3 days to World Diabetes Day, but Why is 14th November, world Diabetes day ? Millions of people with diabetes in the world, depend on insulin to live. November 14th is the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting, ( 14th nov 1891 - 21st Feb 1941 ) He died in a plane crash, shortly after take off, from Newfoundland and bound for England. He was one of the main discoverers of insulin. He was 50 years old when he died. His discovery was so significant that this date has been designated as World Diabetes Day by the United Nations. In the spring of 1921, Frederick Banting moved into a 7-foot by 9-foot flat in Toronto, with little more than an idea. Against the advice of his girlfriend, he left behind a struggling medical practice to pursue research at the University of Toronto - though he had absolutely no research background nor expertise. However, he was certain he had an idea that could change diabetes treatment. And, he had motivation. As a youngster, he’d watched his 14-year old friend, Jane, wither away and die from diabetes. This event shook him terribly and stayed with him as a motivator. His persistence paid off and his research idea proved to be true, leading to the discovery of insulin, the first true miracle drug. Diabetes is a disease that restricts the body’s ability to produce or to use insulin. Insulin is produced in the pancreas of healthy individuals and is critical to the regulation of blood sugar (glucose specifically) levels. In Bantings day, no one had ever heard of insulin or knew where it came from or what it did. Banting’s hypothesis was that a specific part of the pancreas produced a substance that could treat diabetes.
Posted on: Mon, 11 Nov 2013 10:19:11 +0000
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