Diabetes Sourcebook

Basic Consumer Health Information about Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Gestational Diabetes, Monogenic Forms of Diabetes, and Insulin Resistance, with Guidelines for Lifestyle Modifications and the Medical Management of Diabetes, Including Facts about Insulin, Insulin Delivery Devices, Oral Diabetes Medications, Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose, Meal Planning, Physical Activity Recommendations, Foot Care, and Treatment Options for People with Kidney Failure

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of people in the United States with diagnosed diabetes has more than doubled in the last 15 years, but many cases—an estimated one in three—remain undiagnosed. Recent statistics suggest that a total of nearly 21 million Americans have diabetes, and another 54 million U.S. adults have prediabetes, placing them at high risk for developing the disorder. Diabetes is one of the leading causes of death and disability in the United States, and its long-term complications can affect almost every part of the body. Although there is no known cure, proper management, including lifestyle changes, early detection, and education about diabetes self-management, can help prevent the onset of diabetes among adults at high risk and reduce the burden of diabetes complications.

Diabetes Sourcebook, Fourth Edition contains updated information for people seeking to understand the risk factors, complications, and management of type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes, and monogenic forms of diabetes—those that result from mutations in a single gene. It offers information about lifestyle modifications related to delaying the onset of diabetes and managing its course after it has been diagnosed. It discusses medical interventions, including the use of insulin and oral diabetes medications, self-monitoring of blood glucose, and complementary and alternative therapies. Diabetes complications, including eye disease, gum disease, nerve damage, and kidney problems, are also addressed. The book concludes with a glossary of related terms and directories of information for people with diabetes or kidney failure.