[Historical considerations on the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus]

The concept if diabetes mellitus has suffered multiple and interesting definitions throughout the time. The initial acknowledgement was based on the observations made by lay people and later by clinicians. Experimental work on the genesis of diabetes mellitus was remarkable not only on the physiopathology of diabetes it self, but also on metabolic processes in general. At the present, diabetes mellitus is considered as an heterogeneous disease formed by various syndromes of different etiology. Moreover diabetes mellitus has become an important public health problem due to the chronic complications as cause of disabilities and death. In Mexico, recent surveys have confirmed that the prevalence of diabetes mellitus is high and shows a geographic distribution which deserves to establish particular and specific health programs.