At launch, #1 New Release in Endocrinology & Metabolism on Amazon · Endorsed by physicians, diabetes educators, and patient advocates
The patient’s complete roadmap to Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults — from screening and misdiagnosis through the “flaky pancreas” stage, insulin pumps, hormones, mental health, and the daily craft of managing diabetes well.
Second Edition · 2026
By Linnea May Huxford
Foreword by Dr. Stephen W. Ponder, MD, FAAP, CDE
Millions of people are living with LADA. Many of them don’t know it yet — because the condition is so often missed, sometimes for years or decades, while patients are told their stubbornly rising numbers are their own fault. Success with LADA Diabetes is the book I wish I’d had at diagnosis: a comprehensive, patient-to-patient guide written from a decade of lived experience and grounded in the medical research.
An estimated 1 in 5 adults diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes actually has LADA — an autoimmune condition that looks like Type 2 in its early years but follows a different biology and requires different treatment. The standard tests can’t tell them apart. The right diagnosis changes everything: which medications help, which can harm, and how long your beta cells keep working.
The second edition covers the full arc of the LADA journey — from the first “something isn’t adding up” to confident, day-to-day management years in.
Glucose balance, insulin discovery, ketoacidosis — the science you actually need.
How they differ, why LADA is so often missed, and how to advocate for the right tests.
What to watch for, which labs to ask your doctor to order, and how to read the results.
How a Type 2 label happens — and the practical steps to get reclassified.
Why the honeymoon period is unpredictable, and how to adapt as it shifts.
The real transition from shots to pump, basal/bolus, calibration, tech limitations.
Diabetes stress, burnout, depression — and what actually helps.
The mistakes almost everyone makes early on, and how to recognize them in yourself.
The menstrual cycle connection and insulin dosing implications.
Real-world carb counting, foods to swap, eating out, and how to make smart choices to nourish yourself and make taking care of diabetes easier.
Finding movement you enjoy and timing it around insulin and meals.
Concurrent autoimmune conditions, dental health, and the long view of complications.
Foreword by
Board-Certified Pediatric Endocrinologist · Certified Diabetes Educator since 1989 · 2018 AADE Diabetes Educator of the Year · Creator of Sugar Surfing™
Dr. Ponder is the creator of Sugar Surfing and co-author of Sugar Surfing: How to Manage Type 1 Diabetes in a Modern World. He served as chair of the National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators in 1996 and has sat on its committees for more than two decades. He is a member of the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists (formerly AADE), the American Diabetes Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and The Endocrine Society.
“An admirable book… valuable as an aid to both patients and medical practitioners.”
Professor R. David G. Leslie, MD, FRCP, FAoP
Blizard Institute
“Linnea’s words will give readers validation after a frustrating experience trying to get diagnosed. This book will confirm that you’re definitely not alone living with LADA.”
Ginger Vieira
Co-Founder, Diabetes Nerd Network
“Brings together lived experience and actionable guidance in a way that will help readers feel less alone and more equipped to navigate their journey.”
Dr. Mark Heyman
Author of Diabetes Sucks and You Can Handle It
“A thoughtful, practical resource that brings clarity, encouragement, and real-life wisdom… she doesn’t just teach, she understands.”
Melissa Slemp
Certified Health Coach · Author of Highs, Lows, & Hormones
“Very understandable, easy to read, and packed with valuable suggestions. Well done.”
Greg Hammill
Living with Type 1 Diabetes for 60+ years
The first edition of this book was published under the pen name Lin May. The second edition (2026) is published under my full name, Linnea May Huxford.
About the Author
I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes — and treated as Type 2 — for years before I finally got the LADA diagnosis I should have had from the start. Years of doing everything “right” and watching my numbers climb. Years of thinking it was my fault.
It wasn’t. Once I had the right diagnosis, the right tests, and the right treatment, my A1C improved. This book is the guide I needed and couldn’t find: written from one patient to another, grounded in the medical literature, and shaped by more than a decade of living this every day.
My background is in neuroscience — Bachelor of Arts in Neuroscience and Behavior from Mount Holyoke College. I’m not a physician. I’m something equally valuable for someone newly diagnosed or still trying to figure out what they have: a patient who’s been exactly where you are and now spends every week helping others find the answers I had to dig for. I’m the host of the LADA Life Podcast and the person behind lada-diabetes.com.
Before you buy the book, grab the free LADA Doctor Checklist — the 10 questions to bring to your next appointment to see whether your Type 2 diagnosis might actually be LADA.
Adults who’ve been diagnosed with LADA (Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults) or Type 1.5, anyone whose Type 2 diagnosis isn’t responding the way it should, and caregivers and clinicians who want to learn more about LADA diabetes.
No. Success with LADA Diabetes is a patient-written guide based on a decade of lived experience and the published medical literature. It is not a substitute for individualized medical advice from your endocrinologist or diabetes care team.
A foreword by Dr. Stephen W. Ponder, MD, FAAP, CDE. Expanded chapters on mental health, diet, and added personal stories. Updated with the latest on diabetes technology and new advances, including coverage of continuous glucose monitoring and insulin pumps. And it’s the first edition published under my full name, Linnea May Huxford.
Paperback, hardcover, and Kindle eBook — all available on Amazon.
LADA is an autoimmune form of diabetes (like Type 1), but it develops slowly in adulthood (which is why it’s often mistaken for Type 2). The right diagnosis matters because getting the right treatment earlier alleviates many problems. Furthermore, some Type 2 medications can harm the insulin-producing beta cells in LADA. The book covers the distinctions in depth, and the free LADA explainer is a good starting point.
Medical disclaimer: This page and the book it describes are educational resources written by a patient. They do not constitute medical advice and are not a substitute for consultation with a qualified healthcare professional. Always talk to your doctor before making changes to your diabetes management.