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Summary: this method works far better than the ADA diet
Review: I am a type one diabetic. I have been since I was 16, and I am 34 now. I was admitted to the hospital upon diagnosis for a stay of one week. Since then I tried to take care of my diabetes according to the ADA methods, but the results were very poor. I read Dr. Bernstein's book, and I was very hopeful that I might get good results from his method. I actually went so far as to make an appointment to see him personally at his office near New York City. I received a very complete education of diabetes from him, and very clear instructions on how to maintain my blood sugars at a normal level. I have been doing it for 1 1/2 years now, and it works FAR better than the ADA method. My blood sugars average about 100 to 110 now, and I am in very good control. I haven't had a 'serious' low blood sugar episode since I have begun. As an added benefit, I have lost 50 pounds. This makes my health better than it has been since I was a child! I HIGHLY recommend this book.
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Summary: Best diabetes book there is
Review: I credit this book with saving my mother's life. But you can read rave reviews from some of the other reviewers here. I just wanted to mention that Dr. Bernstein, while an amazing doctor, is not a foodie. The most depressing part of his book for my mother was when she read the food chapter and was told she would be eating things like Jello. But this need not be the case! There are tons of yummy low-carb things to eat, like meat, fish, cheese, salads, and eggs. Don't be discouraged: you can stick to Dr. Bernstein's diet without eating bad food. My mother does it every day.
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Summary: this book changed my life!!
Review: i have been a type 1 diabetic for almost four years, and never had satisfactory blood sugar levels until i read this book. i had just assumed waking up with fasting blood sugars of 300 were going to be part of everyday life. Dr. Bernstein has opened my eyes! i have had normal glucose levels since the very day i started on the low carb way of eating. i highly recommend anyone who has diabetes to read this book!! it will change your life....
Rating: 
Summary: A must-have for diabetics
Review: It gave me way too much trivial information. But that's not a bad thing for people who are starting from scratch with a diet to control diabetes. It provides the best evidence yet that a low-carb diet is right for just about anyone.
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Summary: This book has some limitations
Review: Every week I work with people with diabetes (type 1, type 2, and gestational) and in the past 10 years I've seen a lot of changes in the way nutrition is taught. During that time people have treated diabetes with a lot of protein, a lot of fat or a lot of carbohydrates. The people who have been the most successful in keeping their blood sugars in their target range, managing weight, cholesterol, and blood pressure levels are the ones who learned about balance, with some carbohydrate, some protein and some fat. And the changes they made were ones they could do for the long term, not just for a short time. The reason I felt I had to write this review is that this book promotes a high-fat high-protein way of eating which does work in the beginning, but doesn't last for most people. I have the advantage of seeing people a year or two years after they have tried something like this, and now their cholesterol has gone back up into the high risk range, their triglycerides are high, and they are worried about heart disease. People who go through a comprehensive diabetes program learn how to manage carbohydrates and fit them in to a healthy eating plan, and they DO lose weight, get good blood sugars and blood fats, and feel great. They know how to use their blood sugar readings to determine how much carbohydrate they can handle, and make adjustments accordingly. You can do the same, and have the same results, without the negative effects. Check out books like the Complete Guide to Carb Counting (Warshaw)and Diabetes Meal Planning Made Easy (Warshaw). Anyone with an insulin pump should read Pumping Insulin (Walsh). Try finding a Registered Dietitian who is also a Certified Diabetes Educator, or look for a program with Recognition from the American Diabetes Association (on their website www.diabetes.org). Good luck!
