Book Review: "Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat with Diabetes"

by Michele May MD with Megrette Fletcher, RD, CDE

As a therapist who has worked with a disordered eating population for over 30 years, using a mindfulness-based approach, I am well aware of how resistant my clients are to rules, diets, restriction, and fear-based strategies, even after being diagnosed with pre-diabetes or diabetes 2.  I therefore read Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat with Diabetes very carefully, with a critical eye.  To my delight, I have found a book, which I feel comfortable recommending to my pre-diabetic and diabetic clients.

From the gentle, supportive, hopeful, realistic and empowering introduction to the end of the book, I see this as an engaging guide to help people thrive with diabetes.  The careful articulation shifting “control” to being “in charge” of one’s eating, and the weaving of the Mindful Eating Cycle throughout the book succeeds in emphasizing that HOW one eats, rather than WHAT one eats is the key to a balanced and satisfying relationship with food and body.  Throughout, there is an invitation to assess one’s eating patterns and personal style in a way, which enhances mindful awareness and fosters a non-judgmental attitude.

The book provides an excellent understanding of the mechanism of diabetes and techniques for self-care.  One client’s husband, who is an endocrinologist, read it, and is recommending it highly to his patients.  It is organized very well and written with intention and clarity.

Another client who read the book really understood that she does not have to eat by formula, but can eat responsively.  The My Plate concept was informative, rather than triggering.  This client also appreciated hearing that ten minutes of exercise has a beneficial effect.

I enthusiastically recommend Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat with Diabetes, and thank Michelle May and Megrette Fletcher for this  contribution to the field.