Diagnosed with type-2 diabetes in 1996, Gretchen Becker educated herself on every aspect of this chronic condition - by reading medical books, talking with doctors, listening to her own body and using the Internet to communicate daily with other people with diabetes. Now, as a patient-expert, she guides all those newly diagnosed through everything they need to learn and do in the crucial first year after diagnosis. Hers is a step-by-step approach, first a day at a time - each day of the first week - then a week at a time - each week of the first month - and then a month at a time - each month for the 11 months of year one. This guide, a full and in-depth look at all aspects of the condition that untangles and clarifies, simplifies but never patronizes, offers a wider approach than any so far adhered to by doctors. It answers all the myriad questions that assail the newly diagnosed: how best to adjust your social life to cope with daily maintenance? How to make sense of the complicated terminology about measurement of blood-glucose levels? How to build self-knowledge and confidence? How, crucially, best to adjust to life with diabetes. This reliable, empathetic, up-to-date handbook should be a life-enhancing lifesaver for all type-2 diabetics.
The First Year
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About the Author
Gretchen Becker is a writer and editor specialising in medical books, and a type-2 diabetic, who lives in Vermont, USA. Gretchen Becker is a writer and editor specialising in medical books, and a type-2 diabetic, who lives in Vermont, USA.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
43 of 44 people found the following review helpful
By Rowena Hoseason
TOP 50 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
We bought this and 'Diabetes for Dummies' when my husband was diagnosed with Type 2. Between the pair of them, these books have been utterly invaluable in educating us about how to cope with the condition, and how reduce the damage caused by diabetes. From near hospitalisation some four months ago, following the medical advice and leaning heavily on Gretchen's understandings and knowledge, his blood glucose is now firmly under control and his level of risk has dropped dramatically.
Gretchen's approach is to give you bites of information in chunks that you can absorb and understand -- a little on each area to start with, becoming more in depth as you become familiar with the terms and how your condition affects you.
It's a very different approach to the textbook style, and it means you don't get overloaded with technical info too early on.
She's very good at giving real life examples, and it helps to know that the author herself has written the book from her own personal experience. Many doctors and nurses have theoretical knowledge -- but Gretchen's viewpoint is from a fellow diabetic, and it is very insightful.
Where you may find it tricky is that you can feel a bit lectured now and then. There's also quite a lot of time spent discussing depression, foods you can't eat, and so on -- this may be helpful for you but for us it was overkill at times! (Does anyone really test 20 times a day, or get up at 2am to test?!)
Overall, however, The First Year has given us masses of information and plenty of encouragement. It dismisses many myths and expensive options which are dead-ends, and targetted our efforts towards diet, exercise and understanding.
If you've just been diagnosed then this is a must-have for your shelf.
It falls just short of the five-star category -- there are sections which you won't find useful or which may actually discourage you! -- but it is generally easy to read, written by a real person and applicable to real people.
A diagnosis is only a beginning, and this book will certainly help you with the journey...
Gretchen's approach is to give you bites of information in chunks that you can absorb and understand -- a little on each area to start with, becoming more in depth as you become familiar with the terms and how your condition affects you.
It's a very different approach to the textbook style, and it means you don't get overloaded with technical info too early on.
She's very good at giving real life examples, and it helps to know that the author herself has written the book from her own personal experience. Many doctors and nurses have theoretical knowledge -- but Gretchen's viewpoint is from a fellow diabetic, and it is very insightful.
Where you may find it tricky is that you can feel a bit lectured now and then. There's also quite a lot of time spent discussing depression, foods you can't eat, and so on -- this may be helpful for you but for us it was overkill at times! (Does anyone really test 20 times a day, or get up at 2am to test?!)
Overall, however, The First Year has given us masses of information and plenty of encouragement. It dismisses many myths and expensive options which are dead-ends, and targetted our efforts towards diet, exercise and understanding.
If you've just been diagnosed then this is a must-have for your shelf.
It falls just short of the five-star category -- there are sections which you won't find useful or which may actually discourage you! -- but it is generally easy to read, written by a real person and applicable to real people.
