Diabetes Through the Ages

CEBU, Philippines – Characterized by modern medicine as a condition that stems from the body's inability to properly produce or process insulin, diabetes mellitus is estimated to have been around for more than 2000 years - an estimation that is backed by the discovery of ancient texts and tomes that contain descriptions of the disease's symptoms and afflictions.

An Ancient Egyptian manuscript dating back to 1500 BC is often mentioned when talking about diabetes' age and antiquity - where a condition that's described as "too great emptying of the urine" is documented.

An Indian manuscript that's estimated to be from around the same time also describes a condition where ants were drawn to the urine of those afflicted by it, terming the condition a "honey urine" state.

These ancient texts didn't exactly use the term "diabetes" in defining the affliction they are recording - as the Latin term "diab?t?s, which translates to "a passer through; a siphon," is attributed to have been initially used sometime in 230 BC by a Greek named Appollonius of Memphis.

In the past, physicians were already aware of the dangers imposed by the condition, but were limited in terms of effective treatment options - as opposed to the modern diabetes treatments that are available today.

Different records that date around the 17th century note that items like "gelly of viper's flesh," fresh flowers of blind nettles, gruel, and dates were prescribed as treatments for the condition.

By the early 20th century, a Dr. Fredrick Allen discovered a method that prolonged the lives of those affected by the condition in prescribing low calorie diets. It is noted that through a 450-calorie diet per day regimen, diabetics at the time did live longer, but they succumbed to the pangs of starvation and weakness.

Then, in 1921 in Ontario, Canada, the benefits of insulin was discovered by Fredrick Banting and his assistant Charles Best - who, with the assistance of a Dr. Macleod and Dr. Collip, saved the life of a Leonard Thompson by introducing a refined insulin extract.

As recorded accounts note, the refined insulin extract managed to lower Thompson's dangerously high blood sugar levels to near normal within a 24-hour timeframe.

Since then, more breakthroughs in diabetes research and study came to be, including the identification of diabetes types in 1935 by Roger Hinsworth.

A cure for diabetes has yet to be found, the range of diabetes treatment options that are currently available has significantly changed the lives and lifestyles of diabetics for the better - as opposed to the "trial and error" sage of diabetes treatment options in the past.