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Frederick Banting: The Quest for the Miracle Drug, Insulin

Ivan Turner

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Published in Frederick Banting (Quest Library (Xyz Publishing))

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Frederick Banting (Quest Library (Xyz Publishing))

by Stephen Eaton Hume

4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1514 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	193 pages

Black And White Portrait Of Frederick Banting, A Young Man With Dark Hair And A Mustache, Wearing A Lab Coat And Looking Into The Distance Thoughtfully Frederick Banting (Quest Library (Xyz Publishing))

A Life-Changing Discovery

In the early 20th century, diabetes was a deadly disease. Without insulin, the body cannot use sugar for energy, leading to starvation and death. In 1921, Dr. Frederick Banting, a young Canadian surgeon, embarked on a quest that would change the lives of millions.

Banting was inspired by the work of Dr. Moses Barron, who had suggested that the pancreas might produce a substance that could help control blood sugar levels. Banting and his research partner, Charles Best, set out to isolate this substance.

Their work was painstaking and often discouraging. They experimented on dogs, removing their pancreases and observing the effects. Finally, in July 1921, they made a breakthrough. They injected a pancreatic extract into a diabetic dog, and its blood sugar levels dropped dramatically.

Banting and Best had discovered insulin, a hormone that the pancreas produces to regulate blood sugar levels. Their discovery was a medical miracle, offering hope to millions of people with diabetes.

The Road to the Nobel Prize

Banting and Best's discovery was quickly recognized as a major breakthrough. In 1923, they were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Banting was just 32 years old at the time, making him one of the youngest Nobel laureates in history.

The Nobel Prize brought Banting international fame and recognition. He used his platform to advocate for diabetes research and education. He also established the Banting and Best Diabetes Centre at the University of Toronto, which continues to be a leading center for diabetes research and treatment today.

Legacy of a Pioneer

Frederick Banting's discovery of insulin was one of the most important medical breakthroughs of the 20th century. His work has saved the lives of millions of people with diabetes, and it continues to inspire new research and treatments for the disease.

Banting's legacy is not only his scientific discovery but also his dedication to research and his passion for helping others. He is an inspiration to scientists and medical professionals around the world.

Additional Resources

* [The Banting and Best Diabetes Centre](https://www.bantingandbest.ca/) * [The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1923](https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/medicine/1923/summary/) * [Frederick Banting: A Biography](https://www.amazon.com/Frederick-Banting-Biography-Michael-Bliss/dp/006093000X)

Frederick Banting (Quest Library (Xyz Publishing))

by Stephen Eaton Hume

4 out of 5