The discovery of insulin in the early 1920s marked a turning point in the treatment of diabetes, a condition that had long been considered life-threatening. It originated from the groundbreaking research conducted by Frederick Banting and Charles Best at the University of Toronto, where they isolated insulin from the pancreas of dogs. Their experiments demonstrated that insulin could effectively control blood sugar levels. In 1922, the first human patient, Leonard Thompson, received an insulin injection, which resulted in dramatic improvements in his condition.

By 1923, the potential for insulin as a widespread treatment had been recognized, and a partnership was formed with the pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly and Company to facilitate mass production. The American and Canadian public hailed this collaboration, which aimed to produce insulin in large quantities. The successful commercialization of insulin began on April 15, 1923, providing access to this revolutionary treatment to a much larger patient population, thus transforming diabetes management.

As insulin became more accessible, it not only extended the lives of those with diabetes but also changed the nature of the disease from a fatal condition to a manageable one. Patients could now engage in more normal activities and return to work, significantly improving their quality of life. This advancement also sparked new research into diabetes and its management, leading to further innovations in medical treatments and technologies related to diabetes care.