The understanding of diabetes in ancient Greece was limited, yet Greek physicians made remarkable observations about the condition. They described it with surprising accuracy given the era’s medical knowledge. The word “diabetes” itself originates from the Greek verb “diabainein,” meaning “to pass through,” referring to the excessive urination that was a hallmark symptom of the disease.
Although the full biochemical nature of diabetes remained unknown to them, ancient Greek physicians recognized some of its clinical manifestations and sought various treatments to alleviate the suffering of their patients.
One of the earliest known descriptions of a diabetes-like condition comes from the works of Aretaeus of Cappadocia, a Greek physician of the 2nd century CE. Aretaeus provided a remarkably detailed account of the disease, noting its devastating effects on the body. He described diabetes as a “melting down of the flesh and limbs into urine.” He observed how patients suffered from constant thirst and excessive urination. In his treatise “On the Causes and Symptoms of Chronic Diseases,” he wrote:
“Diabetes is a strange affliction, not very frequent among men. It is a melting down of the flesh and limbs into urine. The patients never stop making water and the flow is incessant, as if from open aqueducts. Their thirst is unquenchable, and drinking copious amounts of liquid does not satisfy them. The disease leads to wasting of the body, and death soon follows.” (Aretaeus, “De Causis et Signis Morborum,” II.2)
The analogy of an “open aqueduct” vividly captured the polyuria (excessive urination) associated with diabetes. Aretaeus recognized that the disease was chronic and inevitably fatal in severe cases. That’s because untreated diabetes led to extreme weight loss and decline. While he did not understand the metabolic causes, his clinical observations were astute and closely align with modern descriptions of uncontrolled diabetes.
Hippocrates, regarded as the father of medicine in ancient Greece, did not explicitly describe diabetes. However, his writings reflect an emphasis on balance within the body. He believed that disease arose from an imbalance of the four humors: blood, phlegm, yellow bile and black bile. According to him, treatment should aim to restore harmony.
It is likely that Hippocratic physicians, when encountering diabetes-like symptoms, would have sought to correct an assumed imbalance through dietary adjustments and lifestyle modifications. They might have recommended avoiding excessively rich foods and encouraging physical activity. Unknowingly they would have been hinting at principles that are still part of modern diabetes management.
Dioscorides, a 1st-century CE Greek physician and pharmacologist, compiled an extensive work known as “De Materia Medica.” It included descriptions of plants and substances used in medicine. While he did not directly address diabetes, he and other medical practitioners of the time advocated for the use of herbal remedies that may have been used to treat symptoms resembling diabetes. Certain diuretic and cooling herbs, such as fennel and coriander, were believed to help regulate excessive thirst and fluid balance.
In terms of treatment, Greek physicians often prescribed a regimen that included dietary modifications, exercise and herbal remedies. Aretaeus himself suggested that patients should consume a diet rich in cereals and avoid overly sweet or rich foods. Given that the Greeks associated honey and other sweet substances with an increase in bodily moisture and phlegm, it is likely that individuals with diabetes-like symptoms were advised to reduce their intake of sweet foods.
Exercise was another key component of ancient Greek medical practice. Physicians frequently encouraged their patients to engage in physical activity to maintain overall health. While they did not understand the link between exercise and insulin sensitivity, their emphasis on movement aligns with modern recommendations for diabetes management.
Ancient Greek physicians laid the groundwork for understanding diabetes by carefully recording its symptoms and effects. Their writings, particularly those of Aretaeus, provide an early yet insightful look into the disease, demonstrating how observation and empirical reasoning shaped the foundation of medical science long before the advent of modern endocrinology.
