title: Aretaeus of Cappadocia and the first description of diabetes.
abstract: The name Aretaeus of Cappadocia has been linked with diabetes more than that of any other physician of antiquity, his texts forming a sophisticated synthesis of the previous knowledge on this disease copiously supplemented by his own observations. Gifted with a unique faculty for observing pathologic phenomena, he was able to elaborate upon earlier texts enriching them with his own original findings and numerous thoughtful reflections. Among the many diseases he dealt with, Aretaeus has bequeathed to us an outstandingly vivid and accurate description of diabetes.
authors.affiliation: History of Medicine Department, Medical school, University of Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Laios
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karamanou
authors.forename: Zenia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Saridaki
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Androutsos
mesh_terms: D001877:Books; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000266:history* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D000076145:Greece, Ancient; D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans