By: Dr. Omid Maghami, MD

Published: May 02, 2014

The haste of modern life, poor nutrition, persistent stress, and polluted environment often lead to the spread of many diseases, but most often to type 2 diabetes mellitus. For a long time, type 2 diabetes was regarded as a minor ailment. Therefore, neither doctors nor patients paid much attention to its prevention and treatment. However, the attitude to type 2 diabetes has changed during the past 50 years due to new discoveries in medicine.

The Historical Background

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is known as one of the most widespread diseases globally. For the first time, the clinical picture of diabetes was described in China and the Indies more than two thousand years ago (Holt, Cockram, Flyvbjerg, & Goldstein, 2017). Over the course of time, scientists have discovered new ways of treating diabetes. The discovery of insulin in 1921 became a major breakthrough in the treatment of the disease (Holt et al., 2017). The next important achievement in the treatment of type 2 diabetes was the discovery of a group of drugs called sulfonylureas in 1955 (Acton, 2012). Sulfonylureas were the first oral drugs that decreased blood glucose levels. Furthermore, in 1960, scientists identified the chemical structure of human insulin, and in 1979, they completed the total synthesis of human insulin, using the latest methods of genetic engineering (Holt et al., 2017). Moreover, around 1980, the first portable glucometers appeared, allowing doctors to measure blood glucose levels (Acton, 2012). As a result, doctors began to develop methods of treatment which would take into account the status of patients with type 2 diabetes.

Changes in Scientific Thought

The history of science shows that scientific thought is stubborn in its delusions, and changes in views pave the way for further discoveries. Over the past 50 years, the etiology of diabetes has remained a mystery. The mechanisms of its development cannot be explained and fully understood. However, scientists discovered that the endocrine system is responsible for the emergence of type 2 diabetes (World Health Organization [WHO], 2016). The endocrine system is as important as the spinal cord and brain. Therefore, scientists conclude that if there is a malfunction in the endocrine system, dangerous changes such as diabetes may begin in the body and lead to some complications.

The Breakthrough in the Field of Innovative Technologies

Over the past 10 years, new advances have been made in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of type 2 diabetes. For example, new technologies give doctors an opportunity to monitor patients’ blood sugar levels. In addition, they allow patients to considerably improve their physical condition. The invention of effective drugs also led to a fundamentally new approach in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. A huge breakthrough in the field of innovative technologies, which is comparable in importance to the creation of insulin analogs, is the discovery of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogs (Acton, 2012). The importance of these drugs is not only in their hypoglycemic effect but also in cardioprotective properties. It was an unexpected discovery, but later it was confirmed in numerous studies (WHO, 2016). In particular, these medications significantly decrease the level of systolic blood pressure. Moreover, they contribute to weight loss and have a positive effect on lipid levels.

Conclusion

To conclude, the attitude to type 2 diabetes has changed during the past 50 years due to new discoveries in medicine. The invention of insulin has paved the way for the introduction of new methods of treatment. Furthermore, insulin analogs have contributed to the development of new drugs. Nowadays, patients with type 2 diabetes have a chance to live a full life owing to successful innovations and medical advances made in the last 50 years.

References

Acton, Q. A. (Ed.). (2012). Endocrine system diseases: Advances in research and treatment (2011th ed.). Atlanta, GA: Scholarly Editions.

Holt, R. I. G., Cockram, C. S., Flyvbjerg, A., & Goldstein, B. J. (Eds.). (2017). Textbook of diabetes (5th ed.). Hoboken NJ: Willey Blackwell.

World Health Organization. (2016). Global report on diabetes. Retrieved from http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/204871/1/9789241565257_eng.pdf.