In the milder forms of the disease a moderate restriction in the amount of carbohydrates of the food may lead to a disappearance of the sugar from the urine. Thus it may be found that a diet, from which the sugar and farinaceous foods are restricted to less than a half of the amount which the patient had previously taken, effects the disappearance of the sugar in the urine, and a corresponding improvement in the patient's general condition. In such cases the diet which is sufficient to arrest the glycosuria should be continued for weeks, or months, or, it may be, permanently.

In other cases of a more marked character the sugar excretion may only cease where carbohydrates are practically excluded from the diet, and it may be necessary to maintain a carbohydrate-free diet for several weeks, to enable the tissues to regain their power of assimilating at least a moderate amount of sugar and starchy foods. Our aim here is to keep the carbohydrates down to that amount which the patient can tolerate without the appearance of sugar in the urine. This satisfactory result is frequently attained, and the patient before long is able to take a little carbohydrate without the development of glycosuria. Not infrequently, however, it is not practicable, nor desirable, to keep the patient on a carbohydrate-free dietary for any length of time. It is found that a carefully restricted dietary, such as is given below, suffices to effect a notable improvement in the condition of the urine, and a satisfactory state of the patient's general health. In these circumstances the diet is of the nature of a compromise, and although sugar may continue to be excreted in small amounts, the progress of these patients is, for all practical purposes, satisfactory. In these cases it is a wise plan for the patient, once or twice a year, to undergo a course, for three to four weeks, of a carbohydrate-free diet.

Breakfast

Tea, without sugar, with milk or cream.

Good helping of fried bacon, fish, or eggs in any form, cold ham, tongue, or grilled kidney. Slice of thin-cut bread and butter.

Lunch

Soup.

Fish, or chicken, game, chop, steak, or roast mutton. Pudding. Curds. Stewed apples. Souffle, sweetened with saccharin. One dry biscuit with cheese.

Tea

Cup of tea, with half slice of bread, or toast, or rusk. Dinner - As Lunch.

Severe Diabetes

In severe cases of diabetes, in which sugar continues to be excreted in the urine even after removal of carbohydrates, the diet should, so far as possible, be along the lines of a carbohydrate-free diet, already outlined. This plan of treatment is, however, frequently impracticable on the grounds of expense, and not infrequently it is inexpedient, on account of the patient's general condition. In these circumstances the diet is of the nature of a compromise, carbohydrates are given in carefully restricted amount, and those given should be of the least harmful character. Milk is specially useful in these cases, more especially in those threatened with diabetic coma, in which cases 2 to 3 pints of milk may be given in the twenty-four hours.