Like Amylia, I was diagnosed young. At five years old I didn’t know anything about what was going on, and at 34 years old now, I honestly don’t remember much about things that far back.
I can only imagine the shock of being diagnosed with diabetes. I can only guess at what types of things would make that diagnosis easier to cope with, either for the one diagnosed or for parents of young kids diagnosed. Here are my first two guesses.
I know that using “The Born-Again Diabetic” phrase for Newly Diagnosed Week is a little strange, but despite the title, this is my very first recommendation for those recently diagnosed with diabetes.
I posted about Wil’s book when it first came out back in February. What makes this book so special is Wil’s talent for visualization and for writing that keeps you engaged at every sentence and able to understand everything that he’s trying to tell you.
Wil also speaks from a rare perspective of being in the medical profession AND living with type 1 diabetes. He knows what he’s talking about. And he knows how it is “in the trenches”. I love this book. And the author is a pretty good guy too (but that’s not why I love the book).
This book also has a little brother, if you are a bit put-off by the idea of a couple hundred (though very quick and easy) pages (very understandable if you are dealing with the diagnosis). Wil thought about that too, and worked to put together an even smaller and easier to digest book. As he says “Just what you need in the here-and-now”, and “it has just the basics in plain English”, and “Just what you need to get started. And nothing more”.
This book can be read in 30 minutes or less, and has Wil’s same flare for straight to the point information presented in a way that you will understand and remember. That is a perfect combination for those newly diagnosed.
It is small enough to fit in the back pocket of a pair of jeans, and is less than 85 pages (not including acknowledgments, etc). In the title pages of the book it says “It’s going to be Ok, you’re going to be Ok”.
Those are just the words you need to hear when you think your world is falling apart.