From Antiquity to Modern Times: A History of Diabetes Mellitus and Its Treatments

Abstract

The past 200 years have brought an understanding of diabetes and its pathogenesis, as well as the development of treatments that could not have been predicted when the disorder was first clinically described 2000 years ago. Beginning in the late 19th century, the initial descriptions of the microscopic anatomy of the pancreatic islets by Langerhans led to recognition of pancreatic endocrine function. Many investigators attempted to isolate the hypoglycemic factor produced by the pancreas, but Banting, Best, Macleod, and Collip were able to extract and purify “isletin” to treat human diabetes in 1921. Rapid scientific progress over the next 100 years led to an understanding of insulin synthesis, structure and function, production of modified synthetic insulins, and the physiopathology that permitted classification of diabetes subtypes. Improvements in control of diabetes have reduced the risks of complications. In less than two hundred years, we have gone from being unable to measure glucose in blood to being able to offer people with diabetes continuous blood glucose monitoring, linked to continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion. We come ever closer with new drugs and treatments to repair the biochemical defects in type 2 diabetes and to biologically replace islets and their function in type 1 diabetes. This review addresses the history of continuing progress in diabetes care.