The Mayo Clinic Diabetes Diet

by The Weight-loss Experts At Mayo Clinic

From Mayo Clinic, a leading authority on health & nutrition, comes The Mayo Clinic Diabetes Diet, the reliable plan you need to lose weight and help you control your diabetes.

Genres: Health, Nonfiction, Cookbooks, Food

272 pages, Hardcover

First published October 26, 2011

Reviews

[Karen Witzler · Rating 1 out of 5]

Like a compendium of every Weight Watchers pamphlet ever. Designed for the illiterate, and poorly done at that.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of good info here, and could really be a 4 star book. But most of the ideas were already very familiar to me as a long-time nutrition nut and Weight Watcher. It was very well organized into action steps and would be a terrific help to someone new to thinking about diet and exercise. Useful for anyone wanting to lose weight, not just diabetics.

[Anita Lynch-Cooper · Rating 3 out of 5]

Practical advice but all of the recipes were for 6 to 8 servings. REALLY? Who wants to eat the same meal day after day.

[Kathy (McDowell) Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

My husband was told by his doctor that he is pre diabetic. He loves his bread, his processed fatty foods, and his large portions. I read this book as a last report in my attempt to change his unhealthy lifestyle. I am vegan and and I've managed to switch my husband away from fried foods, dairy milk and butter, but I needed help with the bread, cheese, and wolfing of food. (He'll make a fast food run if I don't provide certain foods at home.)
I loved this book! The colorful pages and short chapters written for the layperson were perfect for my husband, the non-reader. The authors definitely understand the mindset of a dieter: "Before you start the program, remove from your home all conventional snacks...Don't tuck them away in the back of a cupboard or freezer. Don't think you can resist the temptation of opening the package. Get rid of them! If it's in your house, it's in your mouth."
Some of the challenges will be difficult, such as: No eating while watching TV (computer, podcasts, etc.) and only as much TV time as time spent exercising. The book provides many easy and fun tips for accomplishing this goal.
I plan to purchase the companion "Mayo Clinic Diabetes Diet Journal" so we have a record of progress that my husband can take to his doctor.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great advice, hints, and food choices specifically for anyone with diabetes or at risk to get it, but really for anyone who wants to lose excess weight and be healthy. This book makes it clear it is important to choose a life style to be at your best health. I liked the common sense approach, and the easy-to-read language. Wonderful resource for living healthy.

[Wulfwyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a good resource for those new to dieting, pre-diabetes and diabetes. It is written to be easily understood and has short chapters. People have different reading skills and desires. The way it is written would fit most reading levels. I enjoy reading so I have good comprehension skills. I had no issue with reading it but I do realize that some might find it simplistic. However I appreciate that I would be able to recommend this book to non-readers and teens. Unfortunately, in the US, obesity is a problem with children as well as adults. Obesity is a contributor to diabetes type 2. Many teens are body conscious. They have been dieting, sometimes in risky ways, since I was a teen, (and most likely before then). I like that this book focuses on a healthy lifestyle. It gives information on healthy portion size, choosing snacks with care and balancing screen time with exercise. I like that it encourages journaling to keep track of what you eat, how you are feeling when you eat and the times spent exercising, (and how you feel after making it easy to see your progress). There is a companion journal you can get that helps with tracking meter readings for those who are pre-diabetic or diagnosed with diabetes. There are only a few recipes included as it concentrates on lifestyle changes rather than being a cookbook. It does include a section about portion size and a small guide to help you familiarize how to break down main dishes that have several food groups in it. There is also a brief section on restaurant choices. For someone who knows these things already it might seem like there is nothing for them. I already knew those things but I wasn’t actively keeping track of it as well as I should have been. This book brought that to my attention. There are also strategies included that may be of use. I also found the approach of adding habits, breaking habits and adopting habits to be very helpful. Sometimes we fail at changing the way we eat and exercise by trying to do everything all at once, then find it too difficult to keep at it. I think if I look at it as small steps it is easier to stay on track.
I don’t believe any one diet book is perfect for everyone. We are all at different places in our health, our habits and even the foods we choose to eat. I would encourage anyone reading this to talk with their doctor and, if possible, get a referral to a dietician and discuss your goals realistically with them. I do believe this is a good book to read, writing down any questions you have about applying it to you. If you are uncertain about the book style fitting you, please remember that most likely your local library will have a copy you can borrow. If it fits you, you can buy it with no worries. I bought a copy to keep as a reference as it suited me, (for disclosure, I am newly diagnosed with diabetes 2). I found it encouraging and helpful. Good luck on your healthy lifestyle journey.

[Jenny Souch · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm still confused about what diabetes is and how to control it. So... not very helpful?

