> I received a death certificate of relation of mine who passed away > August 1886, he lived in Silverdale, on the certificate it said Diabetes > 3 years. He was only 41 years of age. > It does seem strange to die of diabetes, perhaps he did not know he had > diabetes? did he have treatment in those days? Or perhaps he may not > have been treated. > Perhaps someone out there might be able to help me please. Insulin wasn't identified until around 1920. Before that, diabetes was fatal. If you do a google search on 'Insulin history' you will probably get more information than you wanted. Esther