What is Insulin?

[Jemisa]

What is insulin and how did it get its name?
Insulin is an isolated hormone which controls sugar levels and is used to treat diabetes. Canadian physician Frederick Banting (born on November 14, 1891) and his research assistant, Charles Best, discovered a way to isolate the hormone and extract it from the pancreas in 1891. At first, they called the hormone "isletin," after the part of the pancreas that secretes the insulin, known as the "Islets of Langerhans." Dr. J. MacLeod, who had provided the lab where Banting and Best worked, suggested the name "insulin," meaning "island" in Latin. In 1923, Banting and MacLeod won a Nobel Prize for the discovery. Banting, believing that his assistant had been shortchanged by the Nobel Prize committee, split his monetary award with him. Today, Banting's birthday, is World Diabetes Day; this year's theme is Diabetes Education and Prevention.

jem

[Mosaic]

jemisa, do you often talk to yourself?

[keithlbw]

Thanks....You saved me the bother of looking that up.......I shall sleep soundly tonight now , not having to worry about insulin ! ! ! ! !

[Jemisa]

Yes Mosaic I do often talk to myself at least I know I'll get a sensible answer or reply.

Kieth, there are an awful lot of newly diagnosed diabetics out there and quite a few are ignorant about their complaint, I was aiming at those.
But of course there will be people like you that knows it all. I hope you did sleep well too.

jem

[society]

http://tinyurl.com/2fwgr3e

[Answerprancer]

Didn't I make a post recently about why people often ask and answer a question in the same sentence ? (eg. "What are you doing standing there"?)
This is a pretty elaborate example Jemisa !

[Jemisa]

Awww Thanks society, Why didn't I think of that? -- Doh!

A P Did you.? I'll go sit in the coal cupboard then shall I?

jem

[mike11111]

Insulin is a life saver. My maternal grandfather was a diabetic and died in 1917 at the age of 36, before the discovery of insulin. 40 years later my mother was diagnosed with the same complaint and had to inject herself with insulin until the day she died. Latterly I have been diagnosed as diabetic, but fortunately such a mild form as needs no medication. Like TB, the disease is no longer the killer it once was, for which we must give thanks to the research scientists who discovered the cures.

[Answerprancer]

Oh don't be so sensitive - I didn't set out to belittle the actual content of your post, I can see it is well meaning.
Perhaps you could have titled it differently eg. "Advice For Diabetics".

Have you heard about the rumours that products in the US that contain high fructose corn syrup are contributing to widespread diabetes and that there are loads of drug companies profiteering from it ?

[Jemisa]

AP _ I wasn't being sensative I was being sarcastic (couldn't help it)
I luv ya really.
I'm not surprised about the corn syrup thing. What I don't understand is why doesn't the word 'syrup' ring any alarm bells? but then a lot of americans live on sugar, syrup and candy & it shows.

jem

[Answerprancer]

Ah ok :-)

The thing is, in America virtually EVERYTHING sweet (and often savoury) contains HFCS which is supposed to be linked with diabetes.
I think there are Americans that are aware of this, but it must be difficult looking for alternatives as Walmart's shelves are stacked with the stuff and it is hard work looking elsewhere for an alternative.

[keithlbw]

Yes Jemisa , as you say there are a lot of newly diagnosed diabetics out there , and I am sure there are a lot of people out there with other newly diagnosed illnesses , does this mean we can expect further posts from you about numerous other illnesses .

I thought the AB was a place to ask questions and hopefully get them answered , not give an answer to an unasked question.

I can understand your wish to inform people as this is obviously something close to your heart , but if we all start giving unsolicited advice the AB will soon become clogged.
.
.HELP ...I've just realised I sound like an AB editor..! ! !