It’s always refreshing to read educational books about diabetes that are written by people with diabetes. Somehow, the combination of thoroughly researched information coupled with a realistic perspective is key in making diabetes education tolerable. And we can’t think of a better researched guide to the nuanced life of a woman with diabetes than Amy Stockwell Mercer’s new book The Smart Woman’s Guide to Diabetes — which we previewed in Amy’s guest post here at the ‘Mine not long ago. Now we’ve had a chance to look the book over ourselves…
With 25 years of diabetes life experience herself, Amy has penned a comprehensive guide to the various unique aspects of living with diabetes as a woman. She touches on everything from dealing with emotions at diagnosis, to eating and exercise, to dating, sex and motherhood. Amy included personal stories from over 20 women with diabetes, including our own Amy Tenderich. But it’s not just a compilation of personal anecdotes. The author also includes Q&As with endocrinologist Dr. Liz Stephens, a type 1 PWD herself and Dr. Sheri Colberg, exercise expert and type 1 PWD, plus expert advice from many other professionals, including Dr. Lois Jovanovic (on pregnancy) and Dr. Ann Goebl-Fabbri (on eating disorders).
The anecdotes from all the women are really heartfelt, and I appreciate the honesty these women bring to the table. The chapters on diet and body image are quite insightful, because so many women naturally have a challenging relationship with food and their own bodies, and diabetes makes it all doubly difficult.
As an actual guidebook on managing the illness, some chapters don’t go into as much detail as a woman might need (for instance, a woman planning a pregnancy would probably want to pick up a copy of Cheryl Alkon’s Balancing Pregnancy with Pre-existing Diabetes). But the chapter on diagnosis is something I can see a lot of newly diagnosed adults really benefiting from, with an emphasis on the fact that the emotions we women feel are perfectly normal and that you are not alone.
One of my favorite lines from the book is from Charla, who was diagnosed with type 1 as a teen and suffered with an eating disorder as she got older. She writes, “I’m still a stubborn person and I still fight, but now it’s fighting to take care of myself to win against diabetes. All the energy I used to put into hating my diabetes, now I use to take care of myself. My life has changed enormously.”
And along the same lines, type 1 PWD Rachel Garlinghouse reflected on how her diabetes affects her ability to be a mother, which as a newly married woman is something I’m currently thinking about myself. She says: “I know that if I do not put my health first, everyone in my family will suffer. Diabetes or not, how I treat myself is likely how my daughters will learn to treat themselves.”
In other words, the book is full of really simple but powerful sentiments that any woman with diabetes will appreciate!
I also think this book would be an excellent gift to any type 3s in your life. Whether it’s your husband, a new guy in your life, or maybe your parents if you were diagnosed as an adult. The Smart Woman’s Guide to Diabetes highlights all of the challenges of diabetes and shows great examples of strong women who have overcome the obstacles.
The DMBooks Giveaway
We love sharing our book finds with our readers, so we’re giving you the chance to win a free copy of The Smart Woman’s Guide to Diabetes.
Entering for your chance to win is as easy as leaving a comment!
Here’s what to do:
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, August 19, at noon PST to enter. A valid email address is required to win.
3. The winner will be chosen using Random.org.
4. The winner will be announced on Facebook and Twitter on Monday, August 22, so make sure you’re following us! We like to feature our winners in upcoming blog posts, too.
The contest is open to anyone, anywhere. Good luck!
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Count me in!
Sounds like a great read!
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“DMBooks” I would love this book for my 13 year old daughter…She was diagnosed two years ago and is doing such an awesome job!
Denise
Sounds perfect for my teen daughter…& a good read for me too!
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I’d LOVE to read this book!
“DMBooks” Sounds like a great read! I was dxd a year ago May and have a husband and daughter who are also type 1′s. After years of taking care of everyone else, I need to remember to take care of myself too!
DMBooks Hi! I would really like to win this book cause there is nothing similar found here in Greece. I’m 22 and was diagnosed 17 years ago.
Haha, if I could get my bf to read a book, this would be great, but I love reading! DMBooks!
