November is National Diabetes Month; 20 Million People Are Already Victims Of What Newsweek Has Called 'An American Epidemic'.

Business Editors/Health and Medical Writers

NEW YORK--(BW HealthWire)--Nov. 3, 2000

The symptoms: fatigue, blurred vision, frequent urination and thirst, increase in hunger, obesity, heart disease, numbness in the feet or legs, genital itching, and slow healing of skin, gum, and urinary infections. The prescription: Diabetes For Dummies(R)(IDG Books Worldwide, Inc., ISBN: 0-7645-5154-X, $19.99) by Alan L. Rubin, M.D., and Diabetes Cookbook For Dummies(R)(IDG Books Worldwide, Inc., ISBN: 0-7645-5230-9, $19.99) by Alan L. Rubin, M.D., Fran Stach, R.D., C.D.E., and Chef Denise C. Sharf. These books are for anyone who wants to learn basic lifestyle changes that can help them prevent or treat this debilitating disease.

Too many people are in denial about diabetes and wait until their condition gets so out of control it puts them at even greater risk for heart failure, starts to impair their vision, or creates horrible foot problems which all too often lead to foot amputation. Diabetes For Dummies can help. Written by one of the nation's leading experts on diabetes, the book explains simply what diabetes is and how you can avoid or take control of this disease. Dr. Rubin outlines a complete "Thrive with Diabetes" lifestyle plan, which includes step-by-step instructions for glucose monitoring, diet, exercise, medications, and enlisting the help of health care professionals.

In the companion book, Diabetes Cookbook For Dummies, Dr. Rubin teamed up with Fran Stach, R.D., C.D.E., a consulting dietitian, Chef Denise C. Sharf, and top chefs from around the country to create a cookbook for people with diabetes and anyone interested in eating healthy, delicious meals. It includes more than 150 easy and creative diabetic-friendly recipes the whole family will love, plus 16 pages of color photos, tips on recipe conversions, full nutritional analysis of each recipe, and more.

As part of National Diabetes Month, the public can be informed about the risks and treatments of this rampant disease. Author Dr. Alan Rubin can answer these and other questions about diabetes:

-- What are some of the early signs of diabetes? Who is at risk and who should
be tested?

-- What can people with diabetes eat? Are there any foods they cannot eat?

-- How often should a person with diabetes eat?

-- What types of snacks are good to eat if you have diabetes and need to keep
your blood sugar up during the day?

-- What are the latest drugs and treatments that can help people with diabetes?


-- What are some good diabetes-friendly holiday recipes?

There is no cure yet for diabetes, but it is a treatable and largely preventable disease. Dr. Alan Rubin explains everything you need to know to keep diabetes in check and live a healthier, happier life. Please call publicist Maureen Watts at [phone] to schedule an author interview or to receive a review copy and press kit on either or both Diabetes For Dummies and Diabetes Cookbook For Dummies.

IDG Books Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ: IDGB) headquartered in Foster City, CA, is a leading global company with a diverse portfolio of technology, business, consumer and how-to brands, computer-based learning tools, Web sites and Internet e-services. IDGB's best-selling brands include For Dummies(R), Betty Crocker(R), Bible, CliffsNotes(TM), Frommer's(R), the Unofficial Guide(R), Visual(TM), Weight Watchers(R) and Webster's New World(TM). IDGB is also the publisher of AOL Press(TM), Hewlett-Packard Press(TM), Netscape Press(TM) and Novell Press(TM). IDGB has more than 4,000 active titles in 39 languages. IDGB has publishing partnerships in more than 53 countries. IDGB owns the Web sites www.cliffsnotes.com, www.dummies.com, and www.frommers.com. More information about IDGB is available on the company's SEC filing or by visiting their Web site at www.idgbooks.com. IDGB is a subsidiary of International Data Group, Inc., the worlds leading global provider of information media, research, conferences and expositions.

For Dummies is a registered trademark or trademark of IDG Books Worldwide in the United States and/or other countries.