who worship regularly
are nearly twice as likely to quit smoking and one‑third
more likely to start an exercise program."� She further states: "Spirituality can help you make more sense of
your life and health.� It
can help you to find meaning in your life which will lead to better emotional and physical health.�
When you're curious about spiritual matters, you are more
likely to follow your diabetes care plan, too." ���� Providing
practical examples of how other people with diabetes have successfully coped with the emotional
stages they experience throughout their lives,� Wendy Rapaport addresses the importance of living a healthy lifestyle
while exploring the entire spectrum of emotional issues which present a struggle to many diabetics.� WHEN DIABETES HITS HOME, by Wendy S. Rapaport (1998), published by The
American Diabetes Association, $19.95. ���� THE FAMILY
AND FRIENDS' GUIDE TO DIABETES, by Eve Gehling, is written for those of us who want to learn
how to best help someone we know or live with cope with diabetes.
From my own personal experience with diabetes, it's
been a continual curve of learning all I can about the disease,�
so I can teach my family and friends what they need to
know to better understand how to live with me while I live
with diabetes. ���� According
to Gehling, in order� to learn
how to best help someone with diabetes, a person first has to learn
what diabetes is and how it's treated. This involves learning
how to help your loved one manage low blood glucose and
get through periods of illness, how to prepare healthy
meals and plan special events, and how to create positive work
and home environments for both� the person with diabetes and the family. ���� Equally
important is knowing how the emotional aspects of chronic disease management can affect the caregiver, i.e., how to cope better with the day‑to‑day
challenges of living and working with someone who has diabetes. ���� Written
in an easy‑to‑understand question and answer format, Eve Gehling has successfully drawn upon her
own personal experience with family members having type
1, type 2 and gestational diabetes, as well as her professional expertise as a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator, to design THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS' GUIDE TO DIABETES. � ���� I admire
the simplified format of this book, the easy to understand frequently asked questions and answers,
useful resources (including some sample menu plans), and intuitive approach to surviving life living with someone with
a chronic disease.� THE
FAMILY AND FRIENDS' GUIDE TO DIABETES by Eve Gehling, M.ed., RD, CDE (2000), John Wiley &
Sons, $14.95. ���� That's
all for this go‑around, folks!�
The next time we meet, we will have successfully and peacefully completed
our first year of the new millennium. Until then, I wish
you all the warmth, love and joy of a beautiful holiday season! �� Marilyn Helton,
type 2 diabetic since 1993, is the publisher of CINNAMON HEARTS~THE ART OF LIVING A WINNING DIABETIC LIFESTYLE, a positive‑power online e‑zine
for diabetics and their families.� You can find more of Marilyn's book reviews, articles and recipes online
at: http://diabeticgourmet.com, www.fabulousfoods.com, www.practicalkitchen.com, or Cinnamon Hearts website:�
http://members.xoom.con/cinnhearts/ ���� |
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