What to expect when you have diabetes 170 tips for living well with diabetes

Verdict: With an accessible format and a wide-ranging overview of topics influencing diabetics and their families, this essential primer is recommended for all public libraries and consumer health collections. Background: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, diabetes now affects nearly 24 million people in the United States (eight percent of the population), an increase of more than three million within the last two years. This book addresses every facet of the chronic disease-potential causes, current treatment options, and how to take control. With an introduction by John Buse, MD, president of the Medicine and Science Division of the American Diabetes Association, the book features reliable, easy-to-locate information. The Q&A format makes it a valuable resource for the newly diagnosed as well as for individuals who want a refresher on the latest in diabetes treatment and management.-Lori Gluckman Winterfeldt, VA New York Harbor Healthcare Syst., Manhattan Campus Lib. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Question: I'm confused about sugars and starches. Which raises my blood glucose the most-a brownie or a piece of bread? Tip: Sugars and starches are carbohydrates and, eaten in equal amounts, they raise blood glucose about the same. A small brownie (15 grams of carbohydrates) raises blood glucose the same as one slice of bread (15 grams of carbohydrates). For years, we thought that the body absorbed sugar more quickly than starch, and people were told to avoid sweets. Research has shown that sugar is okay for people with diabetes if it is part of a meal plan. It is substituted for other carbohydrate foods. Certain carbohydrates are absorbed at different rates, but when combined with other foods in a meal, this effect can be hard to predict. Focus on the total amount of carbohydrates that you can eat rather than on whether it comes from starch or sugar. Certain factors affect the way your blood glucose responds to sugars and starches. When you eat sweets, observe whether other foods are eaten at the same time, how quickly you eat, how the food was prepared, and the amount of protein and fat in the food. Measure your blood glucose 1-2 hours after eating and note the effect sugar has on it. Use this information to make decisions about including sweets in your meal plan. Excerpted from What to Expect When You Have Diabetes: 150 Tips for Living Well with Diabetes by American Diabetes Association Staff, American Diabetes Association All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.