Diabetes research: a world of colourful puzzles

Friday 25th Apr 2025, 8.00am

“The whole thing feels a bit like doing a jigsaw puzzle where we have to find the pieces first…”

Type 2 diabetes is one of the oldest known ailments. In fact, the Indian healer Sushruta described it in the 5th century BC as ‘madhumeha’, or honey-like urine, when he noticed that urine from sick people attracted ants. Fortunately, medicine has progressed a long way since this time, and Type 2 diabetes is now a condition that can be lived with. So, what actually causes the disease, and how can we treat it? Dr Daniela Nasteska from Oxford’s Radcliffe Department of Medicine introduces us to the colourful world of diabetes research.

With thanks to Diabetes UK for funding this research.