Practitioner Galmer gives diabetics and those who care about them a solid background in the history and characteristics of a disease currently affecting at least 16 million people in the US. He describes how scholars in ancient Egypt first documented symptoms, and then how subsequent generations tried to develop techniques of diagnosis and treatment. He relates the story of the discovery of insulin and sulfonamides and their properties, then describes processes fundamental to the study of diabetes such as metabolism, liver and pancreatic function, the different types of diabetes, complications to eyes and kidneys, nerve complications, care of the diabetic foot, testing and treatment, including alternatives to conventional care, the cultural and socioeconomic impact of diabetes, including discrimination, and future possibilities, including new methods of insulin delivery and stem cell research. Also accessible to readers from high school age up. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)