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Summary: This book can save your life
Review: I was diagnosed with Type II diabetes last month. My family physician gave me a prescription for oral medication and referred me to a diabetes counselor, who recommended the standard ADA diet. I didn't question this, but went to the grocery store and bought a bulging cartload of low-fat food. However, I was also given a glucometer and began testing my blood 6-8 times a day -- not because I was told to do so, but mostly out of curiosity. I immediately noticed that if I ate bread, cereal, fruit, etc., my blood sugar would rise substantially. It seemed abundantly clear, then, that it was best for me NOT to eat those foods. I modified my diet according to the changes I could plainly see in my own blood sugar, keeping my carb intake under 10 or so grams per meal. As an experiment, I also stopped taking my glucophage, just because it seemed that I was getting better results from dietary changes and exercise than I was from the medication. My average blood sugars continued to decline even without the drugs. Soon after I started this self-made diet plan, a friend recommended Dr. Bernstein's book. I was amazed to see that his suggestions almost perfectly reflected what I had discovered on my own. The more I read the book, the more convinced I became that his system is the only thing that will work for me. There's also no doubt in my mind that it's the only way to try to undo existing damage and reverse the progressive nature of my disease. The book is clear, detailed, and well-written. The chapters that describe the physiology of diabetes are especially thorough and well done. It's obvious Dr. Bernstein has a personal, intense interest in both the subject and in his patients. He's not just in it for a buck. I recommend this book to everyone with diabetes as well as to the friends and relatives who love them. It will definitely change your life.
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Summary: Insightful
Review: This book is wonderful..the best money I have spent on a book in a long time. It is enjoyable and very educational. Anyone who has a problem with diabetes needs to read this book.
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Summary: So Far So Good
Review: It has now been only about 13 days since I started Dr. Bernstein's program. Since being advised of my type II Diabetes about 3 years ago, I have had my ups and downs trying to control my blood sugar without medication. I expected that I would have to start atleast oral medication on my next visit to the doctor. Even when I was having my "ups" and was exercising every day, while adhering to a low fat diet advocated by the ADA, I was not getting the types of impressive and consistent numbers that I am now getting. From 200 to 250 before I started Dr. Bernstein's program, I am now-just 13 days into the program-getting EXTREMELY normal numbers. Some of my tests have been in the 80s. I NEVER got those numbers even when I was really doing "good" with low fat and daily exercise.The change was almost immediate! And, this has been with no exercise because I wanted to see what I could do with no exercise. Now, I intend to go back to exercise, which combined with the Dr. Bernstein eating program, should be a remarkable combination.
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Summary: A new life of hope
Review: Over three years ago, my husband and I were officially diagnosed with Type II diabetes. My husband's A1c was 9.5 at that time and has gone continuously up since then, now over 11. Mine has stayed between 6 and 6.6, but I know over time it will increase. Both of our weights have been very high for years and no diet (doctor recommended or other) has worked to take off any of it. Since reading Diabetes Solutions by Dr. Bernstein, we both have seen dramatic effects with weight and blood sugars. My blood sugars seem to be in the normal range between about 90 and 110 and my husband's averages have dropped from mid 200's to 154 average. We have both lost 15 pounds since January 7th, 2002. All this since because we eat a high fat, very low carb diet. The only warning I have is for those that go from a high carb diet to a 20-30g carb/day carb diet is you may have severe carbo withdrawl for about a week or two. For me it included severe headaches and bad mood swings. After about a week however, the headaches went away and I seemed to be in a better mood. We have found our favorite snack is pork rinds and they even have microwave ones that are great! There are a number of carb control drinks and bars on the market that are great too. We like the Edge Carb Control drinks the best. The bars are ok, but try several brands and flavors, you'll find some are very nasty and others are edible and great for a snack mid day to carry you through until your next meal. We eat tons of eggs and lots of bacon and sausages. We will be going to get our blood levels and cholestoral levels checked in April to see how 3 months of eating like this changes things for our health. We will write another review after we do that. PS... we are on 1000mg/day of Metformin.
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Summary: Help Yourself to Better Control !
Review: Diagnosed only in Nov 2001 as T2 and now going on insulin, I found this book to be a no nonsense, comforting guide as I negotiate my way through a new life of living with diabetes. In this day and age of HMO's and 5 min Dr visits, I found this book to be a wealth of understandable information that has really assisted me with becoming a very active (and aggressive) participant in my own health plan. This Dr has used his life well and by sharing his experiences by writing this book has made a wonderful contribution to the lives of us who suffer through this complex and intensely personal disease.
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