I love November because we get to celebrate National Diabetes Month and World Diabetes Day on November 14th, which is Dr. Banting’s Birthday. Plus…

This year is the 103rd birthday year of the discovery of insulin!

Over one hundred years ago, two researchers kick-started the production of insulin, making it available for worldwide use and saving millions of lives. Now, that’s a real cause for celebration. The discovery of insulin by Banting, Best, and team was no easy feat. They encountered resistance, setbacks, and failures.

Dr. Banting secured space to test out his theory at the University of Toronto during a hot summer in 1921.

Along with his colleague, Charles Best, and a bare-bones lab, they conducted dozens of experiments on dogs. Marjorie (dog 408) lived for 70 days without a pancreas due to receiving life-saving insulin injections.

This success was replicated in other experimental dogs and ultimately provided the first step toward producing insulin from pig and cow pancreases.

In 1922, children with type 1 diabetes started receiving early doses of this newly available life-saving hormone. Leonard Thompson, was the first recipient in January 1922, followed by many thereafter. Here is a heartbreaking then uplifting photo of J.L., who after 2 months of receiving insulin, transformed into a healthy young boy.

To learn more about the Discovery of Insulin and download historical slides Click here!

We are Celebrating Diabetes Month with Free Webinars and Giveaways (plus 30% off Sale on December 2nd)

For the month of November & December:

• Join or View our 3 FREE webinars

• Share Your Action to raise Diabetes Awareness to Win a FREE Carb Counting Book or TShirt

• Cyber Monday Sale – 30% off Online Courses on December

Sign up for Diabetes Blog Bytes – we post one daily Blog Byte from Monday to Friday. And of course, Tuesday is our Question of the Week. It’s Informative and FREE!  Sign up below!

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