Insulin Development

Claude Bernard

Apr 18, 1800

Discovery that liver stored glycogen and secreted a surgary substance into the blood. It was also discovered that pricking the brainstem in live and conscious beings causes temporary diabetes.

Von Mering

Apr 18, 1879

Removing the pancrease results in diabetes was discovered by Von Mering. His goal was to find an antidiabetic substance.

Diabetes 1900s

Apr 18, 1900

Urine was tested for the amount of grape sugar. Treatment included daily doses of alkaline-sponge bath with a lot of friction. In addition, sugar of lead was used to stop urine flow along with two drop doses of creosote (clear opium). The patient was told to drink little water and not consume and sugar, only meats.
Prognosis: coma then death

Frederick Banting

Apr 18, 1921

Banting gave dogs an extract from the pancreas to treat their diabetes.

Banting & Best

Jan 11, 1922

This extract from the pancreas used to treat diabetes was given to a human for the first time. The patient was a 14 year old boy and the treatment was ultimately unsuccessful.

James Collip

Apr 23, 1922

This scientist was able to purify the injections that were developed.

Lily

Apr 18, 1923

More insulin was produced and used as a form of treatment in most western countries.

Protamine Zinc

Apr 18, 1936

Protamine Zinc was developed. This allowed for the treatment to have a longer duration and required less daily doses for the patient.

Diabetes 1950

Apr 18, 1950

A urine sample would be taken to test the amount of glucose along with artieries observed to check pulse. It was understood that the patient was not producing insulin and therefore not absorbing glucose which is why the patient was tired. The treatment included insulin and a diet with protein, fat, carbs and no alcohol.
Prognosis: should come in for checkups but overall, healthy

Lente Insulin

Apr 18, 1954

This type of insulin is intermediate-acting that starts working 1-2 hours after it is injected. This type lasts up to 24 hours after it is taken.

Chemically Synthesised

Apr 19, 1963

Insulin is the first human protein to be chemically synthesized.

Biotechnology

Apr 19, 1978

Insulin is the first protein from a human that can be manufactured with biotechnology that utilizes a bacteria. Company: Genentech

Synthetic vs Animal

Apr 19, 1982

Synthetic insulin now is called "human insulin" because it is different from the types of insulin made by animals. This is a breakthrough because the "synthetic" insulin is less likely to cause an allergic reaction in humans.

Frederick Sanger

Apr 19, 1995

Insulin is sequenced and becomes the first protein to be fully sequenced.

Diabetes 1998

Apr 18, 1998

When patients come in experiencing symptoms of being hungry all the time, weak, needing to urinate a lot and sometimes blurry vision. The diagnosis would take place once blood has been tested along with a urinalysis to test for high glucose and sometimes the presence of ketones. When the pancreas is producing little to no insulin: Type I. The treatment is ICU with intravenous fluids and insulin. Treatment includes daily insulin, strict diet and prognosis is good.