From “honey urine” to high-tech sensors - the history of diabetes therapy

When people talk about diabetes today, many people think of sensors, insulin pumps or precise carbohydrate calculations. However, the history of this metabolic disease goes back much further and begins in ancient Egypt. On the occasion of World Diabetes Day, it is worth taking a look at the development of therapy from the first observations to modern technologies.

The beginnings: sugar in the urine

As early as 1550 BC. In the so-called Ebers Papyrus, Egyptian doctors described symptoms such as intense thirst and frequent urination in the 4th century BC. Centuries later, Indian physicians observed that some patients' urine tasted sweet and attracted insects. This is considered one of the earliest references to what is now known as Type 2 diabetes or type 1.

The Greek physician Aretaios of Cappadocia coined the term “diabetes” in the 1st century AD, derived from the Greek diabainein, which means something like “flowing through”. He thus clearly described the noticeable loss of fluids suffered by those affected.

The decisive breakthrough: the role of the pancreas

In the 19th century, the medical focus increasingly shifted from purely describing symptoms to investigating causes. In 1889, Oskar Minkowski and Josef von Mering were able to show that removal of the pancreas in dogs led to the development of diabetes. This made it clear that the pancreas plays a central role in this Keep blood sugar levels constant to be able to.

The decisive milestone came in 1921, when Frederick Banting and Charles Best isolated insulin from animal pancreas for the first time. Back in 1922, 13-year-old Leonard Thompson received an insulin injection. Diabetes has thus changed from a mostly fatal disease to a chronic, treatable disease.

From the laboratory to everyday life

In the following decades, insulin was continuously developed. The first long-acting insulin preparations were developed in the 1930s, and the chemical structure of insulin was deciphered in the 1950s. Genetically engineered human insulin has been available since the 1980s.

From the 1990s onwards, insulin pens, pump systems and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) found their way into the everyday lives of many people with diabetes. These technologies can support management and are used by many affected people as practical help in everyday life. The understanding of the connection between dextrose and insulin and their effect on metabolism are essential.

The digital era: precision in real time

Today, sensor technology, software and medical technology are increasingly being combined with one another. Modern systems can automatically adjust insulin based on tissue sugar levels, while apps warn of low blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia) or elevated blood sugar levels. Such systems can help to better recognize patterns, but do not replace your own understanding of metabolism and nutrition.

Especially in everyday life, it remains important to be able to react to short-term changes. In this context, quickly absorbed carbohydrates are often referred to as: Help with hypoglycemia used. Different dosage forms are perceived to be differently practical depending on the personal situation.

For example, some people prefer tasteless dextrose products in swallowed form. Such concepts can be relevant in everyday life, for example when a solution without sweet taste It is desired that there should be no direct contact with the teeth in order to avoid this Dental health to maintain, or a precise Dextrose dosage is important for blood sugar management.

Timeline: 3000 years of diabetes history

• 1550 B.C. BC: First description of diabetes symptoms in the Ebers Papyrus
• 100 AD: Aretaios of Cappadocia coins the term diabetes
• 1675: Thomas Willis describes the sweet taste of urine (“mellitus”)
• 1889: Minkowski and von Mering show the connection between the pancreas and diabetes
• 1921/22: Isolation of insulin and first successful insulin therapy
• 1980s: Introduction of human insulin through genetic engineering
• 1990s: Insulin pens, pumps, and CGM systems become widely used
• 2010s to today: Further development of hybrid and closed-loop systems

Conclusion: Progress requires understanding

It was a long way from the first observations in antiquity to digitally supported therapy systems. Modern technologies can help people with diabetes better manage their blood sugar levels. Nevertheless, knowledge about your own body, nutrition and how to use insulin remains a central part of everyday life.

World Diabetes Day reminds us that every innovation today is based on thousands of years of observation and continuous research. Everyday decisions are part of this ongoing story.