A diagnosis is only a beginning, and this book will certainly help you with the journey...
104 of 108 people found the following review helpful
By arcem
Format:Paperback
Gretchen Becker writes from experience and also considerable knowledge in a very clear way. The chapters are short, clear and concise. They can be read in sequence or stand alone.
After diagnosis, many of us, find it hard to take on board what we are told at the clinic as often there is shock and denial present after what feels like intimations of our own mortality.
This book can help you review and learn at your own pace in your own home as and when you are ready. The format is set out to take you step by step through the first year after your diagnosis. It's a bit like someone walking alongside you and is very helpful and non-threatening.
Gretchen Becker also tackles the thorny issue of diet or way of eating and gives a comprehensive review of the various options.
There are good references, glossary and for this version she asked me to include information on resources available to us Type 2 Dmers (people with Type 2 diabetes) here in the UK.
Other than a flat fee for writing the chapter (already received), I have no financial interest in recommending this book.
I first read the US version and learned a lot despite 23 years of living with this darn disease. 26 years on after diagnosis and I am still learning. I would highly recommend anyone with Type 2 diabetes, (or their family) or even medics or DSN's (Diabetes Specialist Nurses) to read and have this as a reference and even better a loan copy for newly diagnosed people with Type 2 diabetes.
If you want to learn about your newly diagnosed disease and how best to manage it so you live with it and not be managed by it, then buy a copy, read, take on board the info in the book, and you'll be empowered to live a full and healthy life even with Type 2 diabetes.
43 of 45 people found the following review helpful
By Graham Moore
Format:Paperback
This book is really amazing clear concise and it leads you gently from page to page and chapter to chapter. You are lead from a simple level of information at the beginning and pointed to other areas of the book for more indepth information.
You can take whatever level of information is suitable for you at any one time then come back for deeper understanding of what is happening to you and your body when your ready for it.
This is a book I will consult again and again during this my first year as a diabetic - Thank you Gretchen.
You can take whatever level of information is suitable for you at any one time then come back for deeper understanding of what is happening to you and your body when your ready for it.
This is a book I will consult again and again during this my first year as a diabetic - Thank you Gretchen.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good research and detail but a bit jumbled
I read most of this on a train just after I had been diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. Fascinating detail but I got a bit lost at times.
Published 7 days ago by Mrs. Ja Williams
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great for the newly diagnosed
Discovering you have caught type 2 diabetes is quite a shock. The NHS send you on a short course which doesn't really explain mush. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Stephen Hudson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very well worth buying
This is a very informative book especially for the newly diagnosed diabetic. I am finding it very useful and helpful to read about what you are likely to experience during the... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Pamela Smy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Just Diagnosed
I found this book extremely helpful, and informative and would recommend it to anyone, recently diagnosed with the type 2 diabetes.
Published 2 months ago by Mr. T F Howell
3.0 out of 5 stars
Fairly acceptable
I found this to be too American-orientated, where there is a slightly different standard for dealing with Type 2 diabetes and, although the medical information is useful, it was... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Malcolm Twigg
5.0 out of 5 stars
No worry
Being diagnosed as diabetic is a bit of a shock. This no nonsense book gives all you need to know and more, in easy to read chapters. Read more
Published 5 months ago by T. Brown
3.0 out of 5 stars
Says a lot, tells very little
I had this bought for me as a newly diagnosed diabetic. The title gave me the assumption that it would be a book that would deliver information and advice in an evolving way timed... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Jp Williams
3.0 out of 5 stars
Informative Book
I was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes last week and thought this would be a good book to start with. It is written in an easy to read style with lots of detail. Read more
Published 10 months ago by T. M. Burns
5.0 out of 5 stars
An excellent start
This is a great book to start with. Newly diagnosed like myself will find it's packed with highly 'readable' info that's clear and understandable. Recommended.
Published 12 months ago by Mr. Mark Kettlety
5.0 out of 5 stars
Managing my Diabetes
Wish I had read this book immediately after I was diagnosed diabetic. Better still, I wish I had read it during the preceding two to three years of borderline diabetes. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Rajan
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