Diabetes and Me: An Essential Guide for Kids and Parents

by Kim Chaloner (Text), Nick Bertozzi (Illustrations)

An upbeat, empathetic, and essential guide for young people with diabetes

In Diabetes and Me: An Essential Guide for Kids and Parents, Kim Chaloner, who has been teaching award-winning science classes for fifteen years, gives kids the tools they need to take charge of their health and understand what it means to be diagnosed with diabetes. In this graphic guide, she walks four young people through the basics of diabetes, both Type 1 and Type 2, revealing . . .

• The early signs of diabetes and how doctors can help

• What it means to have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes

• What the pancreas is and how it works

• How to manage the ups and downs of blood sugar levels

• Strategies for diet and exercise

• How to explain diabetes to friends and family members

• And much more!

Illustrated by the award-winning artist Nick Bertozzi, Diabetes and Me is an informative, empowering handbook for parents, teachers, and kids looking to learn more about how to handle one of today's most common conditions.

Genres: Nonfiction, Graphic Novels, Childrens

176 pages, Hardcover

First published June 18, 2013

Reviews

[Stewart Tame · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title describes this book much better than I ever could. It's a guide to diabetes--what the disease is, what it means to those who have it, treatment and maintenance ... the works. Part of my curiosity about this book probably stems from being myself recently diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. I learned quite a bit, though my doctor had already gone over the basics with me. The book seems to be aimed more at younger readers--youths and teenagers mostly. It's not that the information isn't useful to everyone, just that many of the examples used assume a certain amount of youth on the part of the person with diabetes. I doubt many 40 year olds will identify much with what to do if your teacher assumes that your glucometer is an MP3 player and asks you to put it away, for instance.

It's decently-done informational comics. Not sure how interesting it will be to anyone without someone with diabetes in their life though. I literally did not even notice that Nick Bertozzi did the art until after I finished the book. Interesting, but for somewhat of a specialized audience.

[Tessie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not appropriate for kids under 12.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fine.

[Karen Perry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This title is a nonfiction comic guidebook on diabetes prepared by an author who has diabetes and her artist husband. Diabetes is becoming more common among children and youth every year. This guide defines diabetes, explains the various medical professional roles, tells how to keep up with your scores, and how to balance food as fuel, exercise, and insulin. The illustrations are black and white drawings in comic format. While a reader could wish for a full color spread, the illustrations are detailed and give each character a distinct personality. Following several youth characters as they develop an understanding of the disease they each have, the readers see their struggles and problems. The writing is fresh and fun while conveying essential information easily. This book will serve well to help new patients understand how they can control their diabetes, rather than letting the disease control their lives.

[Emilia P · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite it's over-obvs name (though I guess...it's for a specific group for whom this would be the best way to find it) this book was really quite good and well-structured. For an educational guide about different kinds of diabetes, what the problem is, how it's treated, and how life goes on with an insulin pump, this was a great read. Is it weird that I kind of didn't want to put it down? Yeah, it is. I will credit about 75% Bertozzi's personable but not rigid illustrations. He's pretty great.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Graphic novel format. Information is presented in child friendly way. Highly recommend