Though rather detailed for a simplified text, this book presents
much that is admirable in a philosophic approach to diabetes
mellitus, but falls short of its title in some of the details of
diabetic management. The points on hygienic care, variation in
the diet, and the degree of control are well taken. However, the
use of a dietary pattern artificially contrived to a system of A
and B units, instead of the more flexible American Diabetes
Association plan which is available and has been accepted
throughout the country, certainly is open to criticism. The diet
prescription for the adolescent diabetic is somewhat distorted
in proportions. In addition, the use of the 7/8 in. needle
instead of the standard 5/8 or 1/2 in. needle, plus injection
"almost parallel to the surface" is not advisable. Recent papers
indicate that the perpendicular type of injection is associated
with a lower incidence of local