Reviews

One of the most profound books of the year, "Later I Learned" is a must read for anyone whose life is touched by diabetes. Drawn from a personal storehouse of knowledge and experience collected over the course of 60 years, Scott's story could change your life.

The story begins with events leading to his diagnosis at a time when much less was known about diabetes. At age 16, he resolved that his disease would not define him. The ensuing decades were wrought with a literal fight for survival as he battled to balance blood sugar while stretching the limits of his physical capabilities. Through mistakes, some that nearly cost his life, he gradually developed a strategy to avoid suffering common diabetic complications like gangrene/amputations, kidney disease, and blindness.

Scott's life reads like a fast-paced novel. His dramatic experiences eventually led him to a search for deeper meaning. How could he help others navigate this disease?

The latter part of the book describes Scott's involvement with nonprofit organizations and also his experiences with people in late stages of the disease. He got to know patients who struggled to afford medication and other vital supplies. Many, like him, had been told for decades that a cure was just around the corner. So why hasn't this cure been found? What Scott discovered will upset many. And it should.

I have an education in the health sciences, so I thought I knew about diabetes. This book gave me a personal glimpse into the relentless daily struggle that is the reality for people with this terrible disease.

Later, I Learned is very well-written and an overall fantastic read if you would like to learn more about diabetes while enjoying incredible storytelling that provides a nice balance of humor and entertainment alongside some of the most compelling and impactful stories I've ever read. I found myself regularly going from laughing out loud to being absolutely stunned and appalled, to then having my faith restored in the beauty of humanity. A really transformative book and I have to thank Scott for putting himself out there like he did to give us readers the best possible experience.

Each chapter is informative and layered with descriptive anecdotes that allow you to step into Scott's life and get a better understanding of how it has been affected by diabetes. As a casual reader, I found this book to be very accessible and entertaining while still conveying an extremely important message. I highly recommend giving it a read!

------ Longer Review if you're interested :)

Scott Crossen has lived a life of adventure that most of us lack the courage to attempt - and he has done it while dealing with a life-threatening condition: Type 1 diabetes. Scott is also a writer who has a way with words. He tells his stories with an understated calm that keeps his readers turning pages and holding their breath in suspense. The unexpected attacks of diabetes on an athlete who keeps himself in prime physical condition turn entertaining adventure stories into harrowing tales of suspense.

Having etched a vivid personal account of life with the disease, Scott turns his pen upon the disgrace of the American Diabetes Association and pharmaceutical corporations which profit from the disease. 100 years after the discovery of insulin, the diabetes industry has deliberately failed to invest its millions from fundraising and corporate profits into finding a cure - or even a generic form of insulin. Why? Because treating the disease is too profitable. If people were cured, they wouldn't need treatments and supplies and equipment.

Scott quotes the mother of a child with Type 1 diabetes: "I used to do the walkathons until I realized the money was not being used to find a cure....So many people think the money's going to research to find a cure, but that's not what's happening."

It's a wake-up call for all of us who live our lives ignorant of the devastating effects of this disease - and of the appalling pharmaceutical industry that feeds off it.

I am a regular reader of non-fiction books. As I was looking for a new book to read, the title of this one piqued my interest. I have an old friend who has lived his life with diabetes and wondered how his story compares to the author of the book.

Every one of us has a life filled with stories and adventures, but only a small portion of the population has a layer of difficulty hanging over their head every hour of every day. The author’s childhood begins much like many of us, but as his life progresses, the degree of difficulty required to deal with his diabetes increases. The author takes us with him every step of the way, from his life as a teen, his adventurous travels abroad to settling into his life in Colorado, all the while fighting to keep his diabetes under control.

I recommend this book to anyone with some sort of life altering difficulty, but also to anyone who just enjoys a good autobiography. This book is a great example that you don’t have to be famous to be interesting.

When this book was recommended to me, I approached it with some trepidation. While I am not completely ignorant of Diabetes, I knew little of the day to day challenges presented to someone with the disease and the choices that must be made. As it turned out, this was a great read and a great story.
Scott's writing style is perfect for me. His words are never wasted and always move the story forward. Each chapter is punctuated with clarity gained from the life experiences of a Diabetic trying to live the fullest life possible. The athletic pursuits covered in the book including sky diving, extreme hiking and two biking trips across Canada certainly prove that living an extraordinary life with Diabetes is possible, although the author takes some risks that perhaps most of us would not, in order to live that life.
I highly recommend this book and hope they don't wreck it when they make the movie!

Part memoir, part tutorial and expose on the state of health care for diabetes, Crossen shares in “Later, I Learned’, his journey to overcome and thrive despite early on-set diabetes. The author appears to withhold nothing as he divulges his myriad foibles in learning to live life at a competitive edge. His writing spoke to me – and woke me to the incredible challenges diabetics must routinely master. The author described with wry humor, countless difficult and scary situations he experienced, trying to get on top of his diabetes while determined to not sacrifice an intense and adventurous lifestyle.
At a couple points in his story the author briefly mentions having a spiritual connection. Thus it’s reasonable to infer that his faith somehow interacted with his hard-won wellbeing with diabetes. In his next book I look forward to hearing more about the spiritual resources Crossen drew upon that supported him on his incredible path.

