I had the privilege of working with Robert Tattersall during my training and it was therefore a real pleasure to see many of his words of wisdom distilled in this history of diabetes.
It is a marvellous piece of writing, extremely well written and relatively jargon-free, covering a vast range of topics in 200 pages.
What is particularly striking is the observation that many of the progresses made in diabetes care have come about through serendipity and the dogged determination of individuals, rather than through the purity of science. It is also striking how the opinions of powerful individuals have held sway for long periods of time before being debunked – the sin of expertness.
This book should be compulsory reading for anyone offering diabetes care. The chapters are balanced in their views, and key historical milestones are covered in just the right amount of detail. However, the descriptions and comments ascribed to some of the famous “characters” mentioned may be less attractive than perhaps history has suggested up to this point.
The book also reminds us that with any chronic and incurable condition, patients need to beware of charlatans and snake oil salesman, and I suspect this warning is relevant today.
Whatever else, it does remind us that science can be helpful but that diabetes care has always been, and always should be, an art, and that most learning continues to be from people living with this dastardly condition.
Title Diabetes: The Biography
Author Robert Tattersall
Publisher Oxford University Press, Oxford
Date 8 October 2009
ISBN 978-0-19-954136-2
Hardback: 240 pages
Price £12.99
Attempts to achieve remission, or at least a substantial improvement in glycaemic control, should be the initial focus at type 2 diabetes diagnosis.
9 May 2024