The fascinating history of insulin

  • Adela-Gabriela Ştefan Department of Diabetes, Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases, Calafat Municipal Hospital, Calafat, Romania
  • Adina Mitrea Department of Diabetes, Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Faculty of Medicine, Craiova, Romania
  • Ionela Mihaela Vladu Department of Diabetes, Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases, County Clinical Emergency Hospital of Craiova, Craiova, Romania
  • Diana Clenciu Department of Diabetes, Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases, Clinical Municipal Hospital Philanthropy of Craiova, Craiova, Romania
  • Eugen Moţa Department of Nephrology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Faculty of Medicine, Craiova, Romania
  • Maria Moţa Department of Diabetes, Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Faculty of Medicine, Craiova, Romania
  • Constantin Ionescu-Tîrgovişte Department of Diabetes, Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Carol Davila Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
Keywords: Nicolae Paulescu, insulin, diabetes mellitus

Abstract

This year marks 100 years since the administration of the first insulin injection, the discovery of insulin (101 years ago) representing a cornerstone in the history of medicine. This moment transformed insulin-dependent diabetes from a certain death sentence into a chronic condition associated with a high life expectancy. Tens of millions of lives or more have been saved this way. The Romanian Nicolae Paulescu contributed decisively to the discovery of insulin in 1921. In early 1922, Banting and Best administered insulin to humans for the first time, to Leonard Thompson – a 14-year-old child, his health improving considerably after the administration of purified insulin, by the Canadian team. In the same year, insulin production began in Indianapolis, later expanding throughout the world. In 1923, the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Banting and MacLeod, for the discovery of insulin, but great controversies were triggered, not extinguished to this day. In an attempt to calm the spirits, Banting shared his prize with Best and Macleod with Collip. However, Paulescu remained excluded and died full of bitterness, being unable to accept the fact that fraud can also occur in science.

Published
2022-11-25
How to Cite
Ştefan, Adela-Gabriela, Adina Mitrea, Ionela Mihaela Vladu, Diana Clenciu, Eugen Moţa, Maria Moţa, and Constantin Ionescu-Tîrgovişte. 2022. “The Fascinating History of Insulin”. Romanian Journal of Diabetes Nutrition and Metabolic Diseases 29 (4), 485-90. https://rjdnmd.org/index.php/RJDNMD/article/view/1271.