Following the end of the war another French researcher, Claude Bernard, studied the function of the pancreas and liver. He made important discoveries in the metabolism of glycogen. At the same time in history Czech researcher, Pavlov, discovered the link between the nervous system and secretion of gastric acid. The combination of these discoveries later helped researchers to understand the physiology of the digestive system, ultimately important in the treatment of diabetes.
In 1869 Paul Langerhans, a German medical student, announced the discovery of two systems of cells in the pancreas. One of these cells, Cells of Langerhans, was named after him. But it wasn’t until 1920 that Dr. Banting conceived of the possibility of the hormone insulin and began a quest to discover the chemical using dogs. (4)
It was 20 years later that the link between high blood glucose and damage to the kidneys and eyes was discovered and published. This led the way for more standardized insulin treatment using a standard syringe. Then in 1959 physicians recognized the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes. This recognition helped to individualize the treatment of diabetics and lengthen their lifespan. This helped to decrease the risk for the development of complications.
With the advent of laser surgery in 1970 researchers learned how to slow the development of progressive damage to the eyes. Other researchers began to manufacture glucometers to make testing of blood glucose more accessible and easier.
Synthetic insulin was introduced in 1983. Until that time standard insulin was supplied from cows or bovine insulin. Today synthetic insulin can be delivered through insulin pumps to significantly cut down on the number of complications that an individual suffers later in life. By delivering insulin in doses more in line with how the pancreas would deliver it to the body the individual doesn’t have the highs and lows they once experienced.
Because using an insulin pump reduces the number of complications, insurance companies recognize they are saving money in the long run. This has led them to decide to cover the cost of an insulin pump at earlier ages. Research is currently being conducted on the transplantation of pancreatic cells, without using immune suppressants, which will supply an individual with Type 1 Diabetes with a natural source of insulin.
The diagnosis, treatment and complications of diabetes has come a long way from when ‘tasters’ were employed to diagnose diabetes through tasting sweet urine!
References:
(1) American Diabetes Associations: Diabetes Basics Statistics
http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/diabetes-statistics/
(2) Saudi Medical Journal: History of Diabetes Mellitus
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11953758
(3) Google Books: Transplantation of the Pancreas
By Rainer W. G. Gruessner, David E. R. Sutherland
(4) Nobelprize.org: The Discovery of Insulin
http://www.nobelprize.org/educational/medicine/insulin/discovery-insulin.html
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