Diabetes for Dummies or The Healing Power of Acupressure and Acupuncture

Diabetes for Dummies

Author: Alan L Rubin

Diabetes affects millions of Americans each year, but thanks to medical breakthroughs, many diabetics live long and happy lives. In a sense, a diagnosis of diabetes is both good and bad news, with the bad news being that you’ve been diagnosed, but the good news being that you’ll make some changes in your lifestyle that will not only prevent complications but help you lead a healthier life.

Now in its second edition, Diabetes For Dummies provides the most up-to-date information about the disease, covering everything from new medications to recent studies on ethnic groups and children. This trusted guide shows you what you need to know to:

• Understand the causes and effects

• Battle short-term complications

• Prevent long-term complications

• Monitor your glucose

• Select a diet plan that’s right for you

• Develop an effective exercise routine

• Choose and use medicine safely

• Deal with you child’s diabetes

• Care for the elderly with diabetes

• Cook great diabetes-friendly meals

Packed with ways to prevent or reverse the effects of diabetes and Web sites to find out more, as well as exposing myths about the disease, this is the ultimate guide to understanding and managing diabetes. You’ll even find delicious recipes from top chefs that satisfy every palette. Don’t let this disease stop you from enjoying life—survive and thrive with Diabetes For Dummies, Second Edition!

Table of Contents:

