Read a much older edition. Some of it is a little out there extreme; but, the introductory section explaining things like "basal" and the difference between type 1 and type 2 are still the best explanations I ever read. ( )

***This was a Goodreads.com first read contest win!***

I received this as a free book to read and review from the publisher. This book was very interesting. I will admit that I personally do not have diabetes but I have a dear friend that suffers along with her mother. They each have read this book after I finished it and stated that it was wonderful. My friend stated that her and her mother are going to the solution's offered in the book. They even stated they spoke with Dr Bernstein they his monthly chat. Where he offered additional options and advice. For anyone that is suffering with this problem this is a must read. ( )

This book is almost exactly what I wanted. I have Pre-diabetes and having been inching to diabetes since my late twenties. I have been struggling to understand how much carbohydrates I should limit myself to and also what those carbohydrates are. Since I have never reached diabetes in my blood sugar readings, I never was qualified for the free diabetes training offered at hospitals. Also, I couldn't afford to pay for it.

Dr. Richard K. Bernstein boils everything down in simple and not confusing language. He has Diabetes Type I and was never able to control it using the guidelines that were offered when he was young. He decided to figure out what works for him and from that sprang his plan that can be used by most diabetics.

He explained the effects of blood sugar are on our bones, skin, moods and joints. He discussed the tests that should be used for the initial workup-including one that I have never had. I will discuss that one with my doctor on the next appointment.

He also provides a list of prescription and none prescription medicines that can raise your blood sugar.I found one that I take twice a day so I will discuss with my doctor if it can be changed.

I learned so much from this book but there were a few drawbacks. I wished for more recipes in the back, I am not sure that I agree with him on the use of malodextrin. Since I checked many websites on it with opposing views, I am now confused as to whether I should avoid it. Also, can I totally give up bread and all baked goods and fruit? I will cut down but can I totally eliminate it? I think I will slowly cut down and eliminaate the foods that he said are "No No". And I will look for and increase the foods that he says are safe for diabetics.

Also in Chapter 13, he lists three exceptions to people who can do fine on his diet plan. I have one of the conditions and a possible second one that he lists. However he only discusses solutions for the third exception so I am left hanging with the question of what do I do?

Beyond that I really love the clear language and the way that he explained things that I have been confused about for years.

I recommend this book for all people with diabetes and pre-Diabetes.

I won this book from GoodReads and received it from the publishers but that in no way influenced my review. ( )

Examines the relationship between obesity and adult-onset diabetes and provides a step-by-step process by which patients can readjust their sugar levels to normal.

This is an extremely useful, detailed book that presents a low-carbohydrate diet that will keep your blood sugars down to normal levels.

Dr. Bernstein has himself suffered from diabetes from the age of 12, and he describes how his health deteriorated due to lack of proper treatment, until he suffered from several dangerous complications resulting from the disorder. He had to find out how to normalize his blood sugars himself, and this he did. This normalization resulted in his getting rid of most of the complications. Then he had to go to medical school at the late age of 45 in order to be able to treat and help other diabetes patients. Because of all this I have great respect for him. He has devoted his life to helping diabetes sufferers all over the world.

Bernstein advises that we must follow a diet based on eating 6g of carbohydrate for breakfast, 12 g for lunch and 12g for supper.He lists which foods are acceptable and which are "No, no". There is also a chapter presenting recipe suggestions near the end of the book.

I personally have been much helped by this book, since despite my suffering clear signs of the illness, both high and low blood sugars, my doctor told me my tests were completely normal, and I had no problems of this sort whatsoever. An "alternative" (in this country) scanning method (actually a wholly scientiic method used in Russia and other Eastern European countries in hospitals and by doctors for over 20 years) confirmed my own diagnosis - auto-immune, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. I suffer also from pains in my toes. Because of the lack of official diagnosis I am unable to get free testing equipment or strips.

However Dr Bernstein has confirmed my own and the scanning apparatus' diagnosis. My HcbA-IC value was 5.5%, which is equivalent to a blood sugar reading of 120 mg/dl. The HgbA-IC value is 4.2% in non-diabetics, this being equivalent to 83 mg/dl. On researching the matter Bernstein found that persons having a blood sugar level of 90 mg/dl or over had a higher mortality than those having a level under 90 mg/dl.

I was also helped by the author's explanation as to why I felt shaky and weak in the morning as if I had low blood sugar, when actually it was 120 mg/dl. This is apparently a common phenomenon. It feels like low blood sugar only in comparison with the high blood sugars one experiences after eating.

The author goes into extreme detail about the various types of insulin available, how and when to painlessly inject and so on. This information will be extremely useful to those who use insulin. There are also helpful chapters about hypoglycemia, gastroparesis (delayed stomach-emptying) and exercise, among other things.

Since I can't get insulin, and wouldn't want to use it anyway, I appreciate the author's tip that R-alpha lipoic acid when used together with evening primrose oil mimics the effect of insulin and can help to reduce blood sugars (though ALA reduces the body's levels of biotin, which should thus be taken at the same time).

Bernstein's main quality is the immense detail of his explanations.

This said, I would like to note a few negative points. He advocates the use of micro-wave ovens, which are known to destroy the life-energy in food subjected to them. And he also recommends the use of aspartame, Splenda and other artifical sweeteners documented as being harmful. It is as though he knows everything about how to counteract the harmful effects of diabetes, but is not so aware of other threats to our health.

Moreover, since he himself suffers from beta-cell burnout, he doesn't really go into the possibilities of healing the pancreas by natural methods and thus increasing the production of insulin. The author's beta cells may or may not be beyond repair, but this will not be the case with many others reading the book.

For information about such natural methods i would advise the reading of Cass Ingram's book "Natural cures for diabetes" in conjunction with this book. But I absolutely recommend that you read this book too, especially if you use insulin. ( )