It read more like a basic weight loss book with colorful pictures, reminders to eat all the food groups, and to start to walk as exercise.

It is not helpful for a "healthy" active person who has pre-diabetes from a medical condition.

I was looking for more indepth understanding of what diabetes is, how to solve it before it becomes stage 2 and before having to measure blood levels at home. The only takeaway was if I wanted a desert to not eat carbs during dinner. But also everything is carbs. So really it didn't help with my understanding.

[Kristi Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for safe weight loss for Diabetics.

The Mayo Clinic is a well respected medical center around the world. This book combines several doctors writings on Diabetes and weight loss. The program is easy to understand but you have to be dedicated to follow it.
The basics are here. Eat better, exercise more and stick to it. There are a few sample menus and recipes.
I found this very helpful and will try to follow it. I borrowed this book from my local library.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy to read. Loved the magazine type format, it made it interesting and easy to follow. The suggestions were nothing new but I liked how they were grouped and presented. I am excited to try this!

[Anns Bibliotherapy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was hoping for more recipes, but the chicken dish was amazing.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each chapter is better than a WW meeting packed with sound proven advice and factual information. The only diet book you will ever need. More in depth explanations than registered dietitians gave.

[Josianne Fitzgerald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Comprehensive. So much so it tired me out. Did not finish.

[Sally Kilpatrick]

For the most part, not new information, but there were still some useful nuggets I gleaned. I read it on Kindle, but I would suggest a paper copy for anyone who's serious about using it.

[surfurbian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad really. Only a few things I would add. I think that people with diabetes should consider eliminating grain and dairy altogether. At least experiment with those food types and track their impacts on various metrics such as blood sugar, weight, sense of well being and so forth.

The book recommends exercise in the lower range of the aerobic threshold. This is a good call and a great place to start. Higher intensity intervals and weight lifting has is time and place as well with benefits unique to those activities. IMHO intense aerobic exercise should only be done after spending years to established a strong base and weight lifting should be started very conservatively.

That said higher intensity exercise such as intervals has shown evidence to reduce cellular aging in some studies. Weight lifting has been shown to reduce insulin resistance. Intervals can be tough on a body if the workout is high impact so I like to use low impact exercise such as swimming, spinning, SUP or canoe/Kayak paddling, or rowing. Think of these as spices you can add to the meal of low intensity exercise.

[John (JP) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book seems to best of the books I have read for those of us who are on the road to type 2 diabetes. The book has the information you would expect from a book written to an audience who may be in denial about what they've done to their bodies.The book's color illustrations makes the food recipes begin to look tasty. It even has a full 2 pages on desserts. Now about the E word I mean exercise the book does not beat you up about it. It does however present a program to get you to do it. The book is balanced in its approach to diabetes and realizes that some its potential readers may not be ready to face themselves and the facts about this condition.Yes you are gonna die this book may put off a few months or years. Buy this book and listen to your doctor.

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book about diabetes and taking steps to either not get it or to live with it, great info presented in an easy to read format with pictures and charts great resource for anyone prediabetic or already diagnosed --- recipes are good and practical tips for exercise and reducing tv time to accomodate exercise and healthy solutions for eating, excellent nutrition advice on what to eat & how it affects your glucose levels, A must read for anyone dealing w/diabetes!

[Jeanne Mac · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written and quite encouraging. Lots of tips for motivation and ideas to stay motivated. Will try the program and see how it goes. Liked it well enough to buy it after checking it out of the library.

[Carolann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book very informative.

As a new diabetic I am struggling with new and confusing issues.

This book let me know there is a better and healthier way for me to eat.

I also liked the tips on having a better self image.
That even if I slip up, I can still succeed.

[Katonda · Rating 2 out of 5]

For me all this information was old news. I just need to make it a part of my everyday life....healthy foods, activity, etc. This would be a good book for someone that has no clue about what a healthy diet and exercise looks like.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

The language is very dumbed-down, and it is formatted like one super long glossy magazine (which may or may not appeal to you), but there are some good ideas in here.

[Sherri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book expertly and simply lays out the facts for healthy eating in a straightforward manner. I know what to do...Time to do it!

[Garrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very happy with this book. I'm well on my way to better health, I've already lost 15 pounds in the first month, and the diet (well, eating plan) is very easy to follow and simply explained.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reading for a friend. Some very helpful pages of quick ideas or go-to groceries (the sort of thing I'd tear from a magazine), but a bit overwhelming, overall.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good basics for anyone coping with diabetes. It's a little different than the ADA version. I think it's simpler.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Essential and easy to understand medical information. A key reference book.