The diet in this book is a vegan version of the nearly-vegan, low-fat diabetes diet given by Nathan Pritikin (Live Longer Now, 1974); identical to the vegan diabetes diet of John McDougall, MD (The McDougall Plan, 1983); and a vegan version (without supplements) of the low-fat diabetes diet employed by Julian Whitaker, MD (Reversing Diabetes, 1987). All in all, the author's claims to originality don't hold any water.

The only things original in this book seem to be the results of A1c measurements, and comparison with the ADA diet (which has been known to be lacking for many years).

The author never mentions the highly successful diabetes treatment programs that have been in operation for the better part of 20-30 years at the Pritikin Longevity Center in Aventura FL, the Whitaker Wellness Institute in Newport Beach CA, and Dr. McDougall's Health and Medical Center in Santa Rosa CA. These three programs have successfully treated a combined total estimated at over 40,000 diabetes patients.

The author never mentions how he, personally, lionized the Pritikin Program in one of his previous books (The Power of Your Plate, 1995), and then forgot about it in the present book.

All in all, Dr. Barnard seems to want the reader to get the impression he invented the vegan diet and was the first to use it to treat diabetes. He does say, "A new idea," "We have completely redesigned the dietary approach to diabetes," ". . . an entirely new approach to diabetes," and "This program is truly a revolution." All claims that appear to be untrue and unwarranted.

Whichever diabetes book you decide to read, first read Prtikin's Live Longer Now, 1974. Used copies are available on Amazon.com. I bought a nice used hardback for $5.

As an RN I find this information easy for the lay person to understand and apply. My brother has used a lot of this information and his diabetes is very controlled (off medication) and he has no other diabetic related problems. This is a must read for all diabetes and their families. The large print book is so helpful!

I bought this book after I received high blood sugar and high cholesterol reports on a blood test. I decided to give the program a try during Lent (40 Days) and then have my blood work done to compare results. After doing this program my results were so much better that I have made it how I live and eat on a daily basis. It is a true life-changing way to eat and I recommend this book and program to anyone who wants to be healthy. By following Dr. Barnard's program I lost weight, my blood sugar and cholesterol counts lowered to the normal range and I have the energy and vitality to do activities that I love to do.

The goal is here is not to improve your diabetes but to CURE it! For Type II Diabetics there is no better gift to give to yourself or your family than to buy this book and follow the program.

Having a 13 and 15 year-old child both diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at the age of four, I continue to be amazed with the lack of knowledge that most physicians express about Type 1 diabetes. It is obvious to me that Dr. Barnard is just another Doc on an ego high to make money by publishing. To title a book "Program for Reversing Diabetes" is once again irresponsible and erroneous by not stating on the cover that this ONLY applies to Type 2 diabetes and only a small percentage of Type 2 at best. Unfortunately, there is NO reversing of Type 1 diabetes. It is true that one can improve there glucose levels by using an insuling pump, exercising, and eating a healthy diet. But reversing Type 1 diabetes is not yet an option. After being an active diabetes advocate for over 10 years with several trips to D.C. and lectures from Doctors from the National Institute of Health, I have learned that the facts show that the treatment for Type 1 diabetes is very $$ lucrative and finding a cure is not worth the risk for private industry. The cure for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes must come from Government funding (after the War). In the meanwhile, we will continue to have Doctors to profit from misleading information.