On the centenary of the insulin discovery

Abstract

The discovery of insulin and the beginning of its use in 1921–1922 made a revolution in endocrinology and in medicine in general. This significant event gave millions of patients with diabetes not only the opportunity to live, but also the hope that their life with this disease would be full.The article examines the history of insulin discovery, as well as the evolution of several generations of insulin preparations and the advantages of each of the generations that have radically changed not only life expectancy, but also its quality.The first generation — insulins of animal origin and the solution of the first tasks of their sufficient production and purification. The next generation is human insulins, the purification of which was also a problem. The third generation is insulin analogues, the action of which became closer to the action profile of natural insulin. And the last generation — insulin analogues, most closely mimicking the action of endogenous insulin.Along with the development of insulin preparations, the article traces the evolution of the devices of its administration.