Diabetes Among

Polynesians

From Our Own Correspondent

Mangaia, Nov. 1.

rAT queer ailment of civilisation, diabetes melitus, is seldom met with in these islands. When it does occur —a case was recently diagnosed here— the outlook for the native victim is not hopeful, for no supply of insulin is avail able.

In addition to this regrettable state of affairs, the starchy and sugary foods that Polynesians of the group eat habitually, tend to make the diabetic’s diet a Hob son’s choice—to eat and die, or fast and pine away from malnutrition. Injections of insulin would, of course, enable the suf ferer to assimilate, and gain benefit from, anything he ate.