What was one treatment method for diabetes in the 1700s and 1800s?

During the 1700s and 1800s, treatment options for diabetes were extremely limited and often quite rudimentary. The primary approach during this period involved dietary restrictions aimed at managing symptoms. This included controlling carbohydrate intake, but the understanding of dietary impacts on diabetes was not scientifically informed as it is today.

In addition to dietary management, some treatments involved the use of dangerous chemicals. These could include substances that were toxic or harmful in their nature, reflecting the experimental and often misguided attempts to address the condition. This was a time when medical science was still evolving, and the reliance on chemicals that had therapeutic claims often led to harmful side effects, highlighting the lack of effective treatment options available.

Insulin injections, on the other hand, were not developed until the early 20th century, while oral medications specific to diabetes management are a more contemporary innovation, postdating the era in question. Similarly, surgical interventions were not a part of diabetes treatment during the 1700s and 1800s. Thus, the approach involving dietary restrictions and potentially harmful chemicals accurately reflects the medical practices of that historical period.