Views
11 January 2025 marked exactly 103 years since insulin was first given to a person with type 1 diabetes, a 14-year-old boy called Leonard Thompson. At the time, a type 1 diagnosis was a death sentence and before receiving insulin, Leonard Thompson’s blood sugar levels were dangerously high.
The history of insulin is one of scientific breakthroughs, perseverance, and innovation.
Banting and Best’s breakthrough
The breakthroughs began in 1921 when Canadian researchers Frederick Banting and Charles Best discovered that the hormone insulin could control blood sugar levels and was essential for our body to make and use energy. This discovery was a turning point for people with type 1 diabetes, as it became clear that supplying the insulin they need could be life-saving.
Banting, Best, and their colleague John Macleod were able to extract insulin from the pancreas of dogs but needed the help of biochemist James Collip in purifying the insulin so it would be safe enough to be tested in humans. In December 1921, a more concentrated and pure form of insulin was developed, this time from the pancreases of cattle.
Evolution of insulin extraction
The production of insulin, initially from animal pancreases, became more widespread in the following years, marking the beginning of modern type 1 diabetes management. By late 1923, insulin was commercially available, and people with type 1 diabetes could live longer, healthier lives with effective treatment.
In the decades that followed, innovations continued. In the 1970s, synthetic human insulin produced using bacteria cells replaced insulin from animal sources. This allowed for a more consistent and efficient supply of insulin. The 1980s saw the development of long-acting and rapid-acting insulins, improving control over blood sugar levels.
Innovations in insulin
Research into insulin has continued to evolve. Recent advancements have led to better ways of taking insulin, with the creation of insulin pumps and hybrid closed loop technologies that can help give people with type 1 diabetes the amount of insulin they need automatically and more precisely. Insulin remains the backbone of type 1 diabetes management today with everyone living with type 1 still relying on insulin to manage their condition, just like Leonard Thomson in 1922. Although we’ve come a long way since then, insulin treatment remains difficult and demanding. Insulins need to be easier, smarter and safer.
The Type 1 Diabetes Grand Challenge and novel insulins
To get there, the Grand Challenge is funding researchers to continue to write the story of insulin. They’re working to design new types that will work quicker and more precisely, often called novel insulins.
We’ve invested £2.7 million so far to fast-track discoveries in three different avenues:
- Ultra-rapid insulins that would respond more quickly to rising blood sugars, reducing spikes and bringing a fully closed loop system closer.
- ‘Smart’ glucose-responsive insulins would activate when blood sugar levels are high and deactivate when it drops too low. This could make insulin management more automatic, reducing the constant need for calculations or frequent injections and reducing the risk of lows and highs.
- Combining insulin with another hormone that raises blood sugar levels.
This could give people more stable levels, making daily management easier and more effective. Ultimately, the goal is to make insulin treatment feel less like a full-time job and more like something that works in the background – giving people with type 1 diabetes more freedom and better health.
You can find out more about these projects in the ‘Novel Insulins Innovation Incubator’ section of our funded projects page.