Plan D

April 15, 2013
Shepherdthe comedian and Emmy Awardwinning cohost of The Viewis a can-do cheerleader for fighting the Big D (diabetes). With the help of seasoned writer Fitzpatrick, she cites the depressing facts: one-third of Americans are pre-diabetic and 25 million have type 2 diabetes. Then she makes it personal. Her mother died of the disease at just 41. Shepherd got her diagnosis just before landing her gig on The View. Not wanting to die prematurely and leave her son without a mother, she dropped more than 50 pounds. She gives commonsense advice: instead of going on a diet, make healthy eating a way of life. But it's her honesty and humor that will inspire readers. She confesses that she always relied on faith, funny, and food to make her feel OK. She admits that her primary food groups were potatoes, bread, and pasta, and she shares her tips for various challenges, such as late-night eating (Brushing your teeth can send a signal to your brainand your tummythat the kitchen is closed for the night). A fun, easy-to-read pep talk.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)