Win32 C++ and Databases

I just started learning the Win32 API and I'm trying to make a program for a friend of mine. It's a basic cash register program, but it keeps track of purchases in a MySQL database. What's the best way to get Win32 to interact with a MySQL database?

Basically I want to be able to INSERT rows into a pre-exisiting table, and run some basic SELECT statements on it.

Thanks.