The History of Insulin
Years before insulin was discovered, the connection between the pancreas and diabetes was already understood but not one attempt to extract active insulin from the pancreas was successful.
In 1920, Frederick Banting realized that insulin is destroyed by digestive juices secreted by the pancreas. The insulin was discovered in 1921 by Banting and his assistant, Charles Best,
when they have succeeded to isolate the Islets of Langerhans from the pancreas and to extract insulin. The insulin solution was extracted from pancreases of oxen, collected from the nearby slaughterhouses.
At first, the fluid was successfully tested on dogs. In January 1922, Professor J.J.R. Macleod decided that Banting and Best’s discovery, accomplished with the aid of the biochemist James Collip, is ready for a clinical test.
Following that decision, Leonard Thompson, a diabetic child, was given the first injection of insulin.
The insulin solution was thick and its injection caused much pain, but it brought about considerable improvement of the child’s condition.
In the picture below – Leonard Thompson before (left) and after (right) the treatment with insulin. The improvement is obvious to the naked eye.
In 1923, Banting and his research partner Prof. Macleod won the Nobel Prize, which they shared with Best and Collip who participated in the isolation and of the insulin.
The research team donated the patent for insulin to the University of Toronto, in order to promote its world-wide distribution to benefit all man-kind.
In virtue of this donation and widespread implementation, the insulin became a cure that has saved the lives of many, such as type 1 diabetics who were until then subjected to an inefficient no-carbohydrate diet (then nicknamed "the death diet").
At that time, the insulin was as yet impure and further development was needed in order to render it more safe and efficient.
In 1975, the first synthetic "human" insulin was developed, its molecular structure identical to the hormone found in the human body.
It allowed better control of the blood sugar level than that provided by the animal insulin. Thus, both preexisting problems – that of insulin shortage and its quality – were solved.
Multiple studies conducted on the subject of protein structure, namely that of the insulin protein, have resulted in the development of the first genetically engineered insulin analog in 1978 (Eli Lilly, Novo).
In 1996, the ADA has approved the first insulin analog – Lispro.
Since insulin analog is a product of genetic engineering, its structure can be modified so as to determine the duration of its effect and other variables.
The insulin analog has contributed greatly to the improvement in the diabetics' quality of life.
The existence of various types of insulin analogs makes it possible to consider the diabetic's life style, activities and character when prescribing insulin and to select the type that best meets those needs.
In addition, it enables a more effective treatment of insulin resistance, whose levels vary during the day.
In the past, daily routine had to be adapted to insulin activity whereas today – the type of insulin is adapted to the daily routine.
Some 34 years ago, when I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, I was treated with different types of insulin that reflect the progressive development in the field:
1. Insulin extracted from pigs.
2. "Human" insulin (Humulin).
3. Insulin analog – genetically engineered.
During the last 30 years since the development of the "human" insulin the formula has doubtlessly undergone significant improvement, ameliorating our quality of life.
I can only wish that the next stage in insulin development will arrive quickly and produce still greater change.
Imagine how our lives would look like should "smart" insulin be invented – a substance that becomes active only if the blood sugar level rises above a certain mark.
How many instances of hypoglycemia we diabetics will be spared from?
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| Iris Peleg | + 972-54-4608679
| peleg.iris@gmail.com | www.irispeleg.com |
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