Читать книгу Old Age Deferred. The causes of old age and its postponement by hygienic and therapeutic measures онлайн

125 страница из 141

We must not forget the very important fact, that even when we find no sugar we cannot at once exclude diabetes. There are many cases of mild diabetes which do not show any sugar on an ordinary diet. To recognize these cases we must give them a test meal of either about three ounces of grape sugar two hours after a light breakfast of coffee and a roll, or, as we have recommended in our book on the rational treatment of diabetes,^[131] we must give a test meal of much starchy food, such as rice and cakes, and examine the urine two hours later. If then no sugar is found, or not exceeding 0.2 per cent., diabetes may be excluded. Persons with 0.1 per cent. to 0.3 per cent. of sugar after such a starchy test meal may be considered as on the border line of diabetes. Such persons show a diminished tolerance of carbohydrates, and they have lost the power to consume all the sugar they introduce into their body. Therefore, especially if they come of diabetic parents, they should avoid eating much starchy food so as not to develop further this dangerous tendency.