The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1923- INSULIN

Before insulin was discovered, diabetes had no treatment except for the option of a diet with the minimum amount of sugar possible. This, however, was not a very effective solution. Previous research had proven that if the pancreas was removed, an animal would immediately develop diabetes. However, if the the tubes that transported pancreatic juices to the intestine were tied in order to prevent these from flowing, the animal would not get diabetes but instead develop minor digestive problems. This suggests that the functions of the pancreas are at least two: creating digestive liquids and creating a substance that regulates the amount of sugar in the body. Based on this information, on October of 1920,  Dr. Fredrick Banting from Toronto, Canada had the great idea of blocking the digestive juices providing from the pancreas in order to isolate the part of the pancreas that regulated the sugar in the body. (It was known that these digestive juices could affect a part of the pancreas and damage the regulator substance.)  Banting shared his idea with Professor John Macleod, specialized in the research of diabetes. Macleod rejected his ideas but provided some economic resources and a lab for Banting to carry out his experiment. Charles Best helped Banting in the lab. When insulin was finally isolated and discovered, the word spread and the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine of 1923 was given to Banting and Macleod jointly. Banting was mad because he said he should have shared the award with his partner, Best, instead. As a result, Banting shared his cash prize with Best.
Insulin was a great discovery for the treatment of diabetes. Patients affected by such can now expect longer life spams and a better and more efficient treatment option.

This diagram depicts the results of low insulin production ( Diabetes) 

Bibliography: 

"The Discovery of Insulin". Nobelprize.org. Nobel Media AB 2013. Web. 2 Dec 2013. <http://www.nobelprize.org/educational/medicine/insulin/discovery-insulin.html>

"The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 1923". Nobelprize.org. Nobel Media AB 2013. Web. 2 Dec 2013. <http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/1923/>

Picture: 

Diabetes. N.d. Photograph. Diabetes Mellitus. Vision and Eye Health. Web. 28 Nov. 2013. <http://www.vision-and-eye-health.com/diabetesmellitus.html>.