Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-11-24
Insulin Treatment
For Diabetes
Should Have Diet

New York. Nov. 23-(By A. PIN
| an article in the, current issue of the
Journal Of the American Medical AS
ISOLATION, DR.. Frederick NJ. Allen, di-
| rector of the Physiatric Institute,
Morristown, n. j., gives an authori--
| tative review of the treatment of dia-
betes with insulin, based on it's use
at the Institute for a period of more
than a year, or since the discovery of
insulin by DIR. Frederick G. Banting
| and his associates.
The impression hae gained much
Roadway with the public during the
| past year, according to DIR. Allen
| that insulin is a cure for diabetes
| and that regulation of diet is not
| necessary. This is far from the
truth. The use of insulin without a
regulated diet is dangerous error.
Continuing DR.. Allen writes: "The
| purpose of insulin treatment is to
| improve the nutrition of patients
| with severe diabetes and to add a
safeguard against downward pro-
| gress. Mild cases, which can be kept
| symptom free on adequate diets,
| ordinarily do not require insulin. In
sulin does not offer a cure of diabetes
| or a license for carelessness.
THE insulin treatment should be
carried out in conjunction with ac-
| curate diets under laboratory con-
troll to assure that patients remain
sugar-free. 1t involves the incon-
venience of frequent simultaneous
injections and other disadvantages,
does not simplify diabetic treatment
or justify careless methods; and is
not the final step in diabetic research.
nevertheless this discovery of DIR.
Pnntino nd hi 10, A.,
replacement of negative by positive
therapy in diabetes 1t affords the
possibility of RELOCATING emaciation,
progressive acidosis, and most of
the disabilities and fatalities of dia-
betes to the past. 1t therefore stands
as one of the greatest achievements
OF medicine for the relief of human
suffering. It's theoreticals and indir-
ect consequences may ultimately
outweigh the immediate and practi-
cal ones.
'"Insulin must nearly always be in
jected by the patient or some member
OF the household, since the physician
can seldom spare the time. and few
persons can afford the continuous
service of a nurse. Patients have
experienced no difficulty in learning
the hypodermic technique, and,
SoAAAO "hele " Jul SURPRISE, uOL d Sill
gle one. even among the ignorant,
has produced an abcess. The fire.
quency of the injections, which at
first thought seems formidable, has
likewise proved compatible with the
living and working habits of all pa
tients, and Is a trivial price to pay
for the improvement of health.
"Hypoglycemia Qoss of sugar in
the blood is ordinarily emphasized
as the chief danger and the reason
for allowing more or less glycosuria
(presence of sugar in the bloodO: but
properly prepared patients can readily
avoid both these extremes, or can
take little orange juice or sugar if
they ever experience the warning
symptoms of weakness, tremulous-
ness and perspiration. We instruct
every patient to carry a one-ounce
package of powdered glucose for
emergency purposes. This is con-
venient and less of q temptation than
candy or other food.
Now that there is an abundant
supply of insulin and sufficient ex-
perience in it's use. we find two to
four weeks to be about the average
duration of institutional treatment
required for uncomplicated cases. |
This institutional care, comprising
the study of the individual needs of
diet and dosage and the training Of
the patient in both these phases, is
somewhat more important with in
sulin than under the former treat |
ment by diet alone.'