History And Discovery Of Diabetes

2 November, 2025

Introduction

History and Discovery of Diabetes goes back thousands of years. Ancient physicians observed symptoms like excessive thirst and sweet urine, even though they didn’t understand the actual cause or treatment. Over time, scientists studied the disease more deeply, leading to major breakthroughs. The discovery of insulin completely changed diabetes management and marked a new era in medical science.

The first concept of diabetes

Egyptian doctors first described diabetes symptoms around 1500 BC. The ancient Egyptian Ebers Papyrus records a condition where a person’s urine tasted sweet, identifying what we now know as diabetes. In the 2nd century AD, Greek physician Aretaeus of Cappadocia named the disease Diabetes, meaning “to pass through,” referring to the frequent urination it caused. Indian physicians later described the same illness as Madhumeha, or “sweet urine,” linking it to the excess sugar in the body.

Scientific explanation of diabetes

In the 17th century, scientists discovered that the urine of diabetic patients contained high levels of sugar or glucose. In 1869, German scientist Paul Langerhans identified special cells in the pancreas, later known as the Islets of Langerhans. This discovery laid the foundation for the future understanding of insulin and its crucial role in diabetes

The story of the discovery of insulin

The year 1921 marked a turning point in the history and discovery of diabetes. Dr. Frederick Banting and his assistant Charles Best at the University of Toronto in Canada successfully isolated insulin for the first time. They observed that removing a dog’s pancreas caused diabetes-like symptoms. Later, they extracted a pancreatic substance that controlled blood sugar levels — this extract was insulin. In 1922, doctors administered insulin to a teenager named Leonard Thompson, and his blood sugar levels dropped dramatically. This groundbreaking event started a new era in diabetes treatment.

Modern improvements in insulin

Initially, insulin was produced from animal pancreases, which was expensive and limited. In the 1980s, human insulin was produced using genetic engineering technology, which is used by billions of people around the world today.

Currently, different types of insulin are available —
Rapid-acting insulin
Long-acting insulin
Insulin pumps and pens — which have made the lives of diabetic patients much easier.

Current Diabetes Research

Scientists are still researching Artificial Pancreas and Smart Insulin Technology. The goal is to create a treatment system that can control blood sugar levels on its own.

Conclusion

The history of diabetes is not just the story of a disease, it is the story of a revolutionary change in the medical science of mankind.From ancient Egypt tomodern laboratories — the discovery of insulin is a testament to the continuous efforts of man and the success of science.
If diabetes control is possible today, it is due to centuries of research, sacrifice and perseverance.

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