When the Water Drops are Sweet: Living with Diabetes Mellitus

Clement Lo and Sophia Zoungas

“The term diabetes mellitus is derived from Greek and Latin words meaning excessive discharge of urine (diabetes), which is honey sweet (mellitus). The disease diabetes mellitus was first described as early as 1500 BC by physicians from Egypt and India, who noticed the sweet or honey water in the urine of people with diabetes attracting ants.

Since then, diabetes mellitus has become a global health challenge, affecting 382 million people in 2013. This number is expected to almost double to 592 million people by the year 2035 …”