1950: You are always thirsty and hungry
Examination
- I understand that you have to urinate frequently. That reminds me of one of my patients. I asked him if he had to get up in the middle of the night to urinate. He said, "Of course I do. Otherwise I would pee the bed!" Ha ha! Sorry. Just a little medical humor. Now let me give you a full exam.
Diagnosis
- later that day...
There were a few things that caught my attention during the exam. When I checked your eyes, I noticed fluffy clouds around your retinal arteries. When I checked your carotid arteries and the arteries in your feet, I noticed a weaker than normal pulse. And then there's your urine sample, which showed a high level of glucose. These all indicate that you have diabetes mellitus. Because your pancreas isn't producing enough insulin, your body can't absorb the glucose in your blood. This is why you feel so tired.
Treatment
This is not the end of the world. I'm going to put you on a special diet. First, we'll need to stabilize your blood sugar with insulin. Then you'll need to go on a special diet. Each day, you need to consume 80 grams of protein, 80 grams of fat, and 160 grams of carbohydrates. Stay away from alcohol, which is almost all carbohydrates. I'll also show you how to give yourself a urine test and how to inject insulin.
Prognosis
- three months later...
Good to see you! Although it's been great seeing you regularly this past year, I think we can cut back on your visits. Based on what I've seen in our routine tests, you seem to have the diabetes under control.
I'll see you in three months.
Start Over | 1900 | 1950 | 1998