Diabetes

Pancreas Removal Caused Diabetes

1879

Von Mering disproved Bernard’s liver theory when he found that removing the pancreas caused diabetes. He worked with his partner, Minkowski, on extracting an antidiabetic substance from the pancreas but could not find a way to do this.

Calorie Restriction

1915

From 1915 until the production of insulin, Frederick Allen and Elliott Joslin promoted "starvation dieting" to treat diabetes. Although this did not prove to be very effective, it was viewed as the only possible treatment at the time

Discovery of Insulin

1921

Insulin was discovered by Frederick Banting in Canada.

First Human to Receive Insulin

Jan 11, 1922

January 11, a fourteen-year-old boy became the first human patient to receive insulin made by Banting and Best. This failed but purified injections developed by Collip were given starting January 23, 1922. This time, the patient’s blood glucose levels dropped.

Manufacturing Insulin

Jun 14, 1922

In mid July, Eli Lilly, from Indianapolis, collaborated with researchers to produce insulin in the United State and Latin America. Lilly was successful in manufacturing insulin but the Toronto team continued to struggle due to a severe shortage in Toronto.

Insulin More Available

1923

Lilly shipped the product and by the end of 1923, insulin was being produced commercially and used to treat diabetes in most western countries.

Insulin Crystallized

1926

Insulin was crystallized in 1926 by J.J. Abel

Protamine Zinc Insulin

1936

Hans Hagedorn and colleagues discovered that by adding protamine to insulin, the effects of injected insulin could be prolonged.

American Diabetes Association Founded

1940

The ADA was founded to address the increasing incidence of diabetes and the complications that develop from the disease.

Tablet for Testing Urine

1941

Tablets for testing urine glucose became widely available, and urine test strips appeared in the mid-1950's. These became way easier than using Benedict's solution.

Standardized Insulin Syringe Approved

1949

Becton Dickinson and researchers began production of a standardized insulin syringe approved by the American Diabetes Association. The syringe reduced dosing errors and the associated episodes of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia.

Insulin Works "Like a Key"

1949

Rachmiel Levine discovered that insulin works like a key since it opens the door to transport glucose into cells. Levine's research laid out the groundwork for subsequent discoveries of the complex process involved in glucose transport, which allowed for the further discovery of new medications to treat type 2 diabetes.

Lente Insulin

1954

Lente insulins were introduced.

First Oral Diabetes Medication

1955

Sulfonylureas, oral medications that stimulate the pancreas to release more insulin, become available. This allowed new, more potent forms of these drugs to become available later.

Immunoassay

1957

The scientific investigation of diabetes was improved by the technique of immunoassay by Solomon Berson and Rosalind Yalow. Minute concentrations of insulin can be consistently measured, a huge improvement on the previous methods of bioassay.

Types of Diabetes Identified

1959

Development of a method for measuring insulin in the blood. They noticed that some people with diabetes still make their own insulin and they identified as "insulin-dependent" (type 1) and "non-insulin-dependent" (type 2) diabetes.

Glucagon Introduced to Treat Hypoglycemia

1961

Glucagon, a hormone produced by the pancreas that raises glucose levels, was introduced by Eli Lilly and company as a treatment for sever hypoglycemia.

Blood Glucose Strips Introduced

1964

First strips for testing blood glucose by color code. They were at first used only in hospitals and clinics, and were not used at home until the 1970's. Blood glucose monitors later replaced the color-code method of monitoring blood glucose and provided much more accurate reading.

First Glucose Meter in Clinics

1970

First glucose meter for use in doctor's office. Previously, blood had to be tested in a lab. Home glucose meters were available in 1981, allowing people to more accurately and frequently check their blood glucose levels.

Wearable Infusion Pumps Developed

1976

The first medical infusion pumps were invented, capable of delivering biological materials such as chemotherapy drugs or insulin

A1C Test Developed

1977

A1C test became gold standard for measuring long-term diabetes control.

Portable Insulin Pumps Introduced

1978

Introduced and researchers achieved normal blood glucose levels in patients using them. However, due to their large size, they were impractical at this time. The first commercially successful insulin pump was introduced in 1983.

First Drug in Meglitinide Class Developed

1998

Stimulates insulin secretion in the presence of glucose.

Treatment and Care For Diabetes Today

2018

Diabetes is a common disease, yet every individual needs unique care. If diagnosed with diabetes, nowadays we have the accessibility to test your blood sugar levels at home which helps you monitor more frequently than going to the doctor. Depending on what your diabetic situation is, there are medications that may be needed to be taken, but it is important to discuss what needs to be done with your Health Care Provider.