How was diabetes historically diagnosed before modern methods?

Historically, diabetes was diagnosed by tasting urine for sweetness, a practice that dates back to ancient civilizations. When individuals had diabetes, their bodies would not properly use glucose, leading to excess sugar being excreted in urine. This condition, known as glycosuria, resulted in urine that had a distinctly sweet taste. Physicians and even other individuals would often taste the urine to detect this sweetness, which served as a diagnostic clue for the presence of diabetes.

This method reflects the reliance on observational skills and sensory assessments in the absence of modern diagnostic tools such as blood tests, which are now the standard for diagnosing diabetes. Other methods listed, like measuring blood pressure or inspecting skin lesions, do not specifically relate to the identification of diabetes.