The Discovery of Insulin

The discovery of insulin by Canadians, Fredrick Banting and Charles Best of the University of Toronto in 1921-1922 was a phenomenal break through in the treatment of diabetes world wide. This is one of the twentieth century's most remarkable medical discovery that was really brought about through the collaborative efforts and research work done by Physician Fredrick Banting, Graduate Student Charles Best, Professor of Physiology J.J.R. Macleod and Biochemist J.B. Collip.

How Did This Discovery Impact Diabetes Mellitus or Type 2 Diabetes Then?
At the time Diabetes Mellitus was devastating many lives. A diagnosis as such meant that due to the lack of a protein hormone produced by your pancreas, your food intake was not being metabolized and turned into energy. Resulting in high sugar content in the blood and urine called hyperglycemia. These patients had very restrictive diets, they were literally starving and were like skeletons.

Banting's hypothesis was that, the pancreas secreted the protein responsible for metabolism. After much work by the team of Banting, Best, Macleod and Collip. A purified extract of the pancreas was produced for clinical trials.In January 1922,Leonard Thompson a fourteen year old patient who had had diabetes mellitus for three years and was drifting into a coma was given the pancreatic extract with amazing results. His blood sugar became normal and his strength and stamina improved. This extract was called insulin.

The world welcomed the news of insulin and its miraculous effect. The supply could not keep up with the demand. Together the University of Toronto's Connaught Anti-toxin Laboratories, The American Company, Eli Lily and Company of Indianapolis took on the task of producing more insulin. The Great Britain Medical Research Counsel. also joined the effort.

Many diabetics lives were saved then and many more lives continue to be saved today because the efforts of Banting, Best, Macleod and Collip.

In 1923 the Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine was awarded to Fredrick Banting and J.J.R. Macleod, they in turn shared the prize with their team researchers Charles Best and J.B. Collip.

Research Information about Insulin
The amino acid sequence of insulin is exactly the same in different animal species?

Insulin from cows and pigs also works in humans?

In 1996 the FDA approved a modified human insulin Humalog? Humalog acts quickly after injection.

According to 7Healthcast in a report submitted by Janet Wu. A cure for type 1 diabetes could soon be on the way. MGH researchers think they have tapped into a source that could regenerate insulin cells. That source -The Spleen. The discovery comes after observing that diabetic mice did quite well making normal insulin-producing cells after receiving an injection of donor spleen cells.

The benefits of research continue to affects lives yesterday, today and into the future.

For more information on diabetic research visit:

info@idd-diabetes.com