The Discovery of Insulin (1921)

The discovery of insulin in 1921 by Canadian researchers Frederick Banting and Charles Best is one of the most significant breakthroughs in medical history. Diabetes, a condition in which the body is unable to produce or properly use insulin, was a life-threatening disease with no effective treatment at the time. Banting, a young surgeon, and Best, a medical student, worked under the supervision of Professor John Macleod at the University of Toronto to explore the pancreas’ role in diabetes.

Banting and Best’s experiment involved isolating insulin from the pancreas of dogs and then testing it on diabetic animals. Their work proved that insulin could regulate blood sugar levels and had the potential to save the lives of millions of diabetics. Initially, their discovery was met with skepticism, but it quickly gained acceptance after further experiments and trials.

In 1922, the first human trials began, and the results were dramatic. A 14-year-old boy named Leonard Thompson, who was suffering from severe diabetes, was the first human to receive an insulin injection. The results were miraculous, and he survived and thrived. Soon after, insulin therapy became a standard treatment for diabetes, transforming what had once been a fatal disease into a manageable condition.

Banting and Macleod were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1923 for their groundbreaking discovery. While Banting and Best initially struggled to gain financial compensation for their work, their discovery is now celebrated as one of the greatest achievements in modern medicine. The legacy of insulin continues to save lives, and the discovery has cemented Canada’s place as a leader in scientific innovation.