Diabetes Treatment: Tracing The History
People writing in China and India over 2000 years ago described an ailment that had to be diabetes mellitus. The Greeks and Romans described in exact detail a similar condition that among other things caused the urine to give off a sweet odor. Scholars from China and India were the first to describe frequent urination. However, it was not until 1776 that researchers found out that glucose was responsible for this apparent sweet taste. Still later, it wasn't until the nineteenth century that physicians stumbled upon a new chemical test to actually measure glucose in the urine.
Later discoveries revealed that Insulin was a crucial substance that controlled the glucose in the blood. Since that discovery was made researchers have found wonderful ways to extract insulin and purify it so it can be given to individuals whose insulin levels are too low.
After insulin was discovered in 1921, noted diabetes specialists, including Elliot Joslin, promoted the standard that three basic treatments for diabetes be recognized. These standards are still recognized today. They are:
Diet
Exercise
Medication
Even though insulin was now widely available and helped to save the lives of many very sick individuals, it did not solve the problem of diabetes. As people with diabetes got older, it became apparent that they were also dealing with complications directly attributable to diabetes. These complications came in the form of kidney, eye and nervous system issues. In addition, a larger group of people now faced new challenges with Insulin. Type two. Yes, this new group of persons with type two diabetes faced the problem of being resistant to insulin. In 1955, an amazing discovery shed new light on treating the disease. It was the discovery of the group of drugs called sulfonylureas. These drugs were the first of it's kind to be administered orally in order to lower blood glucose levels. Even though these were exciting times for those who had the disease and who could now look forward to effective treatment, the only way to know if someone's blood glucose was high was to test the urine, which was entirely inadequate for good diabetic control.
The first portable meters for blood glucose testing became available around the year 1980. For the first time, it became possible to relate treatment to a measurable outcome. As a result of these advancements, other drugs such as metformin, pioglitazone and others have come into existence.
If you are not taking advantage of using these instruments in your diabetes care please rethink your position.
Later discoveries revealed that Insulin was a crucial substance that controlled the glucose in the blood. Since that discovery was made researchers have found wonderful ways to extract insulin and purify it so it can be given to individuals whose insulin levels are too low.
After insulin was discovered in 1921, noted diabetes specialists, including Elliot Joslin, promoted the standard that three basic treatments for diabetes be recognized. These standards are still recognized today. They are:
Diet
Exercise
Medication
Even though insulin was now widely available and helped to save the lives of many very sick individuals, it did not solve the problem of diabetes. As people with diabetes got older, it became apparent that they were also dealing with complications directly attributable to diabetes. These complications came in the form of kidney, eye and nervous system issues. In addition, a larger group of people now faced new challenges with Insulin. Type two. Yes, this new group of persons with type two diabetes faced the problem of being resistant to insulin. In 1955, an amazing discovery shed new light on treating the disease. It was the discovery of the group of drugs called sulfonylureas. These drugs were the first of it's kind to be administered orally in order to lower blood glucose levels. Even though these were exciting times for those who had the disease and who could now look forward to effective treatment, the only way to know if someone's blood glucose was high was to test the urine, which was entirely inadequate for good diabetic control.
The first portable meters for blood glucose testing became available around the year 1980. For the first time, it became possible to relate treatment to a measurable outcome. As a result of these advancements, other drugs such as metformin, pioglitazone and others have come into existence.
If you are not taking advantage of using these instruments in your diabetes care please rethink your position.
