book review: The Little Diabetes Book You Need to Read Michael A. Weiss and Martha Funnell. Publisher: Running Press, Philadelphia, PA. Date of Publication: 2007. Price: $12.95

Abstract

The Little Diabetes Book You Need to Read offers information useful to persons with diabetes or prediabetes, persons newly diagnosed, and veterans struggling to achieve better control of their diabetes. Family members, caretakers, friends, and providers of diabetes education can also benefit from reading this book. The focus of the book is on the person rather than the person's diabetes. The book is grounded in the empowerment approach, pioneered by coauthor and diabetes educator Martha M. Funnell and her colleague Bob Anderson at the University of Michigan. Michael A. Weiss shares his personal journey as a person with diabetes for 23 years. Both authors served on the board of the American Diabetes Association. The book discusses how a person with diabetes can be better prepared to manage diabetes. Empowerment is discovering the strength within an individual so that he or she can successfully take charge of his or her diabetes and life. Through a series of steps in the LIFE plan, the authors lead the person with diabetes through a process that requires him or her to learn about real diabetes, to develop a plan of action, and to identify strategies to stay motivated. Real diabetes is different from the textbook definition. Each person with diabetes has his or her own definition based on his or her own experiences. The definition changes over time based on the physical and emotional challenges he must face. The "Learning" section starts with the importance of learning all one can about diabetes and oneself. It