Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution: The Complete Guide to Achieving Normal Blood Sugars Hardcover – Illustrated, November 1, 2011

Absolutely a great book on how to live a healthy life with diabetes - either type 1 or 2. Lots of pertinent information and practical knowledge.

Dr. Richard K. Bernstein’s Diabetes Solution is a groundbreaking and comprehensive guide for managing both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. As a doctor and a long-time type 1 diabetic himself, Bernstein brings a unique and deeply personal perspective to diabetes care. His low-carbohydrate approach to blood sugar control challenges conventional medical advice but is backed by decades of research and personal experience.The book provides detailed guidelines on diet, medication, exercise, and blood sugar monitoring, making it an invaluable resource for diabetics who want to achieve near-normal blood sugar levels. Bernstein’s writing is thorough yet accessible, offering both scientific explanations and practical advice. While his methods require discipline, many readers have reported life-changing improvements in their health.If you are looking for a well-researched, no-nonsense approach to diabetes management, Diabetes Solution is a must-read.

I weighed 268, a diagnosed Type II when I first got this book. My doctor wanted to put me on medication. I asked him If I could try diet and exercise first. He reluctantly gave me 6 months. I never looked back. If I had followed my Dr. and the American Diabetes Association, I would still be taxing my pancreas to the max and shooting insulin to compensate for poisoning myself. But fate stepped in and I read this book. I learned how not to eat things that kill me and to avoid any medication whatsoever. (Note, some diabetics may be too far gone to accomplish this, as Dr. Bernstein notes in his book, but for the vast majority, newly diagnosed type IIs can learn to stop poisoning themselves and avoid medication. Even if you have to take medication or insulin, this book will help you to lower the dosages if not get off of them altogether).I lost 61 pounds in one year, went from a size 48 waist to a 38 and feel like a million bucks. I have never had to take medication. When I went back in 6 months, my A1C was out of the diabetic range altogether. That was a true miracle. All I did was follow the advice in this book. Dr. Bernstein tells the truth that many of us don't want to hear: There are some things we must never eat again. Many of us never hear the second part: But there are many new things you can eat, and you'll love them! Plus you will feel like a 20 year old again! The ADA would have you believe you can keep on chugging down carbs that bleed your pancreas dry...just take medication or insulin if you want that huge pizza or piece of cake. Dr. Bernstein takes the adult approach. There is so much more now that I eat, that I never used to. A whole new smorgasbord has opened up for me. I love it!The best thing about this book is that the author is not tied to any food industry or medical industry people, you get the straight dope here. He has no reason to lie and is a living example of his own advice. The man is a pioneer and we are sooooo fortunate he is still with us. Did you know he was an engineer way back in the '60s when he began to discover the truth about diabetes and the Govt. food Pyramid? Did you know that this engineer gave up his career, went back to school, and became a medical doctor just so the profession would take his findings seriously? He is still treating patients today.I should note that if I had listened to my doctor and got on medication the day I was diagnosed. I would never have qualified to be a private pilot. That dream would have been gone forever. Instead, I was able to avoid any medication, thanks to Dr. Bernstein. I hope the same works out for you. If you're tired of feeling lousy and resigned yourself to the curse of diabetes, you owe it to yourself to listen to Dr. Bernstein. I and hundreds of thousands of people like me are living proof that it doesn't have to be the way the ADA makes it out to be. One warning, if you aren't ready to treat yourself as an adult, don't bother spending money on this book. The good Dr. will not waste time telling what you want to hear. Instead he tells, and shows, you what you NEED to know. The choice is yours.

**Update, May 2013: 1+ year anniversary for my T1D son. Since his diagnosis he has grown 5 inches! At his healthiest ever. Last 2 A1C's have been 5.3, still great! NO background insulin needed anymore, it was making him too low. He can even go several days without meal insulin all because we read and followed Dr. Bernstein's book. THANK YOU! He breezed through a scarey case of the stomach flu. Doctor's can't believe he went through puberty and actually had blood sugars improve. Would like to add we have almost eliminated gluten from his diet also- not on purpose but due to their high carbs. I'll update any changes! His cholesterol numbers are excellent and we now eat low carb, high fat and protein, and limit grains!January, 2012: My 14 year old son was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in March of 2012. After the shock faded I immediately started to read about it and read Dr. Bernstein's older book from the library. I liked it and ordered this one and read it again. It blew me away. It goes against everything we have been told about eating healthy.FIRST, it has immensely helped my son- to the point that his blood sugar levels are so incredibly well controlled and low that the doctor's did tests to see if he was no longer diabetic. He is still diabetic, but stunning the doctors. His last A1C was 4.7 and his cholesterol levels in the excellent range. Thanks to this book! I read many but this one really helps. When we left the hospital in March the doctors told my son to eat whatever he wanted for carbs- but I questioned this. If he has a carb problem, shouldn't he restrict them? And that is what this books says too. It is VERY HARD to completely change your eating habits- but the work, the frustration at the store, the researching recipes is worth it to me so that my son can have the best health, and he does. He is currently on only 3 units of Lantus a day and only needs to dose for meals over 25 carbs- and many are not so no needle! We splurge once in awhile, like mashed potatoes at Thanksgiving, but these are now special foods.SECOND, our family started eating like my son. Low carb (free range, grass fed meat and non-starchy vegetables) and less processed foods. I lost those 15 pounds I've been struggling with and my husband lost 25. And we weren't even trying this time (and believe me, we've tried many different diets) we were just supporting our son. I used to be so tired by 5 or 6 p.m. Now my energy levels are great!It is hard- for all ages. I struggled at first, especially since I believed the low fat-low calorie-high fiber hype. I tried that diet for years, never lost weight and always felt tired. I read someone write that it wasn't for children with Type 1 diabetes. I disagree. It is especially important for children- teaches them early to eat well and sets them on the path to a healthy life.And here is my advice. While diabetes is serious- laugh. We find something to laugh about before injections. And read this book.