The treatment of diabetes mellitus: myths and evidence

For more than 3500 years, metabolic disorders were recognized by symptoms similar to those indicating diabetes mellitus today. Over centuries, explanations remained elusive and shed sparse light on the origin of the disease and any treatments. The poor prognosis triggered myths and misconceptions, some even lasting until today. Two hundred years ago, major advances were made in the understanding of the pathophysiology, which has led to more successful treatments. Presently, useful preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic procedures exist. However, old myths and misconceptions still influence the treatments. This article reviews ongoing myths dealing with the genesis and treatment of diabetes and the growing evidence for improved therapies. Increasingly more studies focus on cardiovascular endpoints while considering more realistic therapeutic goals. This paves the way to polyvalent treatment concepts reaching beyond the classic glucocentric treatment concept of type 2 diabetes. The introduction of molecular medicine, the current opportunities and future prospects of new drugs, personalized medicine, and technical innovations prompt hopes and expectations for a change of paradigms in therapeutic concepts. It is quite possible that traditional and newly generated myths will accompany this development. This has to be kept in mind when developing new concepts for treatment.