Every Woman's Guide to Diabetes: What You Need to Know to Lower Your Risk and Beat the Odds

by Stephanie A. Eisenstat M.D., Ellen Barlow

Overview

Women have long needed a book devoted to their unique issues with diabetes. This up-to-date and practical guide advocates simple lifestyle changes that can help women reduce their risk of getting diabetes or, if already diagnosed, prevent the disease’s most serious complications. Every Woman’s Guide to Diabetes translates the latest findings from diabetes research into proven strategies busy women can use to stay healthy and gain control over an often overwhelming disease. The authors discuss the nature of diabetes, helping readers through the complex medical decisions involved in diabetes treatment. They highlight strategies to decrease the emotional stress and social isolation that often accompany diagnosis, and offer everyday techniques for managing blood sugar.

Key features include:

— Unique aspects of diabetes for women throughout the life cycle
— Timetable of recommended tests and check-ups
— Guide to medications with common dosages
— Charts to help organize diabetes-care tasks and supplies
— Time-management tips for better disease regulation
— Guide to contraceptives available to women with diabetes
— Review of issues critical to women before, during, and following pregnancy
— Advice for overcoming barriers to weight loss and exercise
— Plan for intelligent diet trade-offs while still enjoying meals
— Practical tips for planning exercise
— Strategies to avoid diabetes “burn-out”

Written by two physicians (one of whom is a woman living with diabetes) and an experienced medical writer, Every Woman’s Guide to Diabetes recognizes the power that women have in their households to effect lifestyle changes that will benefit themselves and loved ones, including their mothers, daughters, sisters, and partners. This power can reduce the toll of the diabetes epidemic.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780674027282
Publisher:	Harvard University Press
Publication date:	04/30/2008
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.75(d)

About the Author

Stephanie A. Eisenstat, M.D., is an internist with Women’s Health Associates at Massachusetts General Hospital and Assistant Professor of Medicine and Scholar at The Academy, Harvard Medical School. She directs a course for physicians in training, Trauma and Injury Control, and is coeditor, with Dr. Karen Carlson, of Primary Care of Women, one of the first medical textbooks devoted to the emerging specialty of women’s primary care.

David M. Nathan, M.D., is Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Director of the Diabetes Center at Massachusetts General Hospital. He is the author of Beating Diabetes (Harvard Medical School Books).

Ellen Barlow is a medical writer and owner of Barlow Communications.

Table of Contents

Preface   Stephanie A. Eisenstat     ix
Preface   David M. Nathan     xii
The New Epidemic     1
Diagnosis     18
Prevention     37
Medical Complications     74
Reproductive Health and Sexuality     112
Psychosocial Impact     150
Management of the Disease     178
Common Questions and Resources     225
Appendixes
Body Mass Index (BMI) Table     259
Carbohydrate Counts for Common Fruits, Vegetables, Starches, and Dairy     262
Sample Grocery List for Healthful Eating     264
Choosing a Blood Glucose Meter     266
Mixing Different Kinds of Insulin     269
Disposing of Syringes     270
Insulin Pumps and Other Insulin Delivery Systems     271
Over-the-Counter Medications and Diabetes     273
Complementary (Alternative Medicine) Treatments     274
Your Diabetic Targets     276
Glossary of Terms     277
References     289
Acknowledgments     298
Index     299

What People are Saying About This

Women have unique issues with diabetes. If you're a woman, are you at risk? Do you know how to find out or what to do about it? Here is thorough, concise information on who's at risk, how to avoid or prolong avoidance of diabetes and, if diagnosed, how to manage it. Easy to read and informative, Every Woman's Guide to Diabetes is a must-read for women seeking to avoid or deal with diabetes-- and isn't that all of us?

Sandra T. Foo

It's refreshing to see a book that focuses on motivating, educating, and helping women to take charge of their health and diabetes. The authors offer a wonderfully personal approach for any woman with diabetes, and Every Woman's Guide to Diabetes is an empowering tool to help her gain control, become diabetes-savvy, and form a plan of action. As an endocrinologist sensitive to issues of women with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, I strongly recommend this book-- it's a must-read.

— Sandra T. Foo, M.D.
Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Medical Center

Donna Zimmer

Women have unique issues with diabetes. If you're a woman, are you at risk? Do you know how to find out or what to do about it? Here is thorough, concise information on who's at risk, how to avoid or prolong avoidance of diabetes and, if diagnosed, how to manage it. Easy to read and informative, Every Woman's Guide to Diabetes is a must-read for women seeking to avoid or deal with diabetes-- and isn't that all of us? --(Donna Zimmer, Consumer Connection)

Editorial Reviews

It’s refreshing to see a book that focuses on motivating, educating, and helping women to take charge of their health and diabetes. The authors offer a wonderfully personal approach for any woman with diabetes, and Every Woman’s Guide to Diabetes is an empowering tool to help her gain control, become diabetes-savvy, and form a plan of action. As an endocrinologist sensitive to issues of women with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, I strongly recommend this book—it’s a must-read.

Sandra T. Foo

Women have unique issues with diabetes. If you’re a woman, are you at risk? Do you know how to find out or what to do about it? Here is thorough, concise information on who’s at risk, how to avoid or prolong avoidance of diabetes and, if diagnosed, how to manage it. Easy to read and informative, Every Woman’s Guide to Diabetes is a must-read for women seeking to avoid or deal with diabetes—and isn’t that all of us?

Donna Zimmer