Aretaeus, a Greek physician and disciple of Hippocrates first coined the term diabetes, which means siphon in Greek. He described the disease as ‘melting down of the flesh and limbs into the urine’. There was no treatment available until insulin was discovered in 1921 by Banting and Best. Diabetes is the second most common chronic disease in childhood after asthma. Around 25% of newly diagnosed children present with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Chronic hyperglycaemia can lead to long-term complications. The role of the GP is to diagnose children early in their presentation to prevent DKA, refer them to the multidisciplinary diabetes team, coordinate care in the community and provide advice regarding management during day-to-day activities.
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