History of Diabetes: Series 1 Diabetes Care in Antiquity and Beyond: The Preinsulin Era

Abstract

Diabetes as a disease dates back to ancient times. Before the 1920s, treatment was rudimentary and largely ineffective, focusing primarily on dietary management, herbal remedies, and lifestyle modifications. Ancient civilizations, including the Egyptians, Greeks, Chinese, and Indians, recognized diabetes through symptoms such as excessive thirst and urination. They used “natural” treatments, such as dietary restrictions, physical exercise, and medicinal herbs such as fenugreek and bitter melon. Islamic scholars in the medieval period made significant advancements, recommending balanced diets and specific herbal treatments. In Europe, the preinsulin era saw the implementation of starvation diets in the early 20th century, aiming to control blood glucose by severely restricting caloric intake, though often at the cost of malnutrition. These historical approaches reflect the evolving understanding of diabetes and underscore the desperate need for effective treatments, setting the stage for the revolutionary discovery of insulin in the early 20th century.