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Diabetes for Dummies author pens smart books for patients
Endocrinologist-turned-author has sold more than 1 million copies of his books, which have been translated into nine different languages.
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Alan L. Rubin, MD, had no idea that a chance encounter with the owner of the “Dummies” series at a party would turn him into a bestselling author.
A simple idea turned Rubin into the author of four books: “Diabetes for Dummies”, “Diabetes Cookbook for Dummies”, “Thyroid for Dummies” and “High Blood Pressure for Dummies”.
The endocrinologist-turned-author currently maintains a private practice in San Francisco where he spends half his time seeing patients and the other half writing chapters for the Dummies series books.
“In the course of my entire practice, now about 32 years, I’ve seen a total of about 3,000 patients. Now, I’ve affected the lives of more than 1 million people with my books and that just feels wonderful,” he told Endocrine Today.
Surely you’ve seen the black and yellow books at the local bookstore — “Orchids for Dummies,” “Microsoft Excel for Dummies,” “Ireland for Dummies.” If there is something you want to learn about, there is most likely a Dummies book written on that topic.
Now there is something for the patient who was recently diagnosed with diabetes and is confused about what the illness is and what to do about it.
When Rubin set out to write the first edition of “Diabetes for Dummies” in 1998, he had a specific goal in mind: to create a book that would be highly understandable for patients with diabetes.
“The books are written so that not only can you understand it fairly easily, but you can pick the book up, anywhere, anytime,” he said. “You don’t have to read pages 1 to 100 to understand page 150.”
If the person with diabetes is interested in learning about an exercise regimen, they can simply flip to the chapter on exercise.
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Source: Enid Rubin |
Encourage education
The success of the first book prompted Rubin to write a second book, a third book, a fourth book and now a fifth book, “Type 1 Diabetes for Dummies”. He has written second editions for all four books and is currently working on the third edition of “Diabetes for Dummies”.
When he is not writing, Rubin is a frequent guest on local and national radio and TV news programs.
“I get dozens and dozens of emails from readers who tell me they appreciate my writing the book and making diabetes understandable,” he said. “I know these books have changed diabetes care.”
The target reader is the patient with diabetes, thyroid disease or hypertension. But, the book is also helpful for loved ones of those suffering with the diseases.
Rubin has also discovered a way to reach those patients who hate to read — through their ears. He now uploads podcasts, or health casts, on his website (drrubin.com). He has recorded more than 45 health casts, which run the gamut from aging well to how to quit smoking.
Emails from people around the world help him realize the health casts are a success. Like in Australia, where people with diabetes on remote Pacific Islands who lack regular care listen to learn more about their illness. Or an instructor in Japan who uses the health casts to teach Japanese doctors how to speak English and correctly pronounce diseases.
Positive explanation
“Diabetes, fortunately, is not cancer. It is something that can be controlled if the patient does the things they have to do. There are plenty of people with diabetes who have lived with it for 50 years or 75 years and they are doing great. We know that it is possible, even though it is an inconvenience,” Rubin said.
In his books, he focuses on what he calls, positive explanation. Humor goes a long way, according to Rubin.
“I think you learn far better when you can laugh. It increases your positive outlook and people with a positive outlook tend to do the things they have to do for themselves more readily than people are depressed,” he explained.
Writing these books is not all fun and games, of course. The biggest challenge is staying abreast of the newest things in the field and “keeping up with this explosion of information and knowledge.” Rubin does puts down his pen and make time to tend to his fruit and vegetable garden and, of course, see patients. — by Katie Kalvaitis