'21 Things You Need to Know About Diabetes and Your Heart' review

21 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT DIABETES AND YOUR HEART,by Jill Weisenberger. American Diabetes Association, 135 pp., $12.95.

This slim guide by Jill Weisenberger, registered dietitian-nutritionist and author of "Diabetes Weight Loss -- Week by Week" and "The Overworked Person's Guide to Better Nutrition," is designed to be a quick resource for diabetics or people at risk and their families. "Unfortunately, diabetes at least doubles your risk of heart trouble," she writes. But " . . . there is a lot we can do to treat and protect ourselves from developing this life-threatening disease" -- heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States -- or even reverse it.

You'll learn the ABCs of diabetes care: A1C (a test to measure glucose), blood pressure and cholesterol. Chapters include "How Different Foods Affect Your Heart" (try nuts, chia and flaxseeds, avocados, even coffee), "The Impact of Weight" (she warns about fad diets) and "How to Change Your Diet" (choose Greek yogurt and fresh fruit instead of sugary fruit-on-the-bottom yogurt).

THE SCOOP In the exercise chapter, Weisenberger writes that people with diabetic complications, such as retinology (eye disease) and neuropathy, have limitations -- and offers alternatives.

THE BOTTOM LINE Consulting Dr. Google for advice can lead to trouble, she writes. Instead, she suggests consulting a dietitian, who probably won't insist that you give up your favorite foods forever.