The antidiabetic functions of the pancreas and the successful isolation of the antidiabetic hormone - insulin / by J.J.R. Macleod and F.G. Banting.

  • Macleod, J. J. R. (John James Rickard), 1876-1935
Date:
1923 [©1924]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The antidiabetic functions of the pancreas and the successful isolation of the antidiabetic hormone - insulin / by J.J.R. Macleod and F.G. Banting. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Six days after admission the child was placed on a weighed and calculated diet and rendered sugar-free with insulin. The diet was gradually raised from 420 calories to 1400 calories during the next three weeks. Decreasing doses of insulin were required. On October 13th, insulin treatment was discontinued and the diet reduced to 420 calories. This diet was then gradually raised to 1470 calories, when the child was discharged from hospital, November 13th. No sugar appeared in her urine after the sixth day in the hospital. This case is an example of coma precipitated by toxemia. Insulin in Complications of Diabetes Mellitus Insulin favorably influences many of the complica¬ tions of diabetes mellitus. Boils and carbuncles are a frequent occurrence, and are a serious menace to the general health of the patient. It would appear that the severity of these is due in part to hyperglycemia, be¬ cause when the blood sugar is rendered normal, and glucose is burned by the body, infections and infected wounds tend to heal rapidly. Tuberculosis in diabetics usually progresses rapidly and ends fatally, and here¬ tofore was particularly difficult to treat because it was impossible to feed the patient an adequate amount on account of the diabetic condition. Two cases of pul- monarv tuberculosis with low carbohvdrate tolerance e/ •/ have been treated and are progressing favorably on the increased diet, obtainable by insulin treatment. Patients with elevated temperature and infection such as influ¬ enza or tonsillitis, require increased doses of insulin to maintain them sugar-free on a constant diet. Diabetic gangrene is primarily due to damaged capillary circula¬ tion with the resultant improper nourishment of the tis¬ sues. Insulin does not improve the circulation, but may favorably influence the superimposed infection. The