Sugar Surfing: How to Manage Type 1 Diabetes in a Modern World

Product Description

If a seller is offering a used paperback for more than a fair discount to the original new price of $29.95 please do not buy and contact admin@sugarsurfing.com to help us report unscrupulous sellers. Thank you. || For those considering or already using Continuous Glucose Monitoring, this book takes you beyond the basics and shows you a better way to manage. Interested in eating whatever you like? Prefer a low carb diet? Either way this book will show you how. Sugar Surfing is the first book written to debunk the myths surrounding classic diabetes management while also teaching the reader a better way. More than 50 full color images help the reader to break through the over-reliance on ratios and static thinking which live at the root of unexpected highs and lows; especially for people who already work hard. The traditional method taught by well meaning medical providers is woefully inadequate given the recent advancements in continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). With real time feedback including direction and rate of change, even novice users get better results almost immediately when they use this Endocrinologists' dynamic approach to managing in the moment. Online resources complement the book by giving readers direct access to the authors. Steve has had type 1 himself for more than 50 years while Kevin is a diabetes Dad and behavioral researcher since 2001. Working together for more than a decade, these two pioneers have helped thousands of people to gain control and live a more normal life in spite of diabetes. *** Register for updates at sugarsurfing.com Available in paperback and all ebook formats. All proceeds are used to support workshops and other outreach programs.

Top Reviews

Good overview of the concept, but lacking particulars
by Daily Rider (4 out of 5 stars)
May 3, 2016

Quick read. I've had diabetes for over 50 years. The first 100 pages was a walk down memory lane with antidotes about what it was like having T1D back in the 70s and 80s, and the evolution of treatment, technologies, and understanding of the disease. The rest of the book describes the dynamic approach to blood sugar control (sugar surfing) through the use of continuous glucose monitoring and pumping. While I agree with the concept (I have been using a very similar approach even before owning a pump), the author fails to describe details on how to actually achieve the tight control he touts. Rather, he implies tight control can be achieved using this method through trial and error. I recommend this book as an illustration of the control one can aspire to achieve through the use of a pump and CGM. For more particulars and step-by-step guidance on how to setup and individualized test pump settings needed in order to implement the concepts put forth in Sugar Surfing, read Pumping Insulin by Walsh and Roberts.
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Mom with two T1D kids
by Andromeda (5 out of 5 stars)
August 11, 2015

Before you start reading this review, you may want to sit down and make yourself comfortable. I have a lot to say, most of it complimentary.

Let's start with my background. As of this review, my daughter has been a type 1 diabetic for 9 years (she's 11) and my son has been a T1D for 2 years (he's 13.) It would be fair to say that I spend a decent chunk of time as a pancreas. Well, pancreata, actually, if one can be plural. Anyhow, I have spent years learning about diabetes. We've done MDI and pumps, been through surgeries, illnesses and the diagnosis of additional auto immunes. I make all changes, evaluate all Dexcom reading, manage foods, oversee carb counting, change sites, wake up sleeping kids to feed them, stay up late to watch a temp basal kick in and then spend my free time researching ways to do it even better.

I first heard of Dr. Ponder on Facebook. I became a follower because I liked his tips/posts. At some point, I realized he was writing a book about his approach to diabetes and when he started to raise funding, I contributed. Going in, I expected to like the book. But, please note that I was not GIVEN this book - there is no giveaway and this isn't a review based on a freebie. I paid my money and I'm very happy to have done so.

So on to the book. Basically, I loved it. In 9 years, I have tried many, many things. People that don't live with T1D have no idea how hard diabetes is. It's 24/7/365 and there are no days off. Ever. There is no afternoon off. Most parents of T1Ds are just happy when the stars align and they are able to sleep through an entire night without an alarm. We don't have the disease but we have to have the knowledge because we feel this pressure to make sure our kids are given every opportunity to have healthy, complication-free adult lives without being constantly in their faces about diabetes.

I remember when my daughter was diagnosed and I found carb factors in my research...and then had to explain it to the CNP at the next four endo visits. And implementing the TAG idea in meal planning so that fats and proteins were covered appropriately...and then explain it to the CNP. As you can imagine, I decided to do my own thing fairly early on and the habit has stuck. I see the endo as a prescription source and like to figure out things on my own.

And then along came this book! And I realized that I wasn't alone. That there is an endo out there (who is a multi-decade T1D himself) that gets this. That experiments and tests and keeps an open mind. That takes his results, figures out WHY they happened and then figures out how to repeat it. And then SHARES it with the world.

I'm going to touch on a few topics that might help reviewers determine if this is a book for them.

First, basal rates. Dr. Ponder is a bit pushy about the idea of a single basal rate, or at least a small number of them. It's not a rule but it's something he appears to value. I have varied basals greatly over the years but I've never used a single basal rate. Perhaps it's because we did split dosing on long-acting insulins and I timed the overlap to cover dawn effects and bedtime growth hormones...so we never really had "one flat line" even on MDI. But I have learned over time that I gradually add basal rates until I become overwhelmed by them, at which point I scrap them all and start minimal again. With both kids in puberty and a son that is that teenage stage where kids 'forget' to bolus, one rate isn't right for them...but I have really given some thought to it. My son has three different levels - lower at night, really high in the morning, and high all day - and it's working well, so point to Dr. Ponder. My daughter's basal rates have been incredibly detailed before so while it's not three, I have reduced them by 3. Again, it's working well and it's easier to remember, so another point to Dr. Ponder.

