Health and Medicine
88 The Discovery of Insulin
Oscar Haney and Aaron MacDonald
INTRODUCTION
There have been many negative ailments that have plagued society since the beginning of time. From smallpox, measles, the bubonic plague, and even HIV, these ailments have negatively impacted society and the way people live their lives. One of the most well-known chronic diseases is diabetes. There are many forms of diabetes, but the most common ones are Type One and Type Two. Diabetes is caused by an imbalance in blood sugar that produces negative effects on the host. “Approximately 100 million people around the world need insulin, including all the people suffering from Type 1 diabetes and between 10-25% of people with Type 2 diabetes.” ( Global Human Insulin, 2019). Even though this disease can be fatal, the innovations made to treat it have dramatically changed that. In the year 1920, three scientists, Fredrick Banting, Charles Best, and John Macelod made incremental discoveries on how to treat diabetes. After the first trials on animals, they decided to try the product on the first human patient, a fourteen-year-old boy by the name of Leonard Thompson who was near death from the disease. After the successful treatment, they were able to make changes in the administration of the product in order for it to become more effective. Nonetheless, this discovery has greatly impacted society for the better. The developments of insulin and human treatment have greatly impacted society with regards to technological innovation, the U.S. economy, and political policies. Due to the technological innovations of Fredrick Banting, Charles Best, and John Macelod the life’s of millions of have been saved and the medical world has forever been changed.
The centennial commemoration of insulin’s discovery brings to light the necessity of re-evaluating the traditional narratives that have long overshadowed the collective efforts behind this monumental achievement. The reduction of James Collip’s role to mere “purification work” in many historical accounts does a disservice to his significant contributions and the innovative steps he took towards the practical application of insulin therapy (Zimmet, 2013). It’s crucial to acknowledge the array of researchers like Zülzer, Scott, and Kleiner, whose earlier efforts laid the groundwork for this discovery, demonstrating that scientific breakthroughs are rarely the result of singular efforts (Zinman, 2021). This broader perspective helps to understand the complex nature of scientific discovery as a collaborative and iterative process involving many individuals and institutions across borders. By celebrating the diverse contributions to the development of insulin, we honor a legacy of innovation that has fundamentally altered the course of medical history and improved countless lives.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF INSULIN
In the 1920’s, the discovery of insulin was a breakthrough in science that would change the world forever. Dr. Fredrick B