Reversing Diabetes

Physician Whitaker (Reversing Heart Disease offers some sound advice that is, unfortunately, shrouded by specious assertions, such as his belief that diabetes is a reversible condition and not a chronic disease. He promotes a sensible low-fat, high-carbohydrate and high-fiber diet (recipes included) and an exercise program, but his claims that diet and exercise will help ""hundreds of thousands, perhaps even millions, of diabetics in this country to become drug free'' should be taken with more than a grain of salt. As he admits in the book, persons with Type 1 diabeteswhose diabetes emerged because of a lack of insulin in the body rather than the inability of the body to use it effectively``will almost always require insulin injections,'' although the amount may be reduced by following his regimen. He cautions readers to use this program under a doctor's care but repetitiously attacks his colleagues for their ignorance of nutrition and readiness to prescribe medications, and dredges up George Washington's unnecessary death by bleeding therapy at the hands of a doctor. He attributes eye damage to aggressive insulin treatment, which should also cause a stir in the medical community. Illustrations not seen by PW. (July 23)