Diabetes and Treatment

536 Words2 Pages

According to Krisha McCoy on her article: The history of Diabetes; “In 150 AD, the Greek physician Arateus described what we now call diabetes as "the melting down of flesh and limbs into urine." From then on, physicians began to gain a better understanding about diabetes. Centuries later, people known as "water tasters" diagnosed diabetes by tasting the urine of people suspected to have it. If urine tasted sweet, diabetes was diagnosed. To acknowledge this feature, in 1675 the word "mellitus," meaning honey, was added to the name "diabetes," meaning siphon. It wasn't until the 1800s that scientists developed chemical tests to detect the presence of sugar in the urine”.
“Diabetes mellitus (sometimes called "sugar diabetes") is a condition that occurs when the body can't use glucose (a type of sugar) normally. Glucose is the main source of energy for the body's cells. The levels of glucose in the blood are controlled by a hormone called insulin, which is made by the pancreas. Insulin helps glucose enter the cells” (Diabetes Mellitus).
That is to say that “People with diabetes have high blood glucose, also called high blood sugar or hyperglycemia” (“Diagnosis”). In order to seek the proper care for diabetes, patients must undergo: distinguishing its symptoms, classifying if it is pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes, and the proper treatment.

The first step to knowing if you have diabetes is to identify its symptoms. Patients frequently overlook symptoms of: “Urinating often,” “Feeling very thirsty,” “Feeling very hungry even though you are eating,” “Extreme fatigue,” “Blurry vision,” “Cuts/bruises that are slow to heal” (“Symptoms”). These “symptoms of diabetes are typical. However, some people with type 2 diabetes have symptoms so...

... middle of paper ...

...etes” The World Book of Encyclopedia: World Book Inc. 179:2010
"Diagnosis of Diabetes and Pre-diabetes” - National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse." Diabetes.niddk.nih.gov, 2012. Web. 27 Feb 2014.
Kidshealth.org. Definition: Diabetes Mellitus. 1995. Web. 14 Mar 2014.
Mccoy, K. The History of Diabetes - Diabetes Center - Everyday Health. 2009. Web. 14 Mar 2014 .
"Symptoms - The American Diabetes Association." American Diabetes Association, 2014. Web. 3 Mar 2014. .
Thompson, Gregory E. and Jennifer Hone. "Steps for diagnosing type 2 diabetes." Webmd.com, 2011. Web. 3 Mar 2014. .

More about Diabetes and Treatment

Open Document