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Explore

  • Insulin and Diabetes Management
  • Diabetes Remedies Before Insulin
  • Insulin
  • Insulin Injection
  • Glucose (Sugar) Monitoring
  • Oral Diabetes Medications
  • Diabetes Education and Advocacy

Insulin

With the discovery of insulin at the University of Toronto in the early 1920’s, followed by the establishment of commercial production, diabetes was no longer a death sentence. Insulin was not a cure, but when used properly and combined with constant monitoring of diet and blood sugar, diabetics could now live long and active lives.

In 1922, the pharmaceutical company, Eli Lilly, was the first firm to commercially produce insulin. Scientists extracted and purified insulin found in the pancreases of pigs and cattle supplied by the slaughterhouses. The first insulins varied greatly in purity and strength. Manufacturers improved purification techniques, introduced standardized strengths and developed new long-acting insulins. Although not identical to human insulin, animal based insulins were a highly effective treatment.

Man standing on stool beside a machine grinding animal pancreases
Grinding pancreases for insulin at Eli Lilly and Company, early 1930s. 

The development of insulin therapy transformed diabetes from an acute, fatal disease to a chronic condition requiring life-long management. One consequence of this change was the creation of a growing population of people dependent on insulin. For reasons not entirely understood, changes in lifestyle and eating habits have also contributed to the number of Americans with diabetes. Together, these factors have resulted in an ever-expanding demand for insulin.

By the 1980s, concerns developed that the demand for insulin would out-strip the supply of animal organs. As luck would have it, new developments in biotechnology provided an alternate source for insulin. Recombinant DNA, a lab technique developed in the early 1970s, allowed pharmaceutical manufacturers to genetically engineer bacteria to produce human insulin. This “recombinant insulin” first came on the market in the mid-1980s, under the brand name Humulin.

After its release, Humulin quickly replaced traditional sources of insulin. Today, almost all insulin used in the United States is made by recombinant technique. For most insulin users, however, the change from animal based to human insulin made little difference to their daily routine.

  • Iletin (Insulin, Lilly), 5 cc

    National Museum of American History
  • Iletin (Insulin, Lilly), 5 cc, H 5

    National Museum of American History
  • U-10 Iletin Insulin, Lilly, 5cc, 50 Units

    National Museum of American History
  • U-10 Iletin Insulin, Lilly, 5cc, 50 Units

    National Museum of American History
  • U-10 Iletin Insulin, Lilly, 10cc, 100 Units

    National Museum of American History
  • U-20 Iletin Insulin, Lilly, 5 cc., 100 units

    National Museum of American History
  • U-20 Iletin Insulin, Lilly, 10cc, 200 Units

    National Museum of American History
  • U-40 Iletin Insulin, Lilly, 5cc, 200 Units

    National Museum of American History
  • U-40 Iletin Insulin, Lilly, 10cc, 400 Units

    National Museum of American History
  • U-80 Iletin Insulin, Lilly, 10cc, 800 Units

    National Museum of American History
  • U-100 Iletin Insulin, Lilly, 10cc, 1000 Units

    National Museum of American History
  • Zinc Insulin Crystals

    National Museum of American History
  • Iletin (Insulin Lilly) Sales Kit

    National Museum of American History
  • Zinc Insulin Crystals

    National Museum of American History
  • U-80 N P H Iletin (Insulin, Lilly), 10cc., 80 Units per cc.

    National Museum of American History
  • U-80 Lente Iletin (Insulin, Lilly), 10cc., 80 Units per cc.

    National Museum of American History
  • U-100 Iletin (Insulin, Lilly), 10cc., 100 Units per cc.

    National Museum of American History
  • U-40 Iletin (Insulin, Lilly), 10cc., 40 Units per cc.

    National Museum of American History
  • U-40 Lente Iletin (Insulin, Lilly), 10cc., 40 Units per cc.

    National Museum of American History
  • U-40 Protamine, Zinc & Iletin (Insulin, Lilly), 10cc, List No. M-140

    National Museum of American History
  • U-40 Lente Iletin, Insulin Zinc Suspension, USP, 10cc, List No. M-440

    National Museum of American History
  • U-40 Regular Iletin (Insulin, Lilly), USP, 10cc, List No. M-240

    National Museum of American History
  • U-40 N P H Iletin (Insulin, Lilly), USP, 10cc, List No. M-340

    National Museum of American History
  • U-80 Lente Iletin, Insulin Zinc Suspension, USP, 10cc, List No. M-480

    National Museum of American History
  • U-100 P, Protamine, Zinc & Iletin I, Protamine, Zinc Insulin Suspension, USP, 10cc, CP-110

    National Museum of American History
  • U-100 R, Regular Iletin I, Insulin Injection, USP, 10cc, CP-210

    National Museum of American History
  • U-100 R, Regular Iletin II, Purified Pork Insulin Injection, 10cc, CP-210P

    National Museum of American History
  • U-100 R, Regular Insulin II, Purified Beef Insulin Injection, 10cc, CP-210S

    National Museum of American History
  • U-100 N, NPH Iletin II, Isophane Purified Pork Insulin Suspension, 10cc, CP-310P

    National Museum of American History
  • U-100 L, Lente Iletin I, Insulin Zinc Suspension, USP, 10cc, CP-410

    National Museum of American History
  • U-100 S, Semilente Iletin I, Prompt Insulin Zinc Suspension, USP, 10cc, CP-510

    National Museum of American History
  • U-40 U, Ultralente Iletin I, Extended Insulin Zinc Suspension, USP, 10cc, CP-640

    National Museum of American History
  • U-500, Regular (Concentrated) Iletin II, Purified Pork Insulin Injection, 20cc, CP-2500

    National Museum of American History
  • Novolin 70/30 NPH/R, Human Insulin Injection (semi-synthetic)

    National Museum of American History
  • Humulin N, NPH, human insulin (recombinant DNA origin) isophane suspension

    National Museum of American History

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