Contents: Preface. 1. Understanding diabetes. 2. What is diabetes? 3. Types of diabetes. 4. Role of insulin in regulating blood sugar. 5. Risk factors of diabetes. 6. Signs and symptoms of diabetes. 7. Diagnosis of diabetes. 8. Self-monitoring diabetes. 9. Living with diabetes: 9 tests everyone with diabetes should get done. 10. Living with diabetes: skin care. 11. Living with diabetes: foot and leg care. 12. Living with diabetes: eye and vision care. 13. Living with diabetes: dental and oral health. 14. Living with diabetes: travel. 15. Living with a diabetic child. 16. Pregnancy and diabetes. 17. Gestational diabetes. 18. Special concerns of women with diabetes. 19. Food: a bit of basic nutrition. 20. Why do carbs matter: impact on sugar control. 21. Glycemic index and glycemic load of foods. 22. Healthy meal planning. 23. Creating a meal plan. 24. Exercise and diabetes control. 25. Weight control to prevent and treat diabetes. 26. What’s in the future? Appendices. Index. Diabetes is not a disease of blood sugar alone. Like no other disease, it involves the entire body and all its systems. Therefore, controlling not only the blood sugar, but also the factors controlling blood sugar is important. The book not only explains how diabetes can be controlled with greater attention to diet, weight control, exercise, smoking and drinking habits and a healthier lifestyle, but also provides up-to-date information on diagnosis, glycaemic index of foods and long-term management of diabetes. It explains how to monitor blood sugar at home and gives practical guidelines and helpful advice for everyday problems of living with diabetes and leading a normal, healthy and active life. Diabetes can be controlled. Scientific and simple-to-understand meal planers and exchange charts help you with effective sugar control.