I have never really thought about living with Diabetes as a Woman. I am one, just never crossed my mind. This might prove to be a very good read, and I am excited! DMBooks
DMBooks!!! I would love to read and have this on my shelf. I’m mom to a 10 year old type 1 cutie. Thanks!s-
This book is on my list of must reads
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I’m excited to read this book! Thanks for sharing your review of it.
i have been a diabetic for 36 years, and don’t own any “diabetic” books other than cookbooks! i would love to make this the first in my new collection of “diabetic” books! YAY DMBooks!!!
I would like to read this book. It sounds very informative.
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DMBooks Enter me too –
oh, and Allison you need to fix link to pregnancy book – says it’s “balancing diabetes with pre-existing diabetes” not “balancing pregnancy”…
I would love to learn about how to exercise without going low. DMBooks
Would love to win this book.all the DMBooks so far are great titles.
I’m a smart woman. DMBooks
DMBooks.
Thanks for doing a great giveaway!
The book looks really good!
I could really benefit from a book like this. DMBooks
DMBooks I have Cheryl Alkon’s book & I absolutely love it!! It’s really helping me prepare for my hopeful pregnancy this year
Would love to read it!
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I would love to read this. DMBooks
I’m 24 and was diagnosed with type 1 10 months ago. I’m struggling with dealing with this new illness alongside recovery from an eating disorder. I would love to read this book! DMBooks
I’m 24 and was diagnosed with type 1 10 months ago. I’m having a hard time dealing with managing this disease along with recovering from an eating disorder. I would love to read this book! DMBooks
On a totally different topic: In her presesentation with Hope Warshaw on the DOC, Amy said she was diagnosed in 2003, and that there was no diabetes online community at the time. But there WAS. When I was diagnosed in 1993, I found misc.health.diabetes and alt.support.diabetes on Usenet, and while these were wild and woolly unmoderated places with both good and bad info, and some nasty people at times, I also found there my first diabetes educator, a CDE who is now on the board of AADE. She worked me through the emotional and practical agonies of being newly diagnosed, NOT being either classic Type 1 OR Type 2 (probably a slow-developing LADA), sulfonylurea being totally useless, and going on insulin, and remains a close friend to this day.
So while your blog and those of others, and sites like TuDiabetes and Diabetes Daily are a great refinement on what it used to be, the Usenet sites should still be remembered if only as a part of early DOC history!
Sounds like a must read
Go DMBooks!
DMBooks – thanks!!!
DMBOOKS I could really use this book right now. And I’m glad I discovered this blog.
sign me up DMBooks
Sounds like a great book! I’d love to have it! DMBooks
I would love to check this out! DMBooks
I read Amy’s book in galley form, and can vouch for how great it is. But I wanted to say thanks, as always, for the props for my book, Balancing Pregnancy With Pre-Existing Diabetes, and also thanks to commenters Val and Samantha for the pregnancy book praise as well!
–Cheryl
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This sounds like a wonderful book, and I am anxious to read it! I love to read books about Type I diabetes, and really haven’t read one written by a woman since the days when June Biermann and Barbara Toohey wrote about Type I. (I’m dating myself – I know!!! I’ve had Type I for 39 years so far.) I also know we’re not supposed to judge a book by its cover (or title) but I must say it sounds like the diabetic’s answer to a book like “French Women Don’t Get Fat!”
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I’m looking for a good read for women and Diabetes.
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Count me in!!
Sounds informative!
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Love to read this website! How about sending me the book? DMBooks!
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I’m all for more books about living with d by those who are!
sounds like a great book that I’d love to read! DMBooks love this website!
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Can’t wait to read this book!
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t would be great to win this book. I heart you!
Would love to read this! DMBooks
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Sounds great! I am interested in reading the body image stuff, because it is always a difficult issue for women, but not generally adressed with women with diabetes.
this is the second time I have tried to win..
this DMBooks thing is pretty neat.. I hope I win!
good luck
Would love to read this book sounds awesome! DMBOOKS!!!!
This looks like a great read! DMBooks!
I just went away to college and I always have difficulties managing my diabetes when Im in new environments. This book sounds like it could help me. DMBooks
Would love to give this to my daughter … she is a VERY smart young lady
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I would love to own a copy of this book…been a diabetic for 40 years and am a woman, so anything and everything contained in the book would apply to me.