I had the pleasure of reviewing Your First Year with Diabetes, written and illustrated by diabetes expert and entertainer, Theresa Garnero, APRN, BC-ADM, MSN, CDE. I also got to interview Theresa, but due to the length of the review, I’ll be posting that tomorrow. Theresa has written a clearly organized, user-friendly book that I would say is part manual, part workbook, part reference to guide people through the mire that one’s first year of diabetes can be. I think it has uses beyond that though, so even if this isn’t your first year with diabetes, don’t assume there isn’t something useful in it for you because there’s really an incredible amount of information packed into this paperback of just over 300 pages.

She covers the basics – the standard complications, lots of basic diabetes-related nutrition, BG monitoring, A1c, etc. There are also sections on almost anything you can think of – traveling, cholesterol meds, dental health, tapping online resources (I’m sure the second edition will include blogs!), exploring mail order prescriptions, coping with holidays and celebrations (she even encourages people to have birthday cake if they want it which I love because I cringe when I see anyone assuming they’re doomed to stick birthday candles in a head of broccoli), dangers of the salt shaker and ideas on kicking that habit, the art of choosing socks (seriously, important info), omega fats (flaxseed meal is your friend!), and many other topics. Topics that might be considered “more advanced”, or not something that anyone would bother to bring up until it was already a problem, or something no health care professional would even think to address as part of a comprehensive overview of diabetes.

There are a number of specific things that I found especially appealing and worth highlighting. One is the very frank, honest section on sexuality, clearly an issue that applies to both T1 and T2. Doctors don’t want to talk to you about it anymore than you wanted to talk to your parents about sex when you were a teenager. It’s uncomfortable, and unfortunately, it’s one of those ‘betes bonuses that no one mentions until you already have a problem. Theresa addresses the sexual issues common to both men and women with diabetes, and cuts right to the chase about it. Anyone new to diabetes who uses this book will be better prepared to foster a healthy sex life with their partner because they’ll understand how to prevent problems as they move forward and how to address problems should they, uhh, pop up.

Not surprisingly, another aspect of the book that delighted me was the thread of sections on emotional well-being that are woven throughout. As with all diabetes-related responsibilities – taking medication, following a nutrition plan, keeping appointments – if your head’s not in the game, those tasks will seem exponentially more monumental than they would otherwise, and are likely to just fall along the wayside followed by one’s overall health. She identifies common symptoms of depression, and even encourages people to seek out psychotherapy. She promotes using humor to cope, and I think it’s fair to say that if you aren’t laughing at some of the nonsense that comes with diabetes, you’ll end up crying. In an overlap with all the sections on exercise (I’m getting to that in a bit…), there’s a section, “Eastern Influences: Meditation, Yoga, and Tai Chi”. As an art therapist, I’ve seen a lot of stick figures in my day, and hers are especially charming, but more importantly clearly get the reader started with some simple yoga poses. Towards the end of the book, there’s a section on diabetes burnout and tips to deal with the diabetes police.

Similar to those sections on emotional well-being, there are multiple sections on exercise – benefits, precautions to take before getting started, alternative activities for those of us non-athletic folks (i.e. bowling, dance classes, gardening), strength training, and even some thoughts on managing nutrition and insulin for people who are athletically-inclined and into intensive exercise. If using the book as designed, setting goals week to week, having these smaller, more manageable chunks of information spread out over time should make it easier to stay on top of fitness goals.

As with many T1’s, I often get frustrated that so many things about “diabetes” are really just about T2 diabetes on closer inspection. When I read through the book the first time, that was my general impression. There are sections on oral meds, weight loss, fear of needles – things that aren’t necessarily pertinent to T1. I addressed this issue in the interview I did with Theresa, and after considering her response and some reflection, I recognize there is a wealth of information in the book that is applicable to T1 at least as much as T2, if not more. It’s undoubtedly a great resource for T2’s looking to make the necessary changes, but not sure how to start. However regardless of what type of diabetes the reader has or even how long they’ve had diabetes, ultimately the person who will get the most from Your First Year with Diabetes is the person who uses it as it’s designed, whether that someone is newly diagnosed or a vet who’s gotten off track and needs a good basic review and a structured opportunity to set manageable goals.

There are checklists, charts, cartoons and graphics, and tools to set goals and review progress. It’s solid information infused with humor and understanding for how challenging diabetes is. As far as the goal setting tools, there are small simple goals and more ambitious goals as well as space to write in goals, and there are opportunities to re-evaluate previously set goals and adjust as needed. Beyond all that, it’s clearly organized, and really has a wealth of information that’s just thorough enough to not be overwhelming without skimping on substance. This isn’t so much a book that you read cover to cover as much as a book you use because of its interactive nature, and then keep on hand as a quick reference.

As mentioned, I had the opportunity to ask Theresa some questions about the book, so check back tomorrow to see what she had to say!

Your First Year with Diabetes by Theresa Garnero, APRN, BC-ADM, MSN, CDE, 308 pages, published by the American Diabetes Association, 2008