Best Type 1 Diabetes Books For Parents
There are tons of books available on the subject of Type 1 Diabetes however there are 4 particular books that I feel are the best Type 1 Diabetes books for parents of Children with Type 1.
Weather your child has recently been diagnosed or they’ve been diagnosed for a while and you want to learn more these 3 books will cover pretty much whatever you need to know.
I really do recommend reading as much as you can about Type 1 Diabetes as information and knowledge can make living with the condition so much easier, less scary and can definitely help with better blood glucose control.
1. Type 1 Diabetes in Children and Young Adults by Dr Ragnar Hanas
Now this is what I call my Type 1 Bible. You can either read it from cover to cover, which is what I did when I first got my hands on a copy or just dip in and out of it whenever you have a question that you need answering.
It covers everything from the basics through to Psychology,Research, Nutrition and lowering the risk of complications in later life.
It a bit like a Haynes Manual for Type 1 Diabetes. It covers everything. I particularly recommend this book to parents whose children have been recently diagnosed.
Dr Ragnar Hanas is consultant that specializes in Diabetes based in Sweden. So he really knows what he’s talking about. The language it the book is easy to understand.
2.
THINK LIKE A PANCREAS:- A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO MANAGING DIABETES WITH INSULIN BY GARY SCHEINER
This is a great book for both parents of children that have been just diagnosed and those families that are looking to achieve better blood glucose control. I love the title and it’s exactly what us parents have to try to achieve but at the same time we need to remember that we will never be as effective as a fully working pancreas.
Gary Scheiner is well respected in the Type 1 Diabetes world. He’s wrote many articles which are always so insightful.
The other great thing about this book is the language and tone that Gary uses, it’s so easy to relate to. It covers pretty much everything you need to know to help you better manage your child’s blood glucose levels.
One review that I read about this book claimed that after reading it they managed to reduce their HBA1C from 13.5% to 6%.
3.
PUMPING INSULIN BY JOHN WALSH
Pumping Insulin as you may have guessed is a book for those that are either thinking about moving to an Insulin Pump from MDI, those that are just starting to pump and it’s even useful for those already pumping that may want to tighten their blood sugar management.
The book covers everything from the benefits of and Insulin Pump right the way through to helping you reach your blood sugar goals and even trouble shooting for when things might not be going according to plan, such as issues like stopping high blood glucose levels after a set change and also how to check your basal rates, carb ratios etc.
Whilst the Dr Ragnar Hanas book is the bible on Type 1 Diabetes, this is the bible for those on an Insulin Pump.
As well as pumping it also covers using a CGM and how to get the most out of using both of them together.
4.
CARBS AND CALS – COUNT YOUR CARBS AND CALORIES
The Carbs and Cals book was given to us by our Dietician when we first started Carb counting. It’s super useful in the first months following diagnosis, when you first start carb counting and you may not have all the carb values of your child’s favourite foods stored in your memory. However it can also be useful when you or your child are away from home and aren’t in a position to check the carbs on packaging or weigh the food.
The book shows the carb values of over 1700 food products and meals. It even gives different carb values for different sized portions. You can compare your portion size to the picture based on the size of the plate and how much food covers the plate. Handy! This is also great for older kids and teenagers who are becoming more independent and find themselves out without parents to guide them.
If your team hasn’t already given you a copy then I recommend getting your hands on a copy. A great book for those new to carb counting.
As I said at the start of this article there are literally hundreds of books about Type 1 Diabetes but between them these 4 books cover everything you need to know, in a way that is easy to understand, particularly for Parents.
I hope you’ve found this guide to the Best Type 1 Diabetes Books For Parents useful. Please consider signing up to our FREE Newsletter in the sidebar for more tips, advice and information about Type 1 Diabetes.
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