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Discovery of Insulin
Surgeon Frederick Banting and his assistant kept a severely diabetic dog alive for 70 days by injecting it with canine pancreas extract. They then administered a more refined type of insulin to Leonard Thompson who was a young boy dying of diabetes. Within 24 hours, Leonard's high blood sugar levels had lowered to near normal levels. Before the discovery of insulin, most children diagnosed with diabetes were expected to live less than a year. -
Distinction of two types of diabetes
Roger Hinsworth found that there were two types of diabetes. "Insulin sensitive"(type I) and "insulin insensitive" (type II). The differentiation between the two opened up new ways of treatment. -
Development of Sulfonylureas
These were oral medications for people with type II diabetes. It stimulates the pancreas to produce more insulin, which helps people keep better control over their blood sugars. -
Single use syringe
Becton Dickinson, a medical technology company, introduced the single use syringe. This reduced the pain from earlier syringes, which were larger and time consuming because they had to be boiled in order to sterilize them. -
Glucose meter
Ames Diagnostics created the first portable glucose meter. It had a four inch galvanometer and weighed three pounds. Since then, glucose meters are the size of calculators that can easily be carried in a pocket or purse. -
Insulin pump
The insulin pump was designed to mimic how the body releases insulin. Using a small needle that inserted into the skin, the pump dispenses an insulin dosage through a plastic tube. The first insulin pumps were large and had to be carried in a backpack. With advancements in technology, pumps today are light and can easily be carried in a pocket or clipped onto a belt. -
The Derma-Ject
This was the first needle free insulin delivery system. At first there wasn't a pressure adjustment feature, so sometimes it would give the person a painful jolt. Modern needle free injectors are lighter and have pressure adjustment making it relatively pain free. -
Precose
Precose is an oral medication for people with type II diabetes. This medication delays the digestion of carbohydrates, which reduces the sudden rise of glucose after eating. It's particularly meant for people whose glucose can't be regulated through diet alone. -
Lispro
Lispro stimulates the body's natural insulin output. Unlike regular insulin where people have to wait, Lispro can be taken 15 minutes or less before eating a meal.
