History Of Diabetes
By: Tania IvanovichTotal Views: 399, Word Count: 527,
Diabetes, a disease of the increase in the level of sugar in blood due to the over or under secretion of insulin hormone by the beta cells of pancreatic gland has historical references in the ancient studies and medicines of different cultures in the world. The distinction of diabetes on the basis of country-wise distribution and research is made for the easy understanding of the reader.
First incidence and mention of diabetes: Egypt.
- 3,500 years ago the Egyptians first discovered the disease in their community. The reference of this disease in the name of Polyuria by the third Egyptian dynasty is found in a medical compilation known by the name Papyrus of Ebers (1500 BC). It was first discovered by the physician, Hesy-Ra in the context of frequent urination.
References found in Greek culture:
- The diagnosis of the disease as a manifestation of kidney ailment was conducted by a Greek physician, Galen of Pergamum in the year 164 A.D. However, the roman citizen, Aretaeus of Cappadocia termed the disorder as “the melting down of flesh and limbs into urine”.
Diabetes in ancient India:
- The Indian physicians, Chakra and Sushruta described the condition of the rise in glucose in bloodstream as madhumeha or rain of honey. Up to eleventh century the diagnosis of the disease was conducted by “water tasters” who were suppose to drink the urine of the patients suspected with the disease. If the urine was sweet, then the patient was declared a sufferer of the disease which melts bones and limbs.
The medical identification of the disease:
Paracelsus for the first time identified the gravity of the disease. The word diabetes mellitus was first used by the English physician Thomas Willis in the year 1675. In nineteenth century chemical tests were conducted in laboratory to diagnose the type of this disease. The French researcher Claude Bernard examined the working of pancreas and rate of metabolism in the liver area. The breakthrough occurred in 1869 by the German medical student, Paul Langerhans, who discovered the two systems of cells in pancreas. The one system is responsible for normal production of juice, while the function of the other system still remained a mystery.
In the early twentieth century: The revelation of the Langerhans study concluded the accurate composition of pancreatic gland. Connecting the loose threads of his research, Moses Barron, an American formed the correlation between Diabetes mellitus and Langerhans cells. In the year 1921-22 insulin hormone was isolated for the first time at the University of Toronto. The secretion of insulin by the pancreatic gland was the discovery of Dr. Frederick Banting.This led to the series of treatments with the introduction of biosynthetic insulin and insulin pen delivery system. The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial stated in the year 1993 that intensive therapy of frequent doses and diet control can aid in the balance of sugar in the body.
The twenty-first century introduces the numerous methods and self help techniques to fight diabetes with the aid of first hand information and advanced health organizations.
About the Author
Tania Ivanovich is a Physician, fighting diabetes in patients for past two decades. She participates in multiple health aid programs conducted by World Health Organization and NGO’s globally, curing the sufferers of diabetes mellitus. She stresses on an easy and effective medication with the supplication of diet control and regular exercise. Extracted from her mild approach a new book has been introduced in the market: How To Play The Diabetes Game To Win!
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