Yes, people have been living with diabetes for centuries. In ancient Egypt, the first written record of diabetes dates back to 1552 BC. The Eber Papyrus, one of the oldest medical texts in the world, describes a condition similar to diabetes in which people had excessive urination and thirst.
Over the centuries, many cultures around the world developed their own ways of managing diabetes. In the 18th and 19th centuries, physicians in Europe and the United States used a wide range of treatments, including bloodletting, purging, and opium. In the late 19th century, the discovery of insulin revolutionized the treatment of diabetes and paved the way for modern diabetes management.
Today, diabetes is much better understood and managed than it was 200 years ago. We now know that there are two main types of diabetes—Type 1 and Type 2—and that they require different approaches to management. We also have access to a wide range of treatments, including insulin, oral medications, and lifestyle modifications, which have greatly improved the lives of people living with diabetes.