The Diabetic ABC: A Practical Book for Patients and Nurses

xii, 82pp.  Cream paper-covered boards.  8vo.  Boards are worn and scuffed, with some spotting, rubbed and rounded at corners and spine ends, rubbed along spine.  Some toning to text block edges. Tape residue marks inside covers otherwise internally neat and clean barring a little softening of page edges.  

An overview of diabetes and how to treat it, which much advice and practical guidance on food and diet, 1960s styles.  Loosely laid in at the back of the book us a four page card, dated 1961, on the Lawrence Weighted Diabetic Diet – Black and Red Portions, also by R D Lawrence, annotated, apparently for specific patient; a couple of small diabetic diet cards giving sample daily menus; a compliments slip regarding issue to Diabetic ABC to a Miss Dyer and leaflet, apparently from the same date, from the British Diabetic Association regarding its campaign to raise funds for Diabetic Research.  Together the collection makes a remarkable and fascinating insight into life with diabetes in the 1960s.

R D Lawrence, himself a diabetic whose life was saved by the discovery of insulin treatment for diabetics, was the physician in charge of of the diabetes department at King’s College Hospital and co-founder (with writer and fellow diabetic H G Wells) of the British Diabetic Association, now Diabetes UK.