Diabetes is a long-lasting illness caused by insufficient insulin production in the pancreas. Insulin is essential for sugar processing within the body, and insufficient levels lead to sugar buildup in the blood, hindering efficient energy utilization from food. Diabetes can cause various complications such as blindness, heart issues, kidney failure, non-injury-related amputations, and erectile dysfunction.
Frederick Grant Banting, born November 14, 1891 in Alliston, Ontario, initially pursued studies at the University of Toronto to become a minister. However, he shifted his attention to medicine and successfully earned an MD degree in 1916. Following graduation, Banting served as a medical officer in the army during World War I and was honored with the Canadian military cross for his brave actions. In 1921, he relocated to London, Ontario where he practiced medicine before embarking on extensive research on insulin alongside Charles Best.
Banting and John J.R. Macleod, the head of the physiology department at the University of Toronto, conducted experiments with dogs to discover insulin. Eventually, in 1922, they successfully discovered insulin. The extracted insulin was further purified and tested on a human on January 11, 1922. As a result of their achievement, they were both awarded the Nobel Prize in medicine/physiology in 1923. This made them the first Canadians ever to receive such an esteemed honor. Initially, Banting threatened to refuse the award because he believed that Charles Best, his research assistant, had played a crucial role in the project and should also be recognized. However, he ultimately accepted the honor and shared his portion of the prize with Best. Later on, Banting was appointed as the head of a new department of medical research at the University of Toronto, which was named after him and Charles Best. In 1934, he was knighted and became Sir Frederick Banting. Tragically, on February 21, 1941, Banting died in a plane crash during a military medical mission in Canada. Nowadays, many individuals with diabetes rely on daily insulin injections for their survival.
