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  • Review Article
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100 years of insulin: celebrating the past, present and future of diabetes therapy

Nature Medicine volume 27, pages 1154–1164 (2021)Cite this article

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Abstract

The year 2021 marks the centennial of Banting and Best’s landmark description of the discovery of insulin. This discovery and insulin’s rapid clinical deployment effectively transformed type 1 diabetes from a fatal diagnosis into a medically manageable chronic condition. In this Review, we describe key accomplishments leading to and building on this momentous occasion in medical history, including advancements in our understanding of the role of insulin in diabetes pathophysiology, the molecular characterization of insulin and the clinical use of insulin. Achievements are also viewed through the lens of patients impacted by insulin therapy and the evolution of insulin pharmacokinetics and delivery over the past 100 years. Finally, we reflect on the future of insulin therapy and diabetes treatment, as well as challenges to be addressed moving forward, so that the full potential of this transformative discovery may be realized.

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Fig. 1: A timeline of key discoveries in our understanding of insulin and diabetes pathophysiology.
Fig. 2: The evolution of improvements in insulin pharmacokinetics.
Fig. 3: Advances in diabetes management viewed through the lens of individuals with type 1 diabetes.
Fig. 4: The future of insulin and diabetes therapy.

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Acknowledgements

Research in the laboratory of C.E.-M. is supported by the NIH grants R01 DK093954, R21 DK119800, U01DK127786, R01DK127308 and P30DK097512; the VA Merit Award I01BX001733; and the JDRF grant 2-SRA-2019-834-S-B; as well as gifts from the Sigma Beta Sorority, the Ball Brothers Foundation, and the George and Frances Ball Foundation. E.K.S. is supported by R03 DK117253, R01DK121929 and JDRF 2-SRA-2017-498-M-B. L.A.D. is supported by 1UL1TR002529. We thank the following individuals who willingly shared their personal experiences of living with type 1 diabetes: James C. Garmey (diagnosed 1965); Lis Warren (diagnosed 1965); Karen Stancombe (diagnosed 1967); Debra A. Ignaut (diagnosed 1977); Patrick A. Fueger (diagnosed 1984); Todd Nebesio (diagnosed 1988); Roger Felton (diagnosed 1990); Jason Spaeth (diagnosed 1995) and his wife, Aubrey Spaeth; Kate Haynes (diagnosed 2002); and Staci Weaver (diagnosed 2006).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA

    Emily K. Sims, Linda A. DiMeglio & Carmella Evans-Molina

  2. The Center for Diabetes & Metabolic Diseases, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA

    Emily K. Sims, Linda A. DiMeglio & Carmella Evans-Molina

  3. The Herman B. Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA

    Emily K. Sims, Linda A. DiMeglio & Carmella Evans-Molina

  4. Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Science, University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, UK

    Alice L. J. Carr & Richard A. Oram

  5. The Academic Kidney Unit, Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust, Exeter, UK

    Richard A. Oram

  6. Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA

    Carmella Evans-Molina

  7. Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA

    Carmella Evans-Molina

  8. Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN, USA

    Carmella Evans-Molina

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E.K.S., A.L.J.C., R.A.O., L.A.D. and C.E.-M. wrote portions of the piece, provided comments and reviewed the final text.

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Correspondence to Carmella Evans-Molina.

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Sims, E.K., Carr, A.L.J., Oram, R.A. et al. 100 years of insulin: celebrating the past, present and future of diabetes therapy. Nat Med 27, 1154–1164 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41591-021-01418-2

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