History of diabetes
Diabetes was one of the first diseases
described, with an Egyptian manuscript from c. 1500 BCE mentioning "too
great emptying of the urine". The Ebers papyrus includes a recommendation
for a drink to be taken in such cases. The first described cases are believed
to be of type 1 diabetes. Indian physicians around the same time identified the
disease and classified it as madhumeha or "honey urine", noting the
urine would attract ants.
described, with an Egyptian manuscript from c. 1500 BCE mentioning "too
great emptying of the urine". The Ebers papyrus includes a recommendation
for a drink to be taken in such cases. The first described cases are believed
to be of type 1 diabetes. Indian physicians around the same time identified the
disease and classified it as madhumeha or "honey urine", noting the
urine would attract ants.
The term "diabetes" or "to pass
through" was first used in 230 BCE by the Greek Apollonius of Memphis. The
disease was considered rare during the time of the Roman empire, with Galen
commenting he had only seen two cases during his career. This is possibly due
to the diet and lifestyle of the ancients, or because the clinical symptoms
were observed during the advanced stage of the disease. Galen named the disease
"diarrhea of the urine" (diarrhea urinosa).
through" was first used in 230 BCE by the Greek Apollonius of Memphis. The
disease was considered rare during the time of the Roman empire, with Galen
commenting he had only seen two cases during his career. This is possibly due
to the diet and lifestyle of the ancients, or because the clinical symptoms
were observed during the advanced stage of the disease. Galen named the disease
"diarrhea of the urine" (diarrhea urinosa).
The earliest surviving work with a detailed
reference to diabetes is that of Aretaeus of Cappadocia (2nd or early 3rd
century CE). He described the symptoms and the course of the disease, which he
attributed to the moisture and coldness, reflecting the beliefs of the
"Pneumatic School". He hypothesized a correlation of diabetes with
other diseases and he discussed differential diagnosis from the snakebite which
also provokes excessive thirst. His work remained unknown in the West until
1552, when the first Latin edition was published in Venice.
reference to diabetes is that of Aretaeus of Cappadocia (2nd or early 3rd
century CE). He described the symptoms and the course of the disease, which he
attributed to the moisture and coldness, reflecting the beliefs of the
"Pneumatic School". He hypothesized a correlation of diabetes with
other diseases and he discussed differential diagnosis from the snakebite which
also provokes excessive thirst. His work remained unknown in the West until
1552, when the first Latin edition was published in Venice.
Type 1 and type 2 diabetes were identified as
separate conditions for the first time by the Indian physicians Sushruta and
Charaka in 400-500 CE with type 1 associated with youth and type 2 with being
overweight. The term "mellitus" or "from honey" was added
by the Briton John Rolle in the late 1700s to separate the condition from
diabetes insipidus, which is also associated with frequent urination. Effective
treatment was not developed until the early part of the 20th century, when
Canadians Frederick Banting and Charles Herbert Best isolated and purified
insulin in 1921 and 1922. This was followed by the development of the
long-acting insulin NPH in the 1940s.
separate conditions for the first time by the Indian physicians Sushruta and
Charaka in 400-500 CE with type 1 associated with youth and type 2 with being
overweight. The term "mellitus" or "from honey" was added
by the Briton John Rolle in the late 1700s to separate the condition from
diabetes insipidus, which is also associated with frequent urination. Effective
treatment was not developed until the early part of the 20th century, when
Canadians Frederick Banting and Charles Herbert Best isolated and purified
insulin in 1921 and 1922. This was followed by the development of the
long-acting insulin NPH in the 1940s.
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