Diabetes: Sugar-Coated Crisis

Description

Type 2 diabetes is a social pandemic caused by toxic environments - high in stress and sugar, low in opportunities to exercise or feel good about yourself - and a lack of power. Millions are suffering and being blamed for it; communities devastated; health systems bankrupted.

Diabetes: Sugar-Coated Crisis describes the social sources of the toxic environment, covering deeper causes, too: the stress and inequality built into our modern culture, the traumas and loss of community that make people vulnerable to illness. It reveals the medical mistreatment of diabetes - from kicking diabetics off medical insurance to underfunding diabetes education, from over-emphasizing drugs to giving corporate-influenced dietary advice.

Social diseases require social solutions. Social approaches focus on empowering people to take better care of themselves, bringing people together for mutual support, and changing the environment that causes illness. The first book to bring to life effective social approaches to wellness, this book:

• reports success stories from communities around the world
• highlights creative and effective medical programs developed by groundbreaking health care providers
• describes ways that individual self-care plus family and community involvement, combined with health care system support, can control chronic illness, change environments, and transform people's lives, and
• includes valuable diabetes self-care tips and resources.

Subjects

• Books
• Health and well-being
• Rainwater harvesting
• Land tenure
• Drinking water
• Landscape architect
• Engineer
• Filtration
• Purification

Informations

• Published by: New Society Publishers
• Published: 01 November 2006
• Reads: 0
• EAN13: 9781550923742
• Language: English

Exrait

A DVANCE P RAISE FOR Diabetes: Sugar-Coated Crisis

Eloquent and thought-provoking. — R ICHARD R UBIN , PhD, author ofPsyching Out Diabetes, and American Diabetes Association President for Health Care and Education

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. — M ICHAEL G. G OLDSTEIN , MD, Associate Director, Clinical Education and Research, Institute for Healthcare Communication

Diabetes: Sugar-Coated Crisishad to be written. It proves we can transcend the standard medical model characterized by brilliant science applied without wisdom. In David Spero’s book, human wisdom supports science, and science serves not only medical but also social truth. — D R . G ABOR M ATÉ , from the foreword

David Spero has struck the right note in taking readers through a tour of how poverty and public policy have contributed to the deadly epidemic of diabetes.

— D ORIANE M ILLER MD, National Program Director, Quality Allies: Improving Care by Engaging Patients, a program of the 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. — L AURIE F RANCIS , MPH, Chief Executive Officer, Community Health Partners

A compelling and inspiring resource for people, communities, and health systems struggling with diabetes and other chronic conditions. — D R . A MERICA B RACHO , MPH, CDE, President and CEO, Latino Health Access

N EW S OCIETY P UBLISHERS

C a t a l o g i n g i n P u b l i c a t i o n D a t a A catalog record for this publication is available from the National Library of Canada.

Copyright © 2006 by David Spero. All rights reserved.

Cover design by Diane McIntosh. Photo: Alamy/Comstock

Printed in Canada. First printing August 2006.

Paperbackisbn13: 978-0-86571-567-7 Paperbackisbn10: 0-86571-567-x

Inquiries regarding requests to reprint all or part ofDiabetes: Sugar-Coated Crisisshould be addressed to New Society Publishers at the address be- low.

To order directly from the publishers, please call toll-free (North America) 1-800-567-6772, or order online at www.newsociety.com

Any other inquiries can be directed by mail to:

New Society Publishers P.O. Box 189, Gabriola Island,bc v0r1x0, Canada 1-800-567-6772

New Society Publishers’ mission is to publish books that contribute in fundamental ways to building an ecologically sustainable and just society, and to do so with the least possible impact on the environment, in a man- ner that models this vision. We are committed to doing this not just through education, but through action. We are acting on our commit- ment to the world’s remaining ancient forests by phasing out our paper supply from ancient forests worldwide. This book is one step toward end- ing global deforestation and climate change. It is printed on acid-free pa- per that is 100% old growth forest-free (100% post-consumer recycled), processed chlorine free, and printed with vegetable-based, low-VOC inks. For further information, or to browse our full list of books and purchase securely, visit our website at: www.newsociety.com

N EW S OCIETY P UBLISHERS www.newsociety.com To O. Brion Whitford

Contents

Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .x.i . Foreword,byGaborMaté....................xi.ii Introduction..............................1... Prologue: Diabetes 101 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7. .

Part I — A ProŠt-Driven Plague . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13. 1.DiabetesasaSocialDisease....................15. 2. Toxic Environment: Stress and Inequality . . . . . . . . .27 3.ToxicEnvironment:FoodandInactivity..........39 4. The Medical System: Friends and Enemies . . . . . . . . .53

Part II — Health as a Movement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7.7 5. From Shame to Strength . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.1. 6.Self-CareasaPoliticalAct.....................93. 7. Strength in Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.0.7 8. Taking it to the Streets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.2.1 9. The Movement Takes Shape . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13.5 10. Diabetes as a Turning Point . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15.1

Appendix A: Self-Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.57. Appendix B: Resource List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18.1 Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.8.9. . Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.1.6. . About the Author . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2.23.