In 1921, Frederick Banting and his research assistant Charles Best were able to successfully extract pancreatic insulin from animals in their lab. In January of 1922, the first life was saved using this miracle medicine. His name was Leonard Thompson. Thompson was a 14-year-old boy whose life was saved this day. Up until this point, diabetes was a fatal diagnosis. Patients had to endure a strict diet, and even then, this diet only kept them alive for about one year after their initial diagnosis. Today, I'd like to celebrate this miracle drug's 100th year!
Photo depicts Charles Best and Frederick Banting, Canadian researchers who discovered insulin.
I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes four years ago. Thanks to Banting and Best, my T1D diagnosis wasn't a death sentence. Instead, I'm able to live a long, healthy life—with the help of insulin and new diabetes technology that works to keep me alive every day. Over the past four years, I have been able to graduate college with a Bachelor of Science in communication, get married, buy my first house, work for my dream job, get promoted, and start my graduate school journey. It is wild for me to think that none of this would have been possible without the invention of insulin!
Brief History of Insulin
In 1921, researcher Frederick Banting at the University of Toronto worked with fellow researcher Charles Best to begin extracting islet cells from animals in a lab at their university. After long hypothesizing that the pancreas controlled blood sugar, the researchers got to work extracting these cells. Before long, the animals in their study developed diabetes. From here, Banting and Best worked to administer this substance to the animals in their lab to see if they could stabilize their blood sugar. It was a success! In January of the following year, the first life was saved.
Prior to this discovery, people with diabetes typically were forced to engage in a strict diet, and even then, they were only promised about a year to live before ultimately succumbing to the disease. Below shows a young child in the early 1900s diagnosed with diabetes before and soon after starting with insulin therapy.
Soon, this discovery made its way around the world. Insulin began being manufactured across the globe and administered to people diagnosed with diabetes. However, continued advancement in 1946 by Hans Christian Hagedorn led to increased quality of life with the invention of intermediate-acting NPH insulin.
In the 1960s, researchers discovered that there were multiple types of diabetes, and that Type 2 Diabetes was the most prevalent. Soon after, therapies for T2D become commonplace. Then, in the 1970s, revolutionary technology was introduced—the portable glucose meter. This device allowed persons with diabetes (PWD) to test their blood sugar from home or on the go. These devices still exist today.
In 1982, scientists created the first insulin that was nearly identical to human-produced insulin. This discovery greatly improved access to insulin for people with diabetes. PWD lifespans improved, and chronic diabetic complications were reduced. Soon thereafter, the first "mini" portable insulin pump was introduced.
1996 brought more new advances to that of insulin—fast-acting insulin, which better mirrors that of human-produced insulin. This insulin responds faster to carbohydrates consumed and allows for PWD to have more control over their care.
In the past ten years, new long-lasting insulins, or basal insulin, have also entered the marketplace for PWD. This type of insulin allows for better control for those who inject insulin through MDI therapy.
It is clear to see that insulin is a life-saving, miracle drug! My T1D diagnosis would have been a terminal illness were it not for insulin. Share your story down below!
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