Over the past two centuries, technology has played a significant role in understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of disease in Canada. Technology - in the form of instruments, devices, machines, drugs, and systems has aided medical science, altered medical practice, and changed the illness experience of patients. Nineteenth century medical technology consisted of predominantly surgical and daignostic instruments use by individual practitioners. By the twentieth century, large, hospital-based technologies operated by teams emerged as powerful tool in the identification and management of disease. But let's refer back to the eighteenth century when diabetes became a major concern to a certian Canadian ...On November 14,1891, in Ontario, Canada, a scientist was born. This scientist, and con-discover of insulin goes by the name of Fredrick Banting. For Banting to beomce a co-discover of insulin, he had developed an interest in patients with diabetes. It had recently been discovered that diabetes was primarily caused by a lack of specific protein in the body. He realized that the pancres' digestive juice was destroying the islets of his patient's hormone before it could be isolated. Banting had an idea as to how patients could overcome diabetes. If he could stop the pancreas from working, but keep the islets going, he should be able to find the stuff. But to test out his idea, he needed facilities, funding help. He recieved all three by speaking to J.J.R. Macleod; a Professor of Physiology at U of T. Macleod supplied an assistant in 
the form of Charles Best, still a medical student at the time, and facilities at the university. Banting and Best went to work and with the assistance from Macleod, eventually discovered insulin. Banting and Best published the first paper on their discovery a month later, in February, 1922. In 1923, the Nobel Prize was awarded to Banting and Macleod for the discovery, and each shared their portion of the prize money with the other researchers on the project. The team spli up after the discovery. Banting continued to work for the Hospital of Sick Children.
the form of Charles Best, still a medical student at the time, and facilities at the university. Banting and Best went to work and with the assistance from Macleod, eventually discovered insulin. Banting and Best published the first paper on their discovery a month later, in February, 1922. In 1923, the Nobel Prize was awarded to Banting and Macleod for the discovery, and each shared their portion of the prize money with the other researchers on the project. The team spli up after the discovery. Banting continued to work for the Hospital of Sick Children. Ironically Banting's original idea wasn't entirely correct. He and Best later found they could obtain insulin even frmo the intact pancreas. Improved teachnology for testing and detecting sugar in the blood and urine provided information that earlier researchers didn't have, and this encouraged them to pursue a line of thinking that may have looked like a dead end to those working in the decades before them.
Today, 2 million Canadians live with diabetes - or put another way- 1 in 13 Canadians lives with diabetes. And the number will increase as scientific evidence recommends earlier screening of people at high risk for diabetes. Although insulin doesn't cure diabetes, it's one of the biggest discoveries in medicine made in the 1920's. When it came it was like a miracle. People with severe diabetes and had only days left to live were saved. Thanks to Sir Fredrick Banting, Dr. Charles Best, and the assistance of Professor J.J.R. Macleod people diagnosed with diabetes could live an almost normal life, as long as they keep getting their insulin.
Workcitied list:
http://http//www.sciencetech.technomuses.ca/english/about/tra16e.cfm
http://http//frederickbanting.com/
http://http//www.sciencetech.technomuses.ca/english/about/tra16e.cfm
http://http//frederickbanting.com/
