Cheating Destiny: Living With Diabetes, America's Biggest Epidemic

We Are A Diabetic Nation: One In Three Americans Born In This Century Will Become Diabetic. Journalist Hirsch's Blend Of History, Reportage, Advocacy, And Memoir Will Speak For, And To, The 20 Million Americans Who Live With This Disease. This Book Offers Revealing Views Of The Diabetic Subculture, The Urge Toward Secrecy That Many Diabetics Feel, The Glycemic Rollercoaster They Ride Constantly, And The Remarkable Perseverance--even Heroism--required For Survival. Hirsch Is Uniquely Qualified To Write This: He Has Lived With Type 1 Diabetes For 25 Years. His Brother, Also A Diabetic, Is One Of The Country's Leading Diabetologists. And He Knows Firsthand The Toll Diabetes Can Take On Parents: His Three-year-old Son Was Diagnosed While He Was Writing This Book. Hirsch Draws On All This Expertise To Craft A Surprising Portrayal Of The Science Behind The Disease And The Skyrocketing Impact Of Diabetes On Our Economy And Society.--from Publisher Description.--from Source Other Than The Library Of Congress Diabetic Utopia -- Insulin's Poster Girl -- The Burden Of Control -- The Diabetes Queen -- Rewarding Failure, Punishing Excellence -- You Have To Be Brave, Or Else It Hurts -- New Lows -- Dr. Bernstein's Solution -- High-tech Tradeoffs -- Pushing Back The Horizon -- The Magical Beta Cell -- The Trials Of A Maverick Scientist -- -- The Price Of Survival -- Survivor Tales. James S. Hirsch. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 276-278) And Index.

Author : James S. Hirsch

Publisher : Houghton Mifflin

Published Year : 2006

Edition : 1

Format : Print - Hardcover, 307 pages

Subject : Diabetes, Diabetes--Popular works, RC660.4 .H57 2006, 616.4/62

Language : Eng English

Dimensions : 307 P., [8] P. Of Plates : Ill. ; 24 Cm.

ISBN : 0618514619

ISBN13 : 9780618514618

Overview :

We are a diabetic nation: according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in three Americans born in this century will become diabetic. James Hirsch’s myth-shattering blend of history, reportage, advocacy, and memoir will speak for, and to, the 20 million Americans who live with this disease. Cheating Destiny offers revealing views of the diabetic subculture, the urge toward secrecy that many diabetics feel, the glycemic rollercoaster they ride constantly, and the remarkable perseverance—even heroism—required for survival.

Hirsch is uniquely qualified to write this book. An award-winning journalist and best-selling author, he has lived with type 1 diabetes for twenty-five years. His brother Irl, also a diabetic, is one of the country’s leading diabetologists. Most poignantly, he knows firsthand the toll diabetes can take on parents: his three-year-old son was diagnosed with the disease while Hirsch was writing this book.

Hirsch draws on all this expertise to craft an incisive, surprising portrayal of the fascinating science behind the disease and the skyrocketing impact of diabetes on our economy and society. Most striking is his candid, authoritative writing about the psychological and emotional hurdles that diabetics confront every day. Anyone who lives with diabetes—or loves a diabetic—will find here an empowering voice of empathy.