50 Diabetes Myths That Can Ruin Your Life: And the 50 Diabetes Truths That Can Save It

by Riva Greenberg

This one-stop information spot for diabetes management dispels the most common diabetes myths and shares critical info on prevention, nutrition, medication, insulin and more

Patient-expert Riva Greenberg's book is an essential guide for the more than 24 million Americans with diabetes and the more than 57 million with prediabetes. 50 Diabetes Myths That Can Ruin Your Life puts the "power of truth" directly into patients' hands, dispelling the 50 most common myths that tend to rule their lives, such "You have to be fat to get diabetes," "Eating too many sweets causes diabetes," "Insulin shots are painful," and "Type 2 diabetes is not as serious as Type 1." With recommendations from top experts and engaging patient stories, 50 Diabetes Myths That Can Ruin Your Life explains the crucial information everyone managing this chronic illness needs to know to live a long, healthy life with diabetes.

Genres: Health, Nonfiction

336 pages, Paperback

First published July 13, 2009

Reviews

[Julie Bestry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my second reading of Riva Greenberg's excellent book; the first time was soon after I was diagnosed with diabetes in late 2011. I was curious how much of a difference a decade of experience (and slightly more than a decade since the release of the book) would make.

This book is a classic for a reason. Just about every myth I've heard about diabetes over the decades (before and after my diagnosis) are debunked here, and replaced with solid, life-affirming, comforting advice. This book is a perfect primer for someone who has just been diagnosed (or for waving in the face of a non-medical professional busybody who insists he or she knows more about how you should take care of your diabetes than you do).

I should note, there are a few areas of the book that are, understandably out of date. The book was published in 2009. Thirteen years later, there are many more and different medications, advances in glucose monitoring and insulin delivery, and a options (like looping) that are not covered simply because they didn't exist back then. However, all of the information about how diabetes works, about nutrition and exercise, mental health and self-care, and more, are just as accurate today.

Greenberg's superb follow-up, Diabetes Do's and How-To's was released in 2013, and is a little closer to current, but I wish she'd write a refreshed version of one or the other, given the vast advances in medications and treatments. Meanwhile, I follow her blog at https://diabetesstories.com.

[Bernard Farrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riva covers a lot of ground with these myths. Using stories and medical facts, she explains the truths behind the myths in a way that allows you to positively change your life with diabetes.

[Wanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book to help clear up anything you didn't realise about diabetes and realise the things you can have but been told you cannot.

[Diane Dunham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting and educational. If you want to learn about the do's and don'ts of having diabetes this is a good book.

[Becky Graham · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of this were things I already knew (things I learned in the first days of Googling Diabetes and things on the ADA website) - but there were a few tidbits that made the book worth reading.