Showing posts with label Endocrinology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Endocrinology. Show all posts

5/29/2010

Review of Nutritional Strategies for the Diabetic/Prediabetic Patient (Nutrition and Disease Prevention) (Hardcover)

I just picked up this book at ASPEN Nutrition Week after reading it at the booth for more than 30 minutes. I was choosing between Opara's "Nutrition and Diabetes" and this one, and I felt that Mechanick's book suited my needs more:
It was very easy to look up clinically useful info quickly, but then one could read on about the pathophysiology. Very well-researched and understandable, even for a clinical person like me. I also liked that it did not focus entirely on Diabetes, but also on pre-diabetes and lipid metabolism. Most of the book was written by MDs who practice clinically, which probably explains why it really hits the mark.

The wound-healing chapter by Breit is pretty neat, and it has good pictures showing the different stages and what happens when, and an evidence-based approach to what's out there.
There is a chapter on mitochondria that is surprisingly readable and clarifies a lot of underlying pathophysiology. The chapter on nutrition and hyperglycemia is very much to the point. I'm not going to go through all the chapters here, but there's something for every disease state related to hyperglycemia or insulin resistance and nutrition.

What I liked best was the lipid case study in the back. It really guides you through the decision-making process for the treatment of dyslipidemias.
The book is also very current, so there's all the new data and new concepts about DM and metabolic syndrome in there. I am not sure if it is going to be the "bible" on the topic (that's what the guy in the foreword said), but I found it very useful and quite addictive reading.

If you want a book that has all the current info on metabolic syndrome, diabetes and nutrition, this is probably the best-researched, most readable and most current option.

Product Description
While nutrition is central to the management of diabetes, there is no one “diabetic diet”. Nutritional prescriptions depend on the type of diabetes, food preferences, lifestyle, treatment regimen, comorbidities, state of health, and the route of caloric administration. Nutritional Strategies for the Diabetic/Prediabetic Patient is a comprehensive reference aimed at advancing physicians' knowledge of nutrition in relation to diabetes, allowing them to provide evidence-based recommendations for their diabetic patients. It also provides dietitians and diabetic educators with an in-depth understanding of the pathophysiology and medical treatment of diabetes.

Written by scientists, clinicians, registered dietitians, and certified diabetes educators, this book reviews the molecular mechanisms of disease and drug therapy. It also provides recommendations for management with the level of evidence indicated where appropriate. In areas where little research data is available, the editors present recommendations based on extensive clinical experience. The book places particular focus on the synchronization of nutrient intake with medications, and provides unique clinical management tools, along with details of their ability to be replicated for patient use. To facilitate accessibility, it features evidence-based technical reviews of clinical literature and includes numerous tables and figures, with color photos of wound healing stages.

Addressing all aspects of nutrition in adult diabetic and prediabetic patients, Nutritional Strategies for the Diabetic/Prediabetic Patient is an important referencefor those concerned with the dietary management of this disease.



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12/05/2009

Review of Hypoglycemia For Dummies (Paperback)

As someone who is sick of "being in the fog" from my hypoglycemia I greatly welcomed this book. I needed a book to talk TO me about all of the overwhelming info for treating this and not another book that gave a lot of medical jargon I don't need or understand. I love this book for its nonwordy descriptions of the basics of hypoglycemia- I could actually read this book and understand it all. The writers do a good job discussing the symptoms and what is happening in the body for hypoglycemia to occur. Just like my dietician prescribed for me, Cheryl Chow discusses eating a 40 carb 30 protein and 30 fats early on and then increase carbs if your body allows it. It shows a new "hypoglycemic" food pyramid that shows bread, grains, pasta moved 2 steps up and the veggie group is what you should have more of. (THANK YOU!!) The book does seem to contradict itself in places when discussing carbs(or they may be just trying to say everyone is going to be different).
The only things that bothered me about the book is that, while it does discuss a lot of different topics such as herbal supplements, vitamins, exercise in detail it would discuss other topics with just a sentence or two. Usually these were areas that I would want a lot more detail because I'm having difficulty with them. Of course there were some topics discussed that I really did not see why they were relevant (I guess it may help someone else though).The recipe section was a bit disappointing- only 14 recipies. So if you want more try the Low Blood Sugar Cookbook by Patricia and Edward Krimmel (he's hypo too) and also The Zone. The Zone is based on the 40/30/30 plan too.

Product Description
Hypoglycemia simply means "low blood-sugar," but without concrete symptoms it's very hard to diagnose. It is nevertheless a condition that should be watched over carefully. People react differently to low blood sugar as well as to the treatment they receive. Hypoglycemia for Dummies explores this fickle condition and shows you how to manage your blood sugar to feel better.
This no-nonsense, plain-English guide lays out the facts you need to maintain a healthy body. It offers expert advice on identifying symptoms, changing lifestyles, and also extensive coverage on diet, exercise, alternative treatments, and the link between low blood sugar and diabetes. This expanded 2nd edition provides:
  • A thorough explanation of hypoglycemia and how it affects your body
  • Exercise routines that lead to a healthier lifestyle
  • Diet suggestions on what to eat and how often
  • A basis for choosing a doctor that's right for you
  • Vitamins and supplements that treat your symptoms
  • Ways to manage hypoglycemia in the workplace
  • An explanation of how hypoglycemia affects family and friends
  • Methods to de-stress yourself

Complete with tips on helping other hypoglycemics and myth-debunking facts about the disease, Hypoglycemia for Dummies is the fast and simple way to learn and treat the condition, with the help of the most up-to-date medical information available. Escape the blood sugar blues and starting feeling better in no time!

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