Most of the time when a new book from an endocrinologist is published, it’s in a very prescriptive tone, as in “This is what you should do to achieve optimal disease management.” Very rarely are they written with the intention of showing the emotional challenges of life with diabetes from the patient’s perspective. That’s why the premise of the book, A Life of Control, was so interesting. Released last fall, the book is edited by endocrinologist Dr. Alan Graber, and co-authored with Anne W. Brown and Kathleen Wolff, certified diabetes nurse practitioners at the Vanderbilt Eskind Diabetes Center.
They share 40 stories about patients struggling to deal with the demanding tasks of managing diabetes. But while Dr. Graber has a good grasp on what makes a patient’s story interesting, he falls short on delivering a meaningful experience. Reading it was actually kind of like visiting an endo in person: you have all this stuff you want to share with them, but you only get five minutes.
The stories are fascinating and despite being as involved in the D-community as I am, there are still people whose stories impress and amaze me — like the one about Rosa, a nurse with type 1 diabetes who admits to not taking her insulin in order to lose weight. A nurse with diabulimia? Who’duv thunk? And then there’s Cliff, a parolee charged with homicie who dealt with diabetes and AIDS. Wow. There were also more familiar stories, like the teenager who landed in the hospital with DKA every year until she ended up in a coma for a full day. Or the mom who had to deal with diabetes while pregnant, worrying incessantly about her diabetes. And finally, Peter, the son-in-law of the author, whose take-charge attitude was refreshing compared to many of the other stories of hopelessness and denial. But even Peter admits to the challenges and guilt that haunted him.
However, the format of this book is a bit awkward. The stories are short. And I mean short. The average length is two and a half pages. The longest is about five pages and includes a photo. Almost all are lacking pictures, which makes for a very text-heavy book.
On one hand, it’s nice to be able to read the experience of a wide variety of folks, diagnosed at all ages and having different backgrounds, careers, families, etc. But the stories are simplified and abrupt. For instance, the mention of Cliff’s AIDS was in the very end of his story — and then it just stops. I was definitely left wanting more. That wasn’t the case with all of them, but it happened more often than not.
Experts Dr. Steve Edelman and Dr. Bill Polonsky share positive comments in their reviews of this book: Dr. Polonsky says, “In these touching stories, you will hear real-life tales that are funny, sad, life-affirming, aggravating and more. Read this and realize that you are not alone.”
All in all, while it was a good read, I felt the book was poorly executed in the editing department. Dr. Graber had transcribed interviews with the folks he features and offers occasional quotes, but instead of offering first-person narrative, he tells the story for them. It still felt as if the doctor was in charge of what I should know.
These days with the very active DOC, you don’t necessarily need to read a book to 
realize that you’re not alone. Still, many of these stories are written by people who are perhaps not as inclined to join the “kumbaya, rah-rah, group hug” atmosphere that the DOC is known for. So if you or someone you know is struggling to find camaraderie during a particularly troubling time with their diabetes, this might be a perfect gift.
{Vanderbilt University Press, Sept. 2010, $19.95 on Amazon.com}
* ALL-NEW: The ‘Mine Book Giveaway *
Since we receive all kinds of D-related books to review at here at the ‘Mine, we thought that, moving forward, we would start sharing the love and giving away copies to you all, our loyal readers. So if you’re interested in winning a free copy of the books we review from here on out, it’s as easy as leaving a comment!
Here’s how it works:
1. Post your comment below and include the codeword “DMBooks” somewhere in the comment (beginning, end, in parenthesis, in bold, whatever). That will let us know that you would like to be entered in the giveaway. You can still leave a comment without entering, but if you want to be considered to win the book, please remember to include “DMBooks.”
2. This week, you have until Friday, April 8, at noon PST to enter.
3. The winner will be announced on Facebook and Twitter on Monday, April 11, so make sure you’re following us! We will also contact the winner personally by email, so a valid email address is required.
4. The contest is open to anyone on the planet.
Good luck, Dear Readers!
Hey Amy, I’ve an abundance of DMBooks, but I’m sure there are some I’m missing, like the book just reviewed by Allison. So I’m interested.