	Introduction	1
	Who Needs a Second Edition?	1
	About This Book	2
	Conventions Used in This Book	2
	What You Don't Have to Read	3
	Foolish Assumptions	3
	How This Book Is Organized	3
	Icons Used in This Book	5
Part I	Dealing with the Onset of Diabetes	7
Chapter 1	Dealing with Diabetes	9
	You Are Not Alone	10
	Reacting to Your Diagnosis	11
	Maintaining a High Quality of Life	14
Chapter 2	It Starts with the Glucose	19
	Detecting Prediabetes	19
	Understanding What Diabetes Does	21
	Tracing the History of Diabetes Treatment	24
	Sharing Some Real Patient Stories	26
Chapter 3	What Type of Diabetes Do You Have?	29
	Getting to Know Your Pancreas	30
	Having Type 1 Diabetes	31
	Having Type 2 Diabetes	37
	Having Gestational Diabetes	45
	Recognizing Other Types of Diabetes	46
Part II	How Diabetes Affects Your Body	49
Chapter 4	Battling Short-Term Complications	51
	Solving Short-Term Complications	51
	Understanding Hypoglycemia	52
	Combating Ketoacidosis	59
	Managing the Hyperosmolar Syndrome	62
Chapter 5	Preventing Long-Term Complications	65
	How Long-Term Complications Develop	66
	Kidney Disease	66
	Eye Disease	74
	Nerve Disease, or Neuropathy	79
	Heart Disease	85
	Diabetic Blood Vessel Disease Away from the Heart	88
	Diabetic Foot Disease	90
	Skin Disease in Diabetes	92
	Gum Disease in Diabetes	93
Chapter 6	Diabetes, Sexual Function, and Pregnancy	95
	Examining Erection Problems	95
	Facing Female Sexual Problems	100
	Striving for a Healthy Pregnancy	101
	Identifying Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome	111
Part III	Managing Diabetes: The "Thriving with Diabetes" Lifestyle Plan	113
Chapter 7	Glucose Monitoring and Other Tests	115
	Testing, Testing: Tests You Need to Stay Healthy	116
	Monitoring Blood Glucose: It's a Must	117
	Choosing a Blood Glucose Meter	121
	Tracking Your Glucose Over Time: Hemoglobin Alc	129
	Testing for Kidney Damage: Microalbuminuria	132
	Checking for Eye Problems	132
	Examining Your Feet	133
	Tracking Cholesterol and Other Fats	134
	Measuring Blood Pressure	137
	Checking Your Weight and BMI	138
	Testing for Ketones	140
	Testing the C-reactive Protein	141
Chapter 8	Diabetes Diet Plan	143
	Considering Total Calories First	144
	Getting Enough Vitamins, Minerals, and Water	153
	Counting Alcohol as Part of Your Diet	155
	Using Sugar Substitutes	156
	Eating Well for Type 1 Diabetes	158
	Eating Well for Type 2 Diabetes	159
	Reducing Your Weight	159
	Coping with Eating Disorders	163
Chapter 9	Keeping It Moving: Exercise Plan	167
	Getting Off the Couch: Why Exercise Is Essential	167
	Exercising When You Have Diabetes	170
	Determining How Much Exercise to Do	173
	Is Golf a Sport? Choosing Your Activity	175
	Walking 10K a Day	178
	Lifting Weights	180
Chapter 10	Medications: What You Should Know	187
	Taking Drugs by Mouth: Oral Agents	188
	Insulin	198
	Using Other Medications	211
	Avoiding Drug Interactions	212
	Finding Financial Assistance	213
Chapter 11	Diabetes Is Your Show	215
	Your Role as Author, Producer, Director, and Star	215
	The Primary Physician--Your Assistant Director	216
	The Diabetologist or Endocrinologist--Your Technical Consultant	217
	The Eye Doctor--Your Lighting Designer	218
	The Foot Doctor--Your Dance Instructor	218
	The Dietitian--Your Food Services Provider	219
	The Diabetes Educator--Your Researcher	220
	The Pharmacist--Your Usher	220
	The Mental Health Worker--Your Supporting Actor	221
	Your Family and Friends--Your Captivated and Caring Audience	221
Chapter 12	Putting Your Knowledge to Work for You	223
	Developing Positive Thinking	223
	Monitoring and Testing	224
	Using Medications	225
	Following a Diet	226
	Exercising Regularly	227
	Using Expertise Available to You	227
Part IV	Special Considerations for Living with Diabetes	229
Chapter 13	Your Child Has Diabetes	231
	Your Baby or Preschooler Has Diabetes	232
	Your Primary School Child Has Diabetes	234
	Your Adolescent Has Diabetes	238
	Your Young Adult Child Has Diabetes	240
	Off to College	240
	Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes in Children	241
	Sick Day Solutions	241
	Thyroid Disease in Type 1 Children	242
	The Extra Value of Team Care	243
Chapter 14	Diabetes and the Elderly	245
	Diagnosing Diabetes in the Elderly	246
	Evaluating Intellectual Functioning	246
	Considering Heart Disease	247
	Preparing a Proper Diet	247
	Avoiding Hypoglycemia	248
	Using Medications	248
	Dealing with Eye Problems	250
	Coping with Urinary and Sexual Problems	250
	Considering Treatment Approaches	251
	Understanding the Medicare Law	252
Chapter 15	Occupational and Insurance Problems	253
	Traveling with Diabetes	254
	Knowing Where You Can't Work	254
	Becoming Familiar with Workplace Law	255
	Navigating the Health Insurance System	256
	Changing or Losing a Job	258
	Considering Long-Term Care Insurance	259
	Shopping for Life Insurance	260
Chapter 16	What's New in Diabetes Care	261
	Understanding Drug Discoveries	262
	Delivering Insulin Without Needles	263
	Transplanting Cells for a Cure	265
	Assessing Body Iron Stores	267
	Finding Unexpected Treatments	268
	Connecting Obesity with Diabetes	269
	Addressing Morbid Obesity	269
	Learning from the National Weight Control Registry	270
	Improving Diabetes Education	272
Chapter 17	What Doesn't Work When You Treat Diabetes	273
	Developing a Critical Eye	273
	Identifying Drugs That Don't Work	275
	Avoiding Illegal Drugs	278
	Knowing the Dangers of Some Legal Drugs	279
	Recognizing Diets That Don't Work	280
Part V	The Part of Tens	283
Chapter 18	Ten Ways to Prevent or Reverse the Effects of Diabetes	285
	Major Monitoring	285
	Devout Dieting	286
	Tenacious Testing	286
	Enthusiastic Exercising	287
	Lifelong Learning	287
	Meticulous Medicating	288
	Appropriate Attitude	288
	Preventive Planning	289
	Fastidious Foot Care	289
	Essential Eye Care	290
Chapter 19	Ten Myths about Diabetes That You Can Forget	291
	Perfect Treatment Yields Perfect Glucoses	291
	A Piece of Cake Can Kill You	292
	Unorthodox Methods Can Cure Diabetes	293
	Diabetes Ends Spontaneity	293
	Hypoglycemia Kills Brain Cells	294
	If You Need Insulin, You're Doomed	294
	People with Diabetes Shouldn't Exercise	295
	You Can't Get Life and Health Insurance	295
	Most Diabetes Is Inherited	296
	Diabetes Wrecks Your Sense of Humor	296
Chapter 20	Ten Ways to Get Others to Help You	297
	Explain Hypoglycemia	297
	Follow the Standards of Care	298
	Find an Exercise Partner	298
	Use Your Foot Doctor	299
	Enlist Help to Fight Food Temptation	299
	Expand Your Education	300
	Fit Your Favorite Foods into Your Diet	301
	Seek Out a Specialist	301
	Understand Your Medications	302
	Share This Book	302
Part VI	Appendixes	303
Appendix A	Mini-Cookbook	305
	Aqua	305
	Border Grill	310
	Charlie Trotter's	313
	Fringale	316
	Gaylord India Restaurant	320
	Greens	323
	Harbor Village	328
	Il Fornaio	331
Appendix B	Exchange Lists	335
	Listing the Foods	335
	Using Exchanges to Create a Diet	343
Appendix C	Dr. W.W. Web	347
	My Web Site	347
	General Sites	347
	Companies That Make Diabetes Products	350
	Diabetic Exercise and Sports Association	352
	Government Web sites	353
	Diabetes Information in Other Languages	354
	Sites for the Visually Impaired	354
	Animals with Diabetes	355
	Recipes for People with Diabetes	355
Appendix D	Glossary	357
	Index	365

See also: Brand Name Diabetic Meals in Minutes or Pillsbury Bake off Winners

The Healing Power of Acupressure and Acupuncture: A Complete Guide to Timeless Traditions and Modern Practice

Author: Matthew Bauer

This accessible, up-to-date resource guide leads you through the foundations and techniques of acupressure and acupuncture.

Acupressure and acupuncture can relieve painful conditions such as migraine headaches, lower back pain, joint disorders, carpal tunnel syndrome, asthma, allergies, stress, nausea, heart problems, and many others. Today, most health-care plans cover these treatments, making them more popular than ever.

Filled with insights into the history of these two age-old therapies, The Healing Power of Acupressure and Acupuncture helps readers choose when to see a licensed therapist, and even provides information about doing certain treatments at home. Matthew D. Bauer delves deeply into the traditions and remarkable benefits of acupressure and acupuncture, explains the many benefits of both, describes techniques for self-treatment, and illustrates how Chinese healing can augment modern Western medicine.

Author Bio: Matthew D. Bauer is a licensed acupuncturist who has been in private practice for more than sixteen years and writes a regular column for Acupuncture Today.