Pract Diab Int October 2007 Vol. 24 No. 8 Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons 403

BOOK REVIEW

Book Review

© 2007 Michael A Weiss and Martha M FunnellPublished by Running Press Book PublishersISBN: 0 7624 3116 4£7.99, paperbackwebsite: www.runningpress.com(This book is also available at amazon.com)

When faced with either newly diag-nosed diabetes or concerns about on-going diabetesmanagement, most patients will seek further informa-tion. In this modern age, some will search the internet, others may contact Diabetes UK and stillothers may search for a suitable book to inform andsupport them in their diagnosis or management.Whilst many individuals form part of the diabeteshealth care team, this pocket-sized book focuses onthe most important member of that team: the personliving with diabetes.

After a short introduction this book is divided intothree main parts: these lead the reader through aprocess of learning and doing, and then invite discus-sion around future challenges, options, care support andnew developments in diabetes management.

The empowerment approach to care is the founda-

tion stone of this narrative; it imbues every area andtopic raised and enables the reader to take charge oftheir own condition and make realistic decisions relatingto their care. In each section of the book Michael(Weiss) offers insight into his personnel journey of livingwith diabetes, whilst Martha (Funnell), acting as anadvocate for the many individuals she has met duringher career as a diabetes educator, describes her journeyfrom treatment focused diabetes care to the empower-ment approach developed with her colleague BobAnderson. In addition, carers and family members arenot forgotten: each section ends with a special note ofsupport and encouragement in recognition of the important role they play in the care of the person in theirfamily with diabetes.

This book offers a simple commonsense approach toliving with diabetes. It incorporates all the best elementsof a good self-help book in a form that is easily understood and leaves the reader with a strong sensethat they and only they have the right and power toeffectively manage their diabetes.

June James, Senior Diabetes Specialist Nurse, Peterborough Primary Care Trust, UK

The Little Diabetes Book YOU Need to ReadBy Michael A Weiss and Martha Funnell

Possible link betweeninsulin levels and lifespan

New research claims that reducinginsulin signals inside brain cellsincreases lifespan in mice. Researchersalso concluded that having a healthylifestyle and weight that reduce insulinlevels could also be an important factorin increasing longevity in humans.

The study, conducted by researchersfrom the Howard Hughes MedicalInstitute in the US, was recentlypublished in Science. The researchlooked at the effects of a protein, IRS2,which carries the insulin signal in the

brain and showed that the mice withhalf the amount of the protein lived18% longer than normal mice.

‘This is an interesting study as thework done on mice could suggest thatinsulin is playing a role in the ageingprocess,’ said Matt Hunt, ScienceInformation Manager at Diabetes UK.

‘Nevertheless, we are looking atnumerous and extremely complexgene interactions in the brain and thisresearch doesn’t yet explain how thismechanism might be working. We haveto remember that human longevity hasbeen steadily increasing, despite risinglevels of obesity and diabetes, due toimprovements in access to health care,

clean water and better public healthinitiatives. This means that insulin levels in the brain would be only oneof many factors when it comes toimproving longevity. Although quitespeculative it would be interesting tosee how the authors think theirfindings might be applied to humans.’

Diabetes UK: The charity forpeople with diabetes:10 Parkway, London NW1 7AATel: 020 7424 1000 Fax: 020 7424 1001e-mail: info@diabetes.org.uk website: www.diabetes.org.uk Registered charity no. 215199

News update for readers of Practical Diabetes International

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