100 years after the discovery of insulin, Novo Nordisk celebrates the figure of the diabetologist

100 years after the discovery of insulin, Novo Nordisk Italia launches the project ‘Insulin, 100 years. Stories of science, of men and women ‘, dedicated to the diabetologist. “Because insulin is nothing without the diabetologist: it is never the only drug to cure, but above all the commitment of the doctors who take care of their patients – explained Drago Vuina, general manager and vice president of Novo Nordisk Italia, illustrating the vision according to which the Danish company, born in 1923 on the wave of the discovery of insulin, intended to celebrate this event that marks not only the development of the drug, but also the origin of a discipline of on November 14, 1891 – Novo Nordisk reconstructs – Frederick Grant Banting was born in Alliston, Ontario, Canada, the man who was responsible for the birth of modern diabetology. 1920, he asked for an audience with John James Rickard Macleod, luminary of the University of Toronto, to obtain help with his research on the pancreas extract. It was also he who, having obtained it, on July 31, 1921, together with Charles H. Best, the adjutant granted to him by Mcleod, he administered pancreatic extract from a healthy dog ​​to a dog whose pancreas had been removed to make him diabetic. It was also he who provided, on January 11, 1922, the young Walter R. Campbell, the preparation to inoculate the 14-year-old Leonard Thompson, who would go down in history as the first person with diabetes treated with the new drug: insulin. The project presented today wanted to tell. through the direct testimonies of Italian diabetologists, the story of the men and women who contribute day after day to making Frederick G. Banting’s research come alive. It has involved the community of Italian specialists since June, asking them to send, through the digital platform created for the occasion, words, images or videos that express their daily experience of treating the disease. The result was a celebratory video that summarizes, through the testimonies collected, the daily challenges, the relationship with the patient and the perspectives offered by new treatments and new technologies. “We are celebrating a historic moment in which science has made enormous strides. Thanks to the intuition of two men and thanks to experiments also on animals, millions of children, men and women with diabetes, have survived. The discovery of insulin. it is not only important for patient care, it also makes us reflect on the methodology of scientific research. Despite having few techniques available, research can lead to extraordinary things thanks to the intuition and courage of researchers “, said Annamaria Colao, President of the Italian Society of Endocrinology (Sie). Elliot Joslin, founder of the Joslin Clinic and the first doctor to become an expert in the use of insulin, wrote that “insulin is a drug for the wise and not for fools, be they doctors or patients “, and added that” it takes brains to live long with diabetes, but to use insulin correctly it takes even more brain “. “His considerations remain valid 100 years later – observed Agostino Consoli, president of the Italian Diabetes Society (Sid).” All health professionals working in diabetology should be grateful for having been spectators, but also actors, of the incredible story of insulin therapy, a true miracle of medical science. Just as we diabetologists are, every patient should be aware of how it all began, how it has evolved and what awaits us in the future. The history of insulin, after 100 years, is not over. We are ready to ‘write’ new, unimaginable chapters “, highlighted Paolo Di Bartolo, president of the Diabetic Doctors Association (AMD).” We are celebrating 100 years since the discovery of insulin. A very important date – commented Franco Grimaldi, president of the Association of Endocrinologists (Ame) – Fortunately, today we have more and more manageable insulins, which increasingly mimic the physiological response. Huge steps have been taken in this field, but we remind you that only thanks to the team work that always involves the diabetologist, nurse and dietician are the best results achieved. The person with diabetes must be educated, supported and motivated continuously, thanks to teamwork “.” In 100 years, the results of diabetes treatment in children and adolescents are constantly and rapidly improving thanks to the integration of a mix of two indispensable components “, remarked Claudio Maffeis, president of the Italian Society of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology (Siedp):” Insulin, available in increasingly effective formulations that make diabetes more and more easily manageable in a personalized way, and the diabetic pediatrician, which instructs the patient and his family in self-management and accompanies him in all the delicate phases of physical and psychological growth. Together, diabetes is no longer scary. “