Alternative and Complementary Diabetes Care: How to Combine Natural and Traditional Therapies

"This is not a book to answer all your questions about the use of alternative or complementary care, but it is a resource from which you may choose to make decisions and learn the guidelines for making such decisions," explains author Diana Guthrie. She organizes the content into the "PARENT" approach: Positive thinking, Assertiveness, Relaxation, Exercise, Nutrition, and Touch (or Treatment). She emphasizes practices that aren't likely to do any harm, and are likely to do some good (such as journaling, biofeedback, hypnotherapy, walking, and yoga) rather than the more controversial alternatives.

The nutrition chapter ("Foods and Folly") is too accepting--she presents detailed summaries of the major diet plans, including bestselling diets, but doesn't pass judgement on any of them, instead just passing along the authors' claims. Guthrie is more vigilant about warning us about the use of herbs, pointing out the risks and unknowns. She includes a helpful review of herbs that might influence diabetes management and wisely warns against substituting alternative care for your medical regimen. She also reminds you to discuss with your medical providers any complementary therapies you are using or considering using: "Combine both types of information and determine what you are going to do to make a better life for yourself and a healthier life for your body." --Joan Price