STUDIES IN GLYCOSURIA AND DIABETES MELLITUS IN SELECTEES

Glycosuria1was found in 0.8 per cent of 45,650 selectees at the Boston Induction Station, and it was considered that 57 per cent of these persons with glycosuria were diabetic. This study suggested that the incidence of glycosuria and diabetes is much greater than previously thought. It was concluded that there must be cases of unrecognized diabetes that could be diagnosed if routine urine tests were made on the general population. In general practice, if glycosuria is discovered on routine examination of a patient in the doctor's office or in the hospital, it has been all too often the custom to order a test of fasting blood sugar and urine sugar. If the results are normal it is assumed usually that the diagnosis of diabetes is eliminated. Such a procedure, no doubt, has been the cause of overlooking many mild cases of diabetes. Spellberg and Leff2reported recently