Sickeningly Sweet

By Marilyn Johnson

Marilyn Johnson

First Published: 2015/01/01

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Sickeningly Sweet

What You Really Need to Know

About Diabetes

is published and printed by

Philippine Publishing House

No part of this book may be

reproduced or transmitted in any form

or by any means, electronic or mechanical,

including photocopying, recording,

or by any information storage and retrieval system,

without the writer permission of the publisher.

ISBN 971-581-014-4

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

To all those who contributed in some way to this book,

my sincere gratitude and appreciation. Special thanks go to:

My family—especially my husband, George, for his constant

encouragement to keep writing. Also to my younger daughter,

Snicki, for her patience and sacrifice as I spent many long hours

researching and writing this book.

Nancy Bassham, Norman Brendel, Larry and Carole Colburn,

Steve Kalpakoff, Quint and Norene Nicola, Bob Robinson, and

other friends for sharing what they have observed or experienced.

The Department of Health, the Philippine Diabetes Association,

the Diabetic Society of Singapore, the Malaysian Diabetes

Association (Persatuan Diabetis Malaysia), and

the American Diabetes Association for their valuable assistance

through seminars, pamphlets and other guidance.

My professors in the Health Science Department at

California State University, Fresno,

for their assistance and encouragement.

Preventive medicine specialist Dr. Clarence Ing,

internal medicine specialist Dr. Russell Standish,

endocrinologist Professor Amir Khir, and Dr. Akhtar Injeeli for

answering numerous questions and reviewing the manuscript to

ensure that it was medically accurate.

Raymond Tan, my young artist friend, for capturing

the essence of a book’s message through his illustrations.

To each of these and to others whom I may have failed to mention,

My sincerest thanks and appreciation.

This book is dedicated

to my very dear friends

Quint and Norene Nicola and

their children, Royce and Caroline,

who, through their own search for answers,

inspired me to write a book about diabetes.

To them I dedicate this book

in the hope that they will be able to help others

who are now searching

for answers and for a happy, healthy life.

FOREWORD

The rising incidence of diabetes in the country should be cause for alarm. Today, there are four million diabetics in the Philippines, the number doubling every seven years. The World Health Organization which calls diabetes “a major global epidemic,” reports that 120 million are suffering from diabetes mellitus worldwide, and this number will rise to over 250 million by the year 2025.

Diabetes mellitus is a slow, silent but savage killer. It belongs to a family of diseases which the Philippine medical community calls “syndrome x.” Diabetes is still a very-much-unknown-and-taken-for-granted disease. It can play host to deadly complications such as heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, impotence, or blindness. The disease is compounded today by an emerging consumer society and a sedentary lifestyle. As a degenerative disease, diabetes, although it cannot be cured completely, can be controlled by careful attention to lifestyle.

Educating people about this lifelong disease is of paramount importance. Author Marilyn Johnson has written a superb book on diabetes. Written in non-technical language for the average reader, this book provides invaluable information about diabetes detection, control, and how to live despite the disease.

In this book, the reader is introduced to the growing popularity of a lifestyle program known by its acronym NEWSTART. Inexpensive and practical, the program guarantees a new start to life. As the author of this book puts it, “It’s a sweetness that even a diabetic can enjoy.” And without harm.

The Publishers

CONTENTS

“Global Epidemic” ……………………………………………………………………………………………..............................

“Defining Diabetes …………………………………………………………………………………………….............................

Destined for Diabetes ………………………………………………………………………………………...............................

Diagnosing Diabetes ………………………………………………………………………………………….............................

Coping With the Crisis ………………………………………………………………………………………..............................

To Tell or Not to Tell? ………………………………………………………………………………………..............................

Keep On Keeping On ………………………………………………………………………………………..............................

Can Someone Please Help Me? ……………………………………………………………………….................................

Dosing Diabetes ………………………………………………………………………………………………..........................

Test Yourself …………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Dining Diabetically …………………………………………………………………………………………..

Diet Details ………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Exercise Economizes ………………………………………………………………………………………..

Emergency! ……………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Don’t Gamble With Glucose …………………………………………………………………………….

Foot Notes ………………………………………………………………………………………………………

A New Start in Life …………………………………………………………………………………………..

Helpful Addresses ……………………………………………………………………………………………