Abstract
Abstract The name ‘diabetes’ derives from the ancient Greek word meaning ‘to flow’ or ‘siphon’ and describes one of the most common symptom of diabetes—the passing of large amounts of urine, for which it was given the far more colourful name of ‘The pissing evil’ by seventeenth-century English physician Thomas Willis (1625–1675). First mentioned on an ancient Egyptian papyrus as a disease of sweet urine, it was physicians like Matthew Dobson (1735–1784) and John Rollo who showed it was due to high levels of sugar; both proposed that the condition might therefore be controlled by dietary restriction. In the late nineteenth century, Oskar Minkowski and Josef von Mering demonstrated that the pancreas played a central role in controlling blood sugar levels. This information led French physiologist Charles-Edouard Brown-Séquard (1817–1893) to speculate that this might be due to the action of a hormone.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
