History of Diabetes
Diabetes is a disorder of metabolism and the food one is eating is broken down into glucose which is one form of sugar in the blood. Millions of people are suffering from diabetes which is not contagious. There are two types of diabetes – Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes.
Type 1diabetes is more common in males and females and even in children. Type 2 diabetes occurs mostly in older people. When the level of glucose is high in the bloodstream, then diabetes is caused.
History of Diabetes
1552 B.C
The diabetes was recorded by physician Hesy-Ra and after research found that frequent urination is one of the symptoms of diabetes.
Ist Century A.D
Arateus defined diabetes as ‘the softening down of limbs and flesh into urine.’
164 A.D
There was a big mistake done in diagnosing diabetes by the physician ‘Galen of Pergamum’ who diagnosed this disease as a disorder of the kidneys.
11 th Century
During this period, diabetes was diagnosed by ‘water tasters’ and people’s urine suffering from diabetes was checked by drinking it and on testing it was found sweet in taste. As a result the word ‘mellitus’ was added with diabetes.
16 th Century
In the 16 th century, diabetes was identified as a severe common disorder by the Paracelsus.
Late 1850s
It was advised by French physician named as Priorry that the diabetic patients should take large amounts of sugar in their diet as a part of the treatment.
1870s
Disappearance of glycosuria was noticed by French physician named as Bouchardat in the patients suffering from diabetes during the allocation of foodstuff.
Early 19 th Century
During this period, the first chemical tests were done to specify and determine the existence of sugar in the urine.
19 th Century
Extensive research has been done by many researchers on the working of the glycogen metabolism of the pancreas and the liver.
End of 19 th Century
The diabetic patients were separated from other patients and made them follow the strict diets.
1900-1915
The diet of the diabetic patients includes the milk, potato therapy, oat cure, rice cure and opium.
1910-1920
The leading diabetes specialist, Joslin in the US describes diabetes as the ‘one of chronic disease as it was considered as clean and infrequent and not contagious, involves no pain and vulnerable to treatment.’
December 30, 1921
A paper was presented by Dr. Banting which describes ‘The Beneficial Influences of Certain Pancreatic Extracts on Pancreatic Diabetes’ and sum up his work and was awarded for his great work.
1970
In 1970, insulin pumps and blood glucose meters were developed. Laser therapy was also evolved which help in preventing the diabetic patients from blindness.
1993
Diabetes Control and Complications Trial report was published in 1993. This report describes the intensive therapy which stops the development of long term complications in type 1 diabetes people.
1998
The United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study identifies the need of good blood pressure control and good glucose control in preventing the complications in type 2 diabetes.