Second, I needed a good reminder that a flat line means a basal rate is right, and that it means the other details need changed. I had been struggling with nights and had been changing them so often...and it was completely the wrong approach. I changed my mindset and the results have been wonderful.He slept 12 hours last night and was between 75 and 100 the entire time with no eating, no temping, no bolusing. Thank you, Dr. Ponder.
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Great T1 diabetes book!
by Tim (5 out of 5 stars)
February 20, 2018

This e-book is a great addition to my diabetes library!. The author goes over best-management practices concerning pump, CGM and manual (finger stick) blood glucose monitoring. Some might be well-known procedures but after years of dealing with T1 diabetes I adopted a couple of bad habits that the book corrected. Sugar surfing is not for a diabetic who just wants their edno to set the pump and then go on their merry way. This is not a set-it-and-forget-it process. If you don't want to be bothered with being proactive in your diabetes management, this book isn't for you. If you don't use a CGM, same thing since most of your management decisions are based on the CGM readings and trend lines displayed on your pump. The author is an endo who has had T1 diabetes for 50 yrs so he has some experience dealing with T1. New concepts include glancing at the CGM trendline 20-30 times a day and deciding whether or not to act by micro-carbing or micr-bolusing. You're not chasing the numbers, rather trying to head off hypos and hypers and minimizing the spikes. He goes over evaluating last night's trendline to determine if your basal rate is correct. There are a few sections concerning being a parent of a T1 child and the ramifications of having a T1 child or teenager. Overall it's a great book for those of us who want to be more proactive in diabetes management, have lower A1Cs without crashing and maintain your health during the years to come.
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Dr. Stephen Ponder has helped me see my potential ...
by Amazon Customer (5 out of 5 stars)
January 14, 2017

Dr. Stephen Ponder has helped me see my potential with managing my diabetes.

My A1c has improved since reading his book. I have lived with Type 1 for 34 years and I am looking forward to at least 34 more.
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Worth the cost!
by Sue (5 out of 5 stars)
October 21, 2016

I wasn't sold on the book when I did purchase it between the cost and the amount of pages I almost passed. I took it on a road trip and at the fifth page I was hooked and didn't put it down until I was done. If you have been on a CGM for even a couple of months you can get the hang of this with a little effort. It's also a great source for parents of kids with T1 and for teens to read. Even if you feel you have a good grasp on your numbers there is good information in this book.
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Highly recommend
by Abbie (5 out of 5 stars)
July 13, 2017

My son was diagnosed with T1D at the age of 5 and Sugar Surfing is hands down the most impactful book I've read. Through applying these strategies and using a Dexcom CGM he can eat a normal diet and have a healthy A1C. Since reading this book and learning to be fluid and responsive to different foods and changing blood sugar levels his A1C has ranged from 5.9-6.4. Highly recommend this approach!
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Diabetes game changer!
by Jules81 (5 out of 5 stars)
March 19, 2019

Being a mom to a type 1 diabetic child has been life-changing. Currently only five months past diagnosis. So naturally as any parent I want to read everything I can about how to better manage his diabetes. This book was highly recommended in a type 1 community as a MUST READ. I have to agree with all of them when I say this is the holy Grail of diabetes management. I'm currently halfway through and I'm learning so much more about glycemic index, basal rates blousing rates cgm's calibration everything and anything. It's open my eyes up and made me less afraid of this illness. I recommend this book to every parent that has a child that's type 1 or any type 1 diabetic to read this book.
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Best "how-to" book on T1d ever!
by Trudi M Peters (5 out of 5 stars)
June 24, 2016

In my almost 57 years as a T1d, this is the most practical book on living with diabetes I have read! Dr. Ponder is so real and as a kindred soul (we both are 50 year medalists), know what it is like to live with this "strange little condition." I have purchased a copy for my endocrinologist and tell every T1 I know about it. I even tell people who don't have T1, but might know someone who does about it!
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Probably great in 2015, but ....
by Dr Ronald R Hei (1 out of 5 stars)
February 28, 2019

There's a lot of emphasis on calibrating sensors in the book, but does not address the newest factory calibrated Dexcom G6 because it hadn't come out yet. For me, now, this book is outdated and very repetitive. I guess I've been doing my own version of "sugar surfing", but hoped to learn more about doing it better. I found it to have a lot of "filler" material to make it thicker, but not better. I'm disappointed.
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Sugar Surfing is like a toolkit of situational awareness for diabetes
by Whitney Talbot (5 out of 5 stars)
November 18, 2015

Sugar Surfing is like a toolkit of situational awareness for diabetes. The scenarios presented in the book, and the actions taken, match up to the real-world application. Its like a DIY, self-help, and a mentor book all rolled into one. After learning more about the steps I was noticing tighter control because of higher awareness to glucose values. And the confidence from knowing that I could address "the situation" made the process that much more relieving.

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