Diabetes has a very long history dating far beyond the 16th century. The treatments for diabetes are just as old. For the longest time, we did not know there was more than one kind of diabetes, so there was no difference in treatments.
Beginning in the late 1700’s, the most common treatment for diabetes was a diet of plain blood puddings, fat, and rancid meat. It may sound disgusting, but these foods seemed to be the only ones diabetic bodies could process.
In 1871, a French doctor noticed improvements in his diabetic patients during the food rations through out the Siege of Paris. He then began creating special diets, tailored to each of his patients, which controlled their symptoms.
In the early 1920’s, insulin was discovered and scientists began studying the effectiveness of insulin treatments over time. In 1922 the first insulin injection treatment for diabetes was given to a human. With the treatment, he lived for another 13 years before dying of pneumonia. Insulin quickly became available to the public
By 1959, diabetes had been identified as having two types: Type 1 diabetes being insulin dependent and Type 2 diabetes not being insulin dependent.
Today, type 2 diabetes is treated with proper diet, exercise, and close monitoring of blood glucose levels. In severe cases, insulin injections may be used. Type 2 diabetes is preventable by eating right and exercising on a regular basis. People who have a high risk factor need to always keep the basic symptoms of diabetes in their minds, increased thirst, increased hunger, and excess urination.
