In 2012 statistics show that 176 billion dollars were used for diabetes drugs. Diabetes is a complicated problem, as demonstrated by its history, symptoms, treatments, and the number of people affected by it. The first symptoms of diabetes occurred in 1552 BC Ancient healers noticed that ants seemed more attracted to the urine of people with diabetes. They were later called "water tasters" who diagnosed diabetes by tasting the urine of people who thought they had it. If the urine tasted sweet it meant the person had diabetes. In the 1800s, scientists developed a chemical test to detect the presence of sugar in urine. While a doctor continued to discover diabetes. The first exercise prescribed was horse riding, which was thought to relieve excessive urination. In the 1700s and 1800s, doctors noticed that dietary changes helped manage diabetics. They advise their patients to eat only animal fat and meat. During the Franco-Prussian War of the early 1870s, Apollinaire Bouchardat noticed that his diabetic patients improved due to wartime food rationing. He created personalized diets as treatments. So the 1900s is when dietary treatments such as the “oat cure,” “potato therapy,” and the “starvation diet” began to be used. A Boston scientist known as Elliott Joslin, established himself as one of the world's leading experts on diabetes in 1916. He created a textbook "The Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus", which explains how fasting diet and regular exercise help reduce the risk of death in diabetic patients. Now doctors and diabetes educators still use these treatments when teaching their patients about lifestyle changes for diabetes management. Before the discovery of insulin, diabetes led to premature death." What is Diabetes? Diabetes Facts and Statistics. Np, nd Web. April 15, 2014. "Diabetes Statistics - American Diabetes Association®." American Diabetes Association. Np, nd Web. April 14, 2014. “The Story of Diabetes - Diabetes Center - Everyday Health. EverydayHealth.com, nd Web". 16 April 2014. Wellness Foundation. "What is diabetes?" .Web. 16 April 2014. ."What is diabetes?" What is diabetes?. Np, nd Web. April 16. 2014. .