If the patient takes insulin he should always carry an identification card with him bearing a statement “I am a diabetic and not intoxicated” together with his physicians name and phone number, and the diet and amount of insulin being taken. He should know by heart the symptoms of insulin shock and early diabetic coma, should always carry lumps of sugar on his person in case he is overtaken by symptoms of insulin shock, and if the patient is a house-wife, she should always have orange-juice available in the ice-box for quick use.
The patient should know the dangerous of infections, such as boils, and of upper respiratory infections, and should test his urine at more frequent intervals if anything unusual happens. It is a good idea to have his regular diabetic diet calculated also in the form of a liquid diet, which he could use in place of the regular full diet, if a fever from a cold or any other infection occurred.
Instruct him about the exercising and care of his feet, skin and teeth, have him weigh himself at least weekly and what to do if he has vomiting or diarrhoea, or a complete loss of appetite, and above all caution him not to buy unrecognized medicine and nostrums, with unsubstantiated claims, that are supposed to cure diabetes or remove the need for insulin.
At a meeting of this sort I would be out of order if I did not mention homoeopathy and the great good that the properly chosen constitutional remedy does for your diabetics. You will find many symptoms in your patient if you will only take time to inquire, and your results will be in direct proportion to your diligence, getting a complete history and making a careful repertory study, and then finally reading the remedies that are highest in your repertory count before making your choice of a single remedy.
Sixty-three drugs are found in Kents Repertory under the heading “sugar in urine.” Obviously we cannot even touch the main ones here or give their indications. Each patient is an individual and may have conditions other than his diabetes. This diabetic patient is going to be a lifelong client, so study his characteristics as you see him from time to time and finally you will find a clue that will lead you to a remedy that will certainly alleviate, if not cure him.
Successful treatment of the diabetic patient is achieved only by the knowledge and total effort of the doctor familiar with the problems of diabetes, by a willing nurse, by the capable dietitian and, most of all, by the patient who co-operates with all of his helpers.
