Balancing Diabetes by Kerri Sparling

Before I talk about how much I enjoyed reading Kerri’s book, I need to disclose that she is a close friend. In general, I’m a fan of all she does. I’m also honored to be mentioned and to have contributed a few quotes in this book. There’s no way I can offer an unbiased review and I want to get that out of the way right up front.

One of Kerri’s many gifts is reflecting praise she is due back onto the community that surrounds her. In a book that takes us through her life with type 1 diabetes, and the many different stages (diagnosis, independent care, friendships, college, work, relationships, pregnancy, parenting, and more) she uses that gift to make a book about her story and search for balance be much more than just about her.

It’s a fascinating look at Kerri’s own experiences with diabetes, which is content worthy of attention all its own. But she’s also added commentary and quotes from nearly forty others.

However this is much more than a collection of stories pulled together to form a book. Kerri shares her thoughts and experiences (both good and bad) in each section, then pulls in additional info from others to either solidify what she’s saying or to offer additional points of view.

“After living with type 1 diabetes for almost three decades, I’ve come to realize that nothing works more efficiently and effectively than a properly functioning pancreas. All my insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors and exercise can only take me so far. That’s the reality of life with diabetes: it’s not a perfect science, and perfect diabetes management isn’t an achievable goal. (Not to mention, it’s a constantly moving target.)”  — Kerri Sparling, Chapter Nine, Walking the Blood Sugar Tightrope in Balancing Diabetes

It’s easy to fall in love with Kerri’s writing style; it’s full of truth and humor, and presented in a way that you can’t help but relate to. If you like what you find on her blog, Six Until Me, you’ll find that same entertaining style and character here. Kerri is a master at her craft–storytelling with emotion, humor, education, and hope–and it comes through brilliantly in her first book.

I found a lot of value from start to finish in the pages of Kerri’s book. Her words, and those of the many contributors, found an easy path right to the core of my life with diabetes. It felt as though our lives as adults living with diabetes shared common traits and a heritage of sorts, which is probably true in many ways. What I value most, however, is the open and comfortable dialogue about being an adult with diabetes – something that is too often forgotten about.

Thank you, Kerri, for bringing that conversation to life.