[Richard157]

I was diagnosed in 1945, when I was 6. My father tested my urine every morning. That was the only test done each day. There was never any testing of my blood at home for many years. Benedict's solution was placed in a test tube and 8 drops of urine were added. The tube was placed into a tin can containing about 1.5 inches of water. The can was placed on a burner on the stove and the water was boiled. The tube was then removed from the can and the color was observed. The diagram below shows the possible colors that might have been seen. The original color of the Benedict's solution was blue. If the color was still blue after the boiling, then there was 0% sugar in the urine. If green-0.5% sugar; yellow-1% sugar; orange-1.5% sugar; brick red-2 % or more sugar.

 

[onaughmae]

Amazing how far we have come! That sort of reminds me of those old Clinitest tablets where you put them in a test tube with drops of urine and it would boil inside. If you didnt burn your fingers off holding the tube, then you would compare the color of the solution left over.

 

[Shanny]

Just look what I missed coming so late to the party! Thanks to both of you for the history!

 

[Richard157]

Lol, Shanny! that is one party you are lucky to have missed.

 

[breezeonby]

Richard, that is really interesting. I am so glad to have a glucose meter!