‘Profile America’ features world's most important medicine, insulin

U.S. Census BureauApr 22 2014

Following is the daily "Profile America" feature from the U.S. Census Bureau:

LIFESAVING MEDICINE

Profile America — Tuesday, April 22nd. One of world's most important medicines — insulin —became available for general use this month in 1923, saving the lives of millions of people suffering from diabetes. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas and is critical in the processing of carbohydrates in the human body. It was first isolated the year before by a Canadian team led by Dr. Frederick Banting at the University of Toronto. The effect was like a miracle. One year, the disease was an automatic death sentence, the next, people who were affected had hopes of living full and productive lives. One of the first beneficiaries was the daughter of U.S. Secretary of State Charles Evans Hughes. Pharmaceutical manufacturing employs over 132,000 people in a $142 billion a year industry in the U.S.