Berstein or Metabolism Miracle???

[texastigerlily]

I've seen both books recommended here. What are the differences? Can you tell me the gist of each? Opinions, reviews, experience with either or both???

[amphigory]

Originally Posted by texastigerlily

I've seen both books recommended here. What are the differences? Can you tell me the gist of each? Opinions, reviews, experience with either or both???

Glad to see that you're looking at reading them. I haven't read "Metabolism Miracle", so I can't speak to differences, but let me just say what I love about Dr. Bernstein's work:

• As a Type 1 diabetic since 1948, he's lived it and he's still alive. That gives him enormously credibility with me.
• The book is INCREDIBLY comprehensive. EVERYTHING--even things you wouldn't even think of--is covered. For example: where to stick yourself for a BG test, diet, what kind of cough syrup to use, how to deal with hospital visits, medications... it's all there, in exhaustive detail. The book isn't just a good read, it's a good reference.
• It's well-written and well-edited (not all books in this area are.)
• He names names. For example, he'll often tell you exactly which brand of something to use, and where to get it.
• He approaches diabetes as an engineering problem. It's a numbers game, which appeals to me. There's no fuzzy logic--you do this, then you do that, then you do the other.
• As a corollary to being comprehensive, there are things in this book that you probably won't find anywhere else.
• It's reliable. Dr. Bernstein is very scientific in his approach, and has gobs of experience with thousands of diabetic patients. None of the "fuzzy thinking" that seems to pervade a lot of the other diabetes books here.
• Dr. B doesn't subscribe to half measures: his goal is normal blood sugars. Not close, not "good enough." Normal. The ADA will tell you you have a "right" to eat carbs. He tells you you have a right to avoid the side effects of diabetes by having good glycemic control, living to see 80.

The one downside is this: Dr. B is very opinionated, and sometimes that shows. I get the sense that, once he decides the way something he is, or what the best product is, he's not disposed to change his mind easily. So, I don't (for example) always use the brands he advocates.

Hope this helps.