Life with diabetes is a complicated, crazy mess, and explaining this mess to our loved ones is never easy. Naomi Kingery, a passionate 22-year-old diabetes advocate, author and Medtronic Diabetes employee in their Customer Relations department in Northridge, CA, was diagnosed with diabetes at age 12. Over the years she has written two books aimed at teens with diabetes, and yesterday she published her third book, this one an eBook aimed at trying to explain the nuances of her life to those without “D.”
Sugar Free Support is a quick-and-easy 60-page read. Naomi walks readers through various aspects of her life with diabetes in hopes of explaining the how and the why of how people with diabetes feel.
The book is mostly autobiographical, with Naomi sharing her personal experiences with diabetes: her diagnosis, her family life, and her impressions of other families dealing with diabetes. From there, Naomi gives her “two cents” on what “others” should know about what she’s going through and advice and tips on what she recommends the others do.
Naomi writes: “You may be the mother with tear-stained cheeks of a newly diagnosed 14-year-old. Or the sibling dealing with anger and guilt. The friend who tries to understand the emotional and physical changes this will bring. Or the significant other who whispers sweet nothings like ‘Are you feeling okay?’ The teacher who displays empathy towards a student, as well as those in the health care field whose mission is to change the lives of patients like me every day. It is for you that I pour my heart onto these pages and share with you, the loved ones, how to best support your beloved who has D.”
Naomi isn’t an educator or a psychologist, and she is very young, so her advice comes with a heavy disclaimer that these are just her opinions. Her book is also very casual, rather than a heavily researched book with lots of footnotes. It’s her life and her thoughts, but sometimes “hearing it like it is” from someone “in the know” is exactly what the doctor ordered! And having lived with type 1 diabetes for over 10 years, Naomi certainly has learned a few wise lessons.
Naomi’s eBook is only $5, but one drawback is that it’s currently only available on Amazon Kindle and Kindle applications (Kindle for iPhone, iPad, Android, Blackberry and PC). Other formats TBD.
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 Sugar Free Support — IF you own a Kindle reader, that is (because this book is only available on Kindle thus far). We’ll send the winner a pre-paid link to download the book onto their Kindle.
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). You can still leave a comment without entering the contest, but if you want to be considered to win the book, please remember to include “DMBooks.”
2. This week, you have until Saturday, Sept. 3, 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, Sept. 5, 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!
After having T1 for 53 years, it is interesting for me to read of younger people’s thoughts on daily life and how things are so different from when I was young with T1.
As one of three type 1′s in our home (and being the latest dxd) I think this will be an interesting read. I will also very likely share it with our 19 year old son, the only non-D in the house! “DMBooks”
I totally want this DMBooks!
Definitely DMBooks! I downloaded the sample onto my Kindle and can’t wait to read the rest.
Hey, I’m a PWD type 2 and a follower on Facebook, thanks for posting this.
I was diagnosed April 30,2011 Just 1 Day after my 47 th Birthday. I will not let Diabetes break me, I will break Diabetes.
(DMBooks)I hope I win this prize.
On October 1,2011 I am “Stepping Out” to help raise awareness and raise money for research to find a cure for diabetes.
Join me in Philadelphia on 10/01/2011 at 9AM Near the steps of The Philadelphia Art Museum. We will be walking the 5K. Come join us. Our Team “Sweet Feet” plan on walking the entire 5k. Thank You!
DMBooks
DMBooks has a lot to teach me as my older sister struggles with the Big D. I need to know how to feed her when she comes cross-country to visit me. Many thanks for all I have learned from this site.
DMBooks – This would be a perfect way of giving those who don’t understand what it is like to be a PWD a summary of life as a PWD without having to go into your life story.
DMBooks. I would love read this. BTW – there is a free Kindle for PC download from Amazon, so anyone with a PC could read it as well.
Hey Allison and readers!
Thanks again for this wonderful opportunity to be interviewed, it is very much appreciated. I wanted to give an update based on a new addition to the platforms Sugar Free Support is now available on. As of today, it can be purchased through Barnes and Noble for Nook applications! Sorry for leaving out my Nook readers as I was so focused on getting this available for Kindle! But now I am excited that all of The Sugar Free Series are available on http://www.bn.com so check it out.
Thanks for prompting me to make this happen with feedback on the need for broader availability!
Naomi
The Diabetic Diva®