DMBooks: I feel like having diabetes bonds us as a sort of weird glucose-challenged family. I always find myself cheering for other PWD’s, I feel for their challenges because lord-knows, we all have them. It would be all too easy to feel alone with diabetes. It’s good to know we are not alone. Thanks for sharing the info on these new books!
DMBooks; I would Love to read this!!
“DMBooks”
Sounds like a great book. I have a ton of D books but it’s always nice to read more!
DMBooks I’ve been a diabetic since 1992, and hate always having to be in control.
I would love to read this book, just to hear how other people deal with this disease as well! DMBooks
DMBooks
Thanks. and wanted to let you know that I answered a survey for onetouch and they asked which websites I visit on a regular basis. Your’s was the one!!
I’m a British Type 1 and have been since 1975. I have moments when the whole control thing gets me down but that nurse who skips insulin to lose weight appals me. She’s stacking up no end of problems for herself.
(By the way, I don’t need a copy of the book, I just wanted to say hi and to say how privileged I feel living here where insulin and blood-testing equipment is free for everyone without insurance.)
DMBooks: I found your blog when I googled “diabetes celiac disease” together. I am a recently diagnosed type 1 diabetic (diagnosed february 2010) and recently diagnosed with celiac disease (diagnosed July 2010). Learning to live with diabetes and follow two diets has been a big challenge, but I haven’t let it take away my sunshine
I’ll be spending some time reading the previous blog entries until I’m up-to-date. Thanks for having such a helpful blog.
Nicole
I would love to have it for my firend who is suffering from diabetes. “DMBooks”
DMBooks: Hi Amy & Allison – I would love a copy of the book. It is always interesting to me to see how others are living with and managing. Thanks! Michele
I think it would be a good idea to pass these books along and we can keep passing them on. You never know who needs a little help. It is tough to manage DM and I have been trying to manage it for 42 years.
Wow! I would love a copy of the book. What a wonderful thing you guys are doing. DMBooks
This sounds like a very interesting read…would love to win
a copy! DMBOOKS
Greetings from a type 1 now celebrating 48 years this month! Since 1998 I have been running the premier education and support group in Chicagoland – type1diabeteslounge.com. The Diabetes Mine is posted on my website as a must read blog. As a regular follower, I’ve been promoting DM to all meeting attendees over the many years. It would be a great pleasure to receive a DMBooks gift which I would raffle off at the next meeting. The more the merrier! Keep up the great work at “the mine.” Woo hoo – I make it! Merle Gleeson
DMbooks!! I will be graduating this may after 7 years of undergrad, and graduate work a free book for once would be great!
DMBooks – would love to read some free books. Thanks
I don’t really have too many books on diabetes so would welcome more by way of DMBooks!
It’s always good to hear others experiences! DMBOOKS!
DMBooks! I would love to win a copy of this book! Thank you.
Stumbled across DM on twitter and hope the site and some could help as I look to better management.
…and would love to win some dmbooks…
DMBooks My daughter who is 20 has been diabetic for 15 years. Since she was a teenager she has struggled with compliance and control. She has an A1C of 14.1 . She lives in denial. I would love DMBooks to offer her encouragement that she is not alone out there hating diabetes
I would love DMBooks to help me deal with my disease that I hate
I would love DMBooks for my 20yr old diabetic daughter whose been diabetic since she was 5. She struggles with it daily
DMBooks, I would like to check those Out!
I’d love to read DMBooks book of stories that chronicle the challenges that we face as diabetics.
I just created my twitter account today and followed a lot of sites about diabetes. I have a Type 2 diabetes and i’m sure that DMBooksa will be a great help not only to me but for my family and friends for them to better understand my condition. I hope to win. Thanks.
Hello:
I just located your site today. So far it appears to be a very helpful site. Yes, I am a diabetic. And, I really need to learn how to exclude extra sugar from my meals and snacks. I really suck when it comes to the sugars. It would be helpful to read your DMBook. I need more motivation. Maybe viewing videos/pictures of people who have been disabled due to their diabetes may help, a picture can help more than words alone. Keep the good work up.