Frederick Banting and Charles Best: The Discovery That Changed Diabetes Forever
When we talk about the history of diabetes care, two names stand out above all others: Frederick Banting and Charles Best. These two men worked together in the early 1920s to make one of the most important medical discoveries in history:
Insulin.
Their work not only saved lives at the time but continues to shape diabetes care today.
Frederick Banting: The Doctor with a Vision
Born in Ontario in 1891, Frederick Banting studied at the University of Toronto and served as a doctor during World War I with the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps. After the war, he worked as a surgeon and taught at various medical schools.
In 1920, Banting came across a journal article about the pancreas and its role in diabetes. The pancreas produces insulin, which helps control blood sugar levels. People with diabetes cannot make or properly use insulin, resulting in high blood sugar. Banting became fascinated with the idea that if insulin could be taken from the pancreas, it might help people with diabetes.
Charles Best: The Young Research Partner
Born in 1899 in Maine, Charles Best studied physiology and biochemistry at the University of Toronto. In 1921, he was still a student when Banting asked for an assistant to help with his research on the pancreas. Best won a coin toss with another student to take the role. From there, history was made.
Best was skilled in lab work and brought scientific focus to Banting’s big ideas. Together, they began experimenting on dogs to understand how the pancreas worked. Their teamwork combined Banting’s determination with Best’s research skills.
The Discovery of Insulin
In the summer of 1921, Banting and Best worked in a small lab at the University of Toronto. They removed the pancreas from dogs to study the effects on blood sugar. When the dogs developed severe diabetes, the team injected them with an extract from other dog pancreases. The results were amazing. The dogs’ blood sugar levels went down.
Soon after, they refined their method with the help of biochemist James Collip and scientist John Macleod, who provided lab space and guidance. By early 1922, they tested the extract (now called insulin) on a 14-year-old boy named Leonard Thompson. Before insulin, diabetes was considered a death sentence. After receiving insulin, Leonard’s health improved almost immediately.
This was a turning point in medicine. Banting and Macleod were awarded the Nobel Prize in 1923, but Banting shared his prize money with Best, recognizing his essential role.
Lasting Impact on Diabetes Care
Before insulin was discovered, the only treatment for diabetes was a very strict, low-carbohydrate diet. While it could prolong life for a time, it wasn’t a sustainable long-term solution. Banting and Best’s discovery completely changed that. For the first time, people with diabetes were able to live longer and healthier lives.
Today, insulin therapy continues to save millions of lives around the world. While technology has advanced from insulin pumps to continuous glucose monitors, the foundation of modern diabetes care is still built on Banting and Best’s work. Their discovery also inspired decades of new research into better treatments, prevention, and hopefully one day, a cure.
Their Work, Our Future
When Frederick Banting had his idea and Charles Best joined him in the lab, neither could have imagined the global impact their work would have. Their discovery of insulin is one of the clearest examples of how science can transform lives. Their legacy continues to shine every time someone with diabetes takes insulin today.
Author: Noelia Rivera-González, MS, RD, LDN, CDCES | CCS Health
This site is for educational purposes only. Talk to your doctor or healthcare provider before making any decisions about your health.
