mommymedia : diabetes

The Down’s Syndrome Handbook: A practical guide for parents and carers

Satya — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 16:26:00 GMT

For parents of children with Down’s Syndrome, this book is an all-encompassing guide to the challenges and hope of raising an affected child. Dr. Newton covers every part of a Down’s Syndrome child’s life and each decision that his or her parents must make. Beginning with a concise description of the nature of Down’s Syndrome and theories about its origin, the author has a personal and clear voice. He considers the emotional, social and physical implications of this disorder on the child and parents and empathizes but isn’t afraid to share the harsh truths of raising a child with Down’s Syndrome. As Down’s Syndrome children suffer higher rates of leukemia, diabetes and other diseases, they face compound problems which the author covers thoroughly, as well as ways to treat them. However, the author makes it clear that a relatively normal existence can be achieved and gives examples of extraordinary feats of individuals with Down’s Syndrome. He also gives examples of individuals who were able to live independently, despite the common misconception that Down’s Syndrome sufferers are dependent on others for life. The book covers so much; care of babies, education, emotional and sexual development, integration into society, laws and organizations, and experimental treatments. Although Dr. Newton is British and the book covers organizations and laws in the U.K., American and international parents of Down’s Syndrome children will still gain valuable insight and information from it. And its short length makes it readable for even the busiest parent. Pick up a copy here.

Eating for Pregnancy: An Essential Guide to Nutrition with Recipes for the Whole Family

Satya — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 16:51:00 GMT

What is the one bad thing about having your own personal library of pregnancy books? Most of them only have a nine-month shelf life! So what should you do with them once your family is complete? You can sell them back to a used book store at half price, you can sell them at a garage sale for fifty cents a piece, or you can pass them down to your family members as they become pregnant. But wouldn’t it be nice to buy a book that you could still use after baby is born? “Eating for Pregnancy” is that book. It combines both recipes and nutritional advice aimed specifically at the mother-to-be, but moms who use the book while pregnant often find that they continue to use it after their babies are born. One mom says, “You don’t have to be pregnant to reap in the wonderful results of this cookbook,” adding that it is “chock full of priceless information on the nutrients we need, which foods have them and how to cook them.” Another plus, authors Jones and Hudson address the requirements of diabetic, vegetarian and vegan diets. Each recipe is followed by tips for cooking, storage, health and special diets, as well as complete meal ideas, variations and the approximate nutritional content. We especially like how each recipe highlights the nutritional goals for baby and mommy-to-be, aptly called "What’s in this for baby and me." Best of all, you’ll appreciate the plethora of information this cookbook has to offer years after your baby is born. Pick up a copy here.

101 Tips for Raising Healthy Kids with Diabetes

Satya — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 18:49:00 GMT

By Laura Hieronymus MSEd, APRN, BC-ADM, CDE and Patti Geil MS, RD, FADA, CDE

It’s not clear whether 101 Tips for Raising Healthy Kids with Diabetes is intended for parents of recently diagnosed diabetic children, or for someone who’s already been dealing with the disease for some time. It is apparent, however, that the way the book is laid out isn’t the best way to present the information provided.

Most of the “tips” are extremely basic and foundational. They are sometimes redundant and often advise a parent to consult their diabetes care team. It would be better laid out in basic chapter format and geared towards the inexperienced parent of a child with diabetes than in numbered tip form, presenting the information sporadically.

101 Tips would be most helpful to someone who may feel overwhelmed by the recent diagnosis of a child with diabetes and doesn’t have much time to read. In such a situation, however, it would still benefit the parent to find a more comprehensive book, as diabetes can change almost every aspect of the child’s life.

As for the seasoned parent of a diabetic child, this book might provide a few useful tips, particularly the specific information about sports, riding the bus and trick-or-treating.

You can pick up a copy here.