Of the pancreas maintains normal metabolism. Still, new knowledge about the body’s dependence on chemical messengers - or hormones - added plausibility to the hypothesis that some kind of internal secretion Results were mostly negative for example, feeding pancreas to diabetic patients did no good. Researchers immediately began to try to find the mysterious substance.

Something in the pancreas appeared to be essential to prevent diabetes. In 1889 German researchers Oskar Minkowski and Josef von Mehringĭiscovered that dogs that had their pancreas removed immediately became severely and fatally diabetic. Initially, the body’s inability to process carbohydrates and other nutrients, signified most obviously by the presence of sugar in the urine, was thought to be a liver or a stomach disorder. Early Researchįor many centuries people knew about diabetes mellitus (commonly referred to as diabetes), but it was only dimly understood until the end of the 19th century. In 1923, Banting and Macleod received the Nobel Prize for one of the most important,Īnd most controversial, breakthroughs in modern medical history. Macleod, were able to announce the discovery of insulin. Frederick Banting.īy the spring of 1922, the Toronto researchers - Banting, Charles Best, J.B. No one couldįind it, until in the summer of 1921 a team at the University of Toronto began trying a new experimental approach suggested by Dr. With a new preface by Michael Bliss and a foreword by Alison Li, the special centenary edition of The Discovery of Insulin honours the one hundredth anniversary of insulin’s discovery and its continued significance a century later.For many years scientists believed that some kind of internal secretion of the pancreas was the key to preventing diabetes and controlling normal metabolism. In this engaging and award-winning account, historian Michael Bliss draws on archival records and personal adventures to recount the fascinating story behind the discovery of insulin – a story as much filled with fiery confrontation and intense competition as medical dedication and scientific genius. It was no surprise that in 1923 the Nobel Prize for Medicine was awarded for its discovery. Insulin, discovered by the Canadian research team of Frederick Banting, Charles Best, James Collip, and John Macleod, was a wonder drug with the ability to bring diabetes patients back from the brink of death. The discovery of insulin at the University of Toronto in 1921–2 was one of the most dramatic events in the history of the treatment of disease.

Michael bliss the discovery of insulin