Diabetes was rare before the twentieth century.  Management of Diabetes started with severe caloric restriction for mere survival of patients with type 1 diabetes. Banting and Best, Mc Cleod and Collip, discovered and purified insulin from the canine pancreas.  In 1935 diabetes with insulin resistance was distinguished from type 1 diabetes. Longer acting insulins were marketed from the 1930s while the first generation of sulphonylureas … Continue reading Diabetes in the Twentieth Century

Between the ages of 7 and 8 James Quander was told the only thing he was born to do was to die. However, he lived longer than persons who had diabetes were expected to. Mr. Quander was born in 1918 and was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes just before he turned 6 in 1924, shortly after insulin was introduced to the market. James Quander was a black American … Continue reading PWD Pt2

After the diagnosis of diabetes, there are a few diabetes-related tools that you will either have to purchase or have access to. I recommend buying a glucose meter, but before you do this, be sure you have access to the meter test strips; because this is the real source of expense. You need to check your blood glucose readings several times per day, if your blood glucose is … Continue reading Diabetes and Management tools

A person’s personality may or may not be modifiable, but an understanding of the relationship between an aspect of personality and adherence to diabetes management plan is quite useful.  This can allow modifications to education, counselling methods and behavioural therapy. More than one study use a measure called the NEO Personality Inventory with personality dimensions such as neuroticism, extroversion, agreeableness and conscientiousness, openness to experience, and the respective … Continue reading Diabetes and Personality