Member-only story

Diabetes: The Biography - A Captivating Journey Through a Disease's Impact on Humanity

Martin Cox

·16.1k Followers· Follow

Published in Diabetes: The Biography (Biographies Of Disease)

3 min read

318 View Claps

28 Respond

Save

Listen

Chapter 1: Ancient Roots and Early Encounters

An Ancient Egyptian Papyrus Depicting The Symptoms Of Diabetes Diabetes: The Biography (Biographies Of Disease)

Diabetes: The Biography (Biographies of Disease)

by Robert Tattersall

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1055 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	233 pages
Lending	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported

The earliest known records of diabetes date back to ancient Egypt, where hieroglyphs described a condition called "sweet urine." Around the same time, Chinese physicians identified a similar illness characterized by excessive thirst and frequent urination.

In ancient Greece, the physician Hippocrates coined the term "diabetes" from the Greek word "diabainein," meaning "to siphon through." He astutely observed the disease's distinctive symptoms and classified it as a chronic, uncurable condition.

Chapter 2: The Renaissance and the Dawn of Scientific Inquiry

A 16th Century Illustration Of A Physician Examining A Patient With Diabetes Diabetes: The Biography (Biographies Of Disease)

During the Renaissance, European physicians began to investigate diabetes more systematically. In the 16th century, the Swiss physician Paracelsus linked the disease to a "sweet substance" in the urine. This discovery laid the foundation for future research on glucose metabolism.

In the 17th century, the English physician Thomas Willis coined the term "mellitus" to describe the sweet taste of diabetic urine. He also made the crucial observation that the disease affected the pancreas, a vital organ in blood sugar regulation.

Chapter 3: Unveiling the Role of the Pancreas and Insulin

A Photograph Of Frederick Banting And Charles Best, The Co Discoverers Of Insulin Diabetes: The Biography (Biographies Of Disease)

A major breakthrough came in 1889 when Oskar Minkowski and Joseph von Mering discovered that removing the pancreas in dogs led to diabetes. This finding suggested that the pancreas played a crucial role in controlling blood sugar levels.

In the early 20th century, scientists began to focus on identifying the substance produced by the pancreas that regulated blood sugar. In 1921, Frederick Banting and Charles Best made the pivotal discovery of insulin, a hormone that allows the body to absorb glucose from the blood.