After reading Dr. Bernstein’s “Diabetes Solution,” we came across the name “Dana Carpender” and bought her book of 500 Low Carb Recipes. In several related books, we found his book “How I Stopped My Low Fat Diet and Lost 40 Pounds – And How You Can Too!” it was highly recommended.

As a diabetic, he was fed up with hypoglycemia and high blood sugar on a regular diet and was ready to try Dr. Bernstein’s suggestion to cut carbs, but didn’t even know where to start. She was also fed up with bland food, low-fat foods, and avoiding the foods she loved.

Dana’s cookbook was a great place to start with some new ideas, but this book was just fascinating. I ended up taking turns reading it with my mother, as we were eager to talk about the different chapters and what it might mean for my health and my lifestyle.

What attracts is Dana’s honesty: not only does she propose a diet, she explores the benefits of the Atkins diet (not suitable for diabetics) and the newcomer on the scene, the Primal diet. The book also provides information on how to calculate your own carbohydrate and protein needs – some simple calculations that allow you to take control of your own diet. Another benefit of the book is that Dana bases her suggestions on medical research; It’s comforting to know that it’s not just an idea that you came up with, but that your diet suggestions are based on years of research.

Best of all, most of your friends won’t even notice you’re on a diet. On a low-carb diet, you can still eat meats, most vegetables, butter, and cream; This is not a diet where you feel deprived or hungry, you will feel pleased and satiated after every meal.

If you’re considering switching to a low-carb diet, the book clearly spells out why you should, an explanation that deters sugary snacking better than wavering willpower. Somehow, understanding the processes involved and what sugar is doing to your body can give you the motivation to improve your diet that you have been looking for. Dana also explains the interaction between insulin and food, clearly explaining for the first time why a low-carb diet should and does work for many diabetics.

If you’re sick of not understanding your life-threatening illness, but want to understand about food and your body, this is a book you shouldn’t be without.