Clinical observations on diabetics of long standing

Summary

In this short paper I presented a group of cases from everyday practice, all of whom have shown interesting findings. Non-diabetics at first, later becoming diabetics. The lack of relationship of glycosuria to hyperglycemia. Women developing diabetes during pregnancy: some remaining diabetics, others clearing up after parturition. The development of diabetes in identical twins which may be simultaneous, or there may be an interval of several decades (1). How an infection aggravates diabetes or else precipitates it in a short time. How a patient can have a very low blood sugar, as low as 20 Mg% and still feel perfectly well and not be conscious of his hypoglycemia.

This I see quite often. These are practical items which one should bear in mind and be on the lookout for the possibility of diabetes or the opposite, the lack of diabetes in the presence of glycosuria. This latter point must, however, be carefully worked out so as not to be misled in the diagnosis.