Clinician's Manual on Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus. - Review - book reviews

Age and Ageing, Sept, 1998 by J.R. Playfer

Clinician's Manual on Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus Paul Zimmet and Matthew Cohen

London: Science Press, 1997. 56pp, 7.25 [pounds sterling]

These two pocket-size books from Science Press are very attractively produced, illustrated and reassuringly concise. This type of product is usually thrust into one's hand by a medical representative or gleaned from an exhibition stand at major meetings. They perform quite a useful role as a reinforcer of continuing medical education.

Each of these books is equivalent to a three-quarters of an hour to an hour review lecture on their individual subjects. They have the advantage over a lecture in that one can return to the illustrations, perhaps managing to extract material for one's own teaching and practice.

Avioli's book on osteoporosis takes a distinctly North Atlantic approach and the variation in availability of drugs between the UK and the USA does make some of the advice on practical management less relevant. Nevertheless, the book is extremely clear on the clinical features and diagnosis of osteoporosis. Although there is not enough detail for the person who already has specialized knowledge in this field, it would nevertheless be useful to quite a wide range of health-care workers from nurses and medical students up to the consultant who has no specialised interest in the condition. Although brief, the end section on further reading and references is excellent, and I am sure this attractive volume will obtain wide currency.

Zimmet and Cohen's short manual has a lot more competition in the market since many similarly sized books have been produced on the management of diabetes. Nevertheless, it is a very attractive volume and again would span a wide range of health-care professionals' needs. The clarity of the layout of this book makes for very easy reference and its unambiguous advice certainly reflects its Australian origins. I think it could have been strengthened by some references and guides to further reading but, as a refresher of knowledge, it would be hard to beat.

J. R. PLAYFER

Consultant Physician in Geriatric Medicine,

Liverpool