Reviews of Diabetes:
Sugar-Coated Crisis
David Mendosa:
"A
Tale of Two Books"
Stephen Z. Smith, MD
Journal of the Kentucky Medical Association
December 17, 2006
From the front cover pictured with a letter shackled to a sugar cube
to the back cover crowded with accolades and pronouncements, this
book shouts its advent with a clarion call. Written and extensively
documented by an author with multiple sclerosis coloring his
background and educated in the nursing profession, this is a work
meant to both help and shake up the audience. Part expose’ in a
newspaper like headline and story format, but carefully mixed with
useful information, the text literally bounces from cause to effect
with alacrity.
Titling Part I as “A Profit-Driven Plague” surely tells the reader
that the author has problems with the current health system and how
it deals with diabetes. If there were a conspiracy of the food
industry to promulgate diabetes and a medical care system siding
with the better offs, then these chapters would be welcome
confirmation of their beliefs. Probably something less of both
exist in reality, but with the population fatter and more sedentary,
and the manufacturers with the restaurateurs pushing significantly
bad-for-you products, there does seem to be a case for indictment.
His second “Part II – Health as a Movement” discusses the proactive
position of doing something about the source and the result, rather
than being the bystander accepting what care is offered. With
titles like “Taking it to the Streets” and “Self-Care as a Political
Act, Mr. Spero demands that his readers take the challenge and push
for changes. During all this demonstration, many practical
suggestions and tactics are inserted. This legitimizes the
practical part as well as the promotional goals of the work.
Appended are sections on self care, resources, notes and an index,
all of which serve the reader well.
This reading should not be taken as a manual or medical text, but
rather as a well presented and researched point of view and guide
book.
More about Diabetes:
Sugar-coated Crisis
Advance Praise for Diabetes: Sugar-Coated Crisis
"Eloquent and
thought-provoking."
Richard Rubin, American
Diabetes Association
President for Health care and Education
"A hard-hitting and beautifully written look at
the social causes and
cures of chronic illness. Sugar-Coated Crisis illuminates the true
reality of diabetes and provides cutting-edge ideas on its prevention
and treatment."
Thomas Bodenheimer MD
Professor of Family and Community Medicine,
University of California, San Francisco
"David Spero clearly shows us why patient
self-management is crucial, what social and medical forces get in its
way, and how groundbreaking healthcare providers are helping people care
for themselves."
Kate Lorig, RN, DPH, Director, Stanford
University
Patient Education Resource Center
"A compelling and inspiring resource for people,
communities, and health systems struggling with diabetes and other
chronic conditions."
Dr. America Bracho, CEO of
Latino Health Access
"A great read. Emphasizes that we need to
heal the environment, not just rely on the health care system to deal
with chronic illness. Sugar-Coated Crisis describes changes
needed to prevent diabetes, and maintain the well being of diabetics."
Lawrence Cohen, MSW, Executive Director,
The Prevention Institute
"With deep understanding, intelligence and
passion, David Spero shines a bright light on the social and
environmental determinants that underlie diabetes and other chronic
illnesses. David, a highly effective clinician, peer counselor and
coach, also inspires, empowers and encourages readers to take actions to
promote personal well-being as well as actions that will improve the
lives of others."
Michael G. Goldstein, MD, Associate Director, Clinical
Education and Research, Institute for Healthcare Communication
"David Spero takes readers through a powerful
and moving tour of how poverty and public policy have contributed to the
deadly epidemic of diabetes, and how community efforts can help stop
it".
Doriane Miller MD, National Program Director,
Quality Allies: Improving Care by Engaging Patients
(Institute for Healthcare Improvement)
"We read almost daily about the diabetes
epidemic, and we know about the ever-increasing rates of obesity.
But Spero digs far deeper to see what is behind this epidemic - how our
social environment and economic distribution are prominent causes.
We need to address these issues at all levels, if we are to improve
lives and health. Spero's book clearly and powerfully speaks to
how we can do this!"
Laurie Francis MSW, CEO Community Health Partners,
Bozeman, Montana |
