If you are among the 17 million American who have diabetes, you are probably working with a doctor to maintain an appropriate treatment program. But what if you could do more to improve your health? In A Guide to Complementary Treatments for Diabetes, Gene Bruno reveals natural ways to complement your current diabetes management. The author first explains what complementary therapy means, stressing that the treatments he recommends are meant to enhance your current diabetes program, not replace it. He then defines diabetes and details nutritional modifications that can be helpful in its control. The remainder of the book is devoted to diabetes symptoms and natural methods for dealing with them, as well as important information on potential interactions between prescription drugs and alternative therapies. Unique in its approach, A Guide to Complementary Treatments for Diabetes will help you assume an active role in your diabetes program and enjoy the greatest health possible.

Gene Bruno, MS, MHS, is Professor of Nutraceutical Science and Provost of Huntington College of Health Sciences. Prof. Bruno has graduate degrees in both Nutrition and Herbal Medicine, and is a Registered Herbalist with the American Herbalists Guild. He also headed the team the developed a Doctorate program in Integrative Healthcare at Huntington. For 37 years Prof. Bruno has educated healthcare professionals and others in nutrition, herbal medicine and nutraceutical sciences. He has also written numerous articles on nutrition, herbal medicine, nutraceuticals and integrative health issues for many magazines and peer-reviewed publications. He is also the author of A Guide to Complementary Treatments for Diabetes.

Acknowledgments, 000

How to Use This Book, 000

Introduction, 1

1.   What is Diabetes?

2.   Food and Diabetes

3.   A Basic Vitamin/Mineral Program for Diabetics

4.   Controlling Blood Glucose Levels

5.   Diabetic Neuropathies

6.   Cardiovascular Issues

7.   Circulation Problems

8.   Eye Health and Diabetes

9.   Weight Gain and Diabetes

10.How to Choose and Use Dietary Supplements

Conclusion,

Appendices

A. Finding a Low-GI Diet,

B. Resources,

C. Complementary Therapies,

D. Body Mass Index,

Recommended Reading,

References,

About the Author,

Index,

"The book contains valuable information and is easy to understand and follow by a lay person. Recommended for people who suffer from diabetes or who would like to prevent the problem." 

There are many books written on the subject of diabetes. So why write another? To me, there was only one good reason to do so: because there was something different to offer, something that has not already been said, something that can really help people. That is why I wrote A Guide to Complementary Treatments for Diabetes.

The vast majority of diabetes books that I have read address issues relating to dietary modification and the use of diabetic medications (like insulin). There are a few, however, that suggest if you follow the author’s program it will be possible to eliminate or otherwise improve diabetes. In these cases, I have often found that the author’s program focuses on some variation of dietary modification, and that the program is intended to be an alternate or replacement for the diabetic’s existing diet and drug program prescribed by his or her doctor. Furthermore, these books devote relatively few pages to the use of dietary supplements and, in most cases, no pages to the use of other complementary therapies. If included at all, the pages that do discuss supplements do so in a general way and do not organize the use of supplements based upon diabetic complications.

A Guide to Complementary Treatments for Diabetes is different. The key word is “complementary,” not “alternative.” This is a book about using dietary supplements and other complementary  therapies to help treat diabetes and the most common complications of diabetes. As the word complimentary implies, this book is meant to be an adjunct to the patient’s existing diet and drug program, not a replacement for that program.  A Guide to Complementary Treatments for Diabetesassumes that readers have already received dietary instruction from their physician or dietician (although Chapter 2 does provide an introductory discussion on the importance of proper diet for the diabetic, just in case).

It is my hope that this book will encourage readers to work with their doctors to utilize certain dietary supplements and complementary medicine practices to help better manage their diabetes. All the information presented is highly credible, with a solid foundation in science and references cited for all research and studies discussed. Nevertheless, the text is written in a way that anyone--regardless of their knowledge on the subject--can easily understand.

The book is separated into chapters that each explore and answer questions about a specific issue related to diabetes. Chapters 1 through 4 address basic diabetes topics that almost any diabetic can relate to, such as defining what diabetes is, the issue of dietary modification for diabetics, a basic vitamin/mineral program that any diabetic can follow, and dietary supplements and complementary therapies that can lower blood glucose levels and A1C levels.

Chapters 5 through 9 cover a more broad range of issues that diabetics are prone to, but not every diabetic will experience. These include diabetic neuropathies, cardiovascular issues, circulation problems, eye issues, and weight gain. Each chapter lists dietary supplements that can aid in improving a particular issue, along with complimentary treatments that can have similar results. Each supplement and therapy is generally safe for diabetics and has research and studies to back up its effectiveness.

The book is designed so that readers can simply turn to the page of the problem they are facing, without having to read the entire book. I feel that this makes the guide more accessible. However, I recommend that everyone read Chapter 10, “How to Choose and Use Dietary Supplements.” This chapter answers some common questions about dietary supplements, and in doing so provides guidelines for identifying good dietary supplements from potentially ineffective products that you do not want to waste your money on.

Happy reading!