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By Joseph Juliano, M.D.

This is the first part of a series of writings on my thoughts on the subject of diabetes mellitus, its ramifications, complications, current day therapies, and living with this disease on a daily basis.

Definitely one of the oldest diseases on this planet, diabetes mellitus was described in the oldest known writings yet discovered. It is fascinating to me to realize that this disease predates ancient Egypt, and perhaps the earliest civilization.

Diabetes mellitus has been viewed as many different types of disease states, i.e. a wasting away disease, a metabolic disease, and today, it is understood that diabetes encompasses many disease states within and in and of itself. We know that diabetes encompasses diabetic retinopathy, diabetic neuropathy, diabetic nephropathy, diabetic gastro paresis, peripheral artery disease or peripheral vascular disease, among others, and that these separate disease states attack and begin to destroy the vascular and nervous systems of the diabetic patient. The destruction of the smallest blood vessels found in the body, those of the eyes and kidneys, comprise the most dreaded of the diabetic complications, blindness due to diabetic retinopathy, and renal failure due to diabetic nephropathy.

The one single goal of my entire life has been to better understand and find the answers for making the life of the diabetic patient better. Consider the millions and millions of man hours that have been spent studying, researching and experimenting to find a cure, or perhaps, an answer as to how to extend the life of the diabetic and reduce or eliminate the complications.

Remember, diabetes is the number one cause of new blindness in the United States, accounts for the majority of renal failure patients, and is the reason for most non-traumatic amputations. This is an insidious disease, and is the cause of untold suffering for those who have the disease and their families. The numbers of diabetic patients, both Type I insulin dependent diabetes, and Type II non-insulin dependent diabetes, have increased dramatically during the last twenty years.

Joseph Juliano, M.D., is a past research endocrinologist and diabetologist, has had Type I insulin dependent diabetes for forty-one years, and has suffered through total blindness and renal failure. He has written the following books on the subject of diabetes:

When Diabetes Complicates Your Life, Chronimed Publishing, Minnesota, 1993.

When Diabetes Complicates Your Life, 2nd ed., John Wiley and Sons, New York, 1998.

The Diabetics Innovative Cookbook, Henry Holt, New York, 1994.

The Diabetic Males Essential Guide to Living Well, Henry Holt, New York, 1998.