### The History of Diabetes Diabetes has been known for thousands of years. The earliest records date back to ancient Egypt around 1550 B.C. Ancient Indian texts from around 400-500 A.D. also describe diabetes, which they called “honey urine,” because ants were attracted to the urine of affected individuals. The Greek physician Apollonius of Memphis named the condition “diabetes,” meaning “to go through,” referring to the excessive urination seen in patients. For centuries, doctors from various cultures, including Greek, Indian, Arab, Egyptian, and Chinese, recognized diabetes but couldn't determine its cause. It was often a fatal diagnosis. In the early 20th century, significant progress was made. In 1926, Edward Albert Sharpey-Schafer discovered that the pancreas of diabetic patients couldn't produce insulin, a chemical needed to break down sugar. This led to the accumulation of sugar in the urine. Physicians recommended a fasting diet and regular exercise, but these measures were not enough to prevent premature death. A breakthrough came in 1921 when Canadian researchers Frederick Banting and Charles Best successfully extracted insulin from healthy dogs and used it to treat diabetic dogs. This discovery revolutionized diabetes treatment. In 1936, Harold Himsworth distinguished between two types of diabetes: “insulin-sensitive” (now known as type 1) and “insulin-insensitive” (now known as type 2). The 1960s saw further advancements with the development of urine strips for easier sugar detection and single-use syringes for insulin therapy. Portable glucose meters, introduced in 1969, have since become essential tools for managing diabetes. Insulin pumps, developed in the 1970s, mimic the body's natural insulin release and are now lightweight and portable. In recent decades, type 2 diabetes, once called “adult-onset diabetes,” has become more common in children and teenagers due to poor diet, lack of exercise, and obesity. This led to the renaming of the condition to type 2 diabetes. Despite these advancements, diabetes remains a major health issue worldwide. As of 2015, it was the seventh-leading cause of death in the United States. However, with home blood sugar testing and modern treatments, diabetes is more manageable than ever. Insulin remains the primary treatment for type 1 diabetes, while type 2 diabetes can often be managed with lifestyle changes and medication.