The Other Diabetes: Living and Eating Well with Type 2 Diabetes

When most people think about diabetes, they often think of type one, where the pancreas doesn't create insulin at all. But here in the U.S., nine times out of 10, the diagnosis is that of the much more insidious type-two variety, when the pancreas creates plenty of insulin but the body doesn't use it properly. Genetic factors and too much body fat set the stage for this type of diabetes. There's nothing sufferers can do about the first; but by losing weight and exercising, type-two sufferers can reduce the risk of potentially serious side effects, such as heart disease. Hiser, a registered dietitian and longtime nutrition editor at Eating Well, nudges readers into taking control of their health. She explains everything from what the disease is to the basics of good nutrition and why an exercise plan is essential--and she does it with plenty of pep talks. She includes a chart that calculates weight-loss potential for one year of added activity: for example, with only one hour of food preparation a day, shopping, putting away groceries, chopping and cooking, dieters could lose 12 pounds. Once she's helped readers set up an exercise plan, Hiser tackles eating with a six-week meal plan, complete with recipes inspired by the Mediterranean diet. It's pretty familiar stuff: poultry replaces higher-fat meats in some dishes, and vegetables, of course, play a starring role. What is most appealing, though, is Hiser's philosophy that it doesn't take long for even small changes to make a big difference--a positive note in which newly diagnosed diabetics and their families will take comfort. (May)