An compelling story with a message

I had a hard time putting this book down. Each chapter built upon the previous with a new lesson learned by the author. Each challenge faced with grit and determination, lovingly told with bits of internal dialogue.

I especially appreciate the detail of each story and experience without an overwhelming presentation of data. It reads more like an autobiography and less like a textbook. I also appreciate the overall arch of the author’s story culminating with excerpts of others’ experiences, and the finale providing some hard truths and lessons.

I would highly recommend this book for anyone with diabetes, and their family and friends. In fact, I suggest this book is motivational reading for anyone suffering from any chronic life-threatening disease.

What a great read! By sharing his most personal experiences with diabetes, Crossen has offered a master class on the disease and how poorly understood it can be. By sharing his experiences with clear insight, unflinching honesty and intellectual curiosity, the book is equal parts educational and heartbreaking. The stories of his experience were shocking to me and yet, I discovered, not at all surprising to anyone living with diabetes or loving someone with the disease. This book offers a window into the realities of this misunderstood and often insidious condition. Most importantly, by sharing his personal experience, Crossen shows that people with diabetes can live a highly active, adventure-filled life. This fast-paced narrative left me wondering what more can be done not just for disease management, but in finding a cure. This book is touching, eye-opening and a must read!

Scott Crossen's book is an unusually important documentation of living life to its fullest... with a chronic condition as your shadow!
The author shares intimate details of mystery, analysis, disappointment, romance and hope , as he travels the challenging roads of life. For example, I was amazed to read that Crossen cycled across North America.
His writing style flows smoothly. It is full of anticipation and I found myself propelled on a cliff-hanging journey. Simply stated, this book is hard to put down, life-changing and a major call to action in finding a cure for diabetes.
N Hunt
Retired RN

I was happy to have read this book just before another family member was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes. We didn't have to wait until "Later" to learn valuable information of what to expect and what required our close attention as we faced this new, complicated, multifaceted disease. Thank goodness Scott generously provided personal experiences, situations and options for dealing with the literal highs and lows of diabetes. The stories were so well written I often forgot I was learning so much. The book was also so well structured that complex lessons were built on previous stories. my newly diagnosed family member and I will be using this book as both reference material and motivation as we face the disease that has no cure.

It is said that we all have our dragon, to be made peace with or to conquer. For those of us who've faced our dragon, or simply been forced to "grow up", this book is a generous gift of shared humanity as well as a call to arms. Mr. Crossen's dragon (diabetes) has not been conquered, & resists attempts at peace; yet he's lived an extraordinary life full of resilience & passion. His honest & open-hearted writer's voice brings one back through their own personal journey. What was it like to be the child, the young hero trying to figure it all out, the adult who feels the weight? He helped me remember the flavor & scent of all this & left me with a renewed appreciation of my own dance with the dragon. Because of diabetes or in spite of it, his saga calls out to us all: Live! And never stop.

Mr. Crossen has approached a complicated subject in a creative manner that engages the reader while providing genuinely helpful information. Part diabetic resource and part travel log, I was alternately entertained and enlightened. This book is a good resource for anyone whose life has been touched by diabetes; whether a patient, loved one, caregiver, family member or friend. It is particularly insightful into the plight and struggles of juvenile diabetes.

Crossen’s memoir of his life long struggles with diabetes is both inspiring and informative. Crossen was diagnosed as a child and was given little support or coping strategies from the medical community. Shortly after his diagnosis, a doctor told him he likely would have only 20-25 good years; Instead Crossen forged his own path, taking charge of his health and his future. He shares many adventures where he pushes his strength and endurance to the limit, including riding his bike to Canada, guitar and gear strapped precariously to the back, thousands of miles through all kinds of weather. Crossen has dedicated his life to fitness, including boxing, self-defense, and cardio and weight training, He teaches teenagers boxing and fitness to help boost confidence, self-esteem, and reduce bullying. Crossen works with kids and adults who are facing the day to day struggles of life with diabetes.

Crossen also lays bare the hard truth that despite the millions of dollars spent and decades of research, there is still no cure for diabetes. And although blood-sugar/insulin monitoring and delivery has significantly improved since he was diagnosed in the early 70’s, disabetes remains a condition difficult to manage.

You do not have to be diabetic or have a family member you are caring for who is diabetic, to benefit from reading this book. Each of endures loss and hardship in life; Crossen’s grit and resilience, self-reflection and spirituallity, provides a roadmap for creating a meaningful life, despite its challenges.

A book I love....

A very well written synopsis of what it is like to live with diabetes. The stories are interesting and delve into the intricacies of managing this disease.

Enjoyed this well-written account of Scott's journey and present day struggles with diabetes. He weaves his story with wonderful descriptions of places and people he's met.

I've known Scott for more than 40 years and had heard some of these stories before but the magnitude of his challenges didn't really hit me until reading this memoir. It's a compelling and moving account of the extraordinary effort it takes to manage this condition and the profound impact it has on all aspects of life. We worked together in two corporate settings. I witnessed the superficial concern expressed by management about hypoglycemic reactions, the discomfort they felt and the gradual disenfranchisement from projects that benefitted from his obvious talent and management skills. It's a powerful and informative story that reminded me how much I take for granted.