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(^1945) The improvement
of insulin treatments means
that by the mid-1940s, the
life expectancy of someone
with type 1 is increasing,
so that a newly-diagnosed
10-year-old now has a life
expectancy of 45 years.
(^1953) Tablets that test urine
glucose are now widely available,
and over the next few years, urine
test strips start to appear, too.
Once these became available for
use at home, it made measuring
and monitoring BGLs a lot
easier and faster.
(^1955) The first oral drug
capable of lowering BGLs is
developed. Called carbutamide,
it was the first generation of
a class of medication called
sulfonylureas, which stimulate
the pancreas to release more
insulin. Newer, more potent
sulfonylureas are still used
today to treat type 2.
(^1957) The Diabetes Federation
of Australia (renamed Diabetes
Australia in 1987) is formed.
(^1964) The first test strips
that measure blood glucose
by colour code are launched.
(^1970) The first blood glucose
meter hits the shelves.
(^1972) The relationship
between high BGLs and the
blood vessel disease that’s
responsible for many diabetes-
related complications is
reported for the first time.
(^1976) The first insulin
pump, developed to mimic the
body’s normal release of
insulin, is invented.
A portable version appears
just two years later but while
effective, its large size means
it’s not yet a practical option
for people living with type 1.
(^1977) The all-important
HbA1c test, which shows an
average of your BGL over the
past 10-12 weeks, is introduced.
(^1982) The first biosynthetic
insulin is approved for use. Prior
to this, insulin manufacturers
had to stockpile pancreatic
tissue from animals.
(^1985) The first insulin pen
delivery system, called the
NovoPen, is released.
(^1990) Having been known as
adult-onset diabetes for decades,
in the 1990s it’s officially renamed
as type 2 diabetes to reflect the
fact that more and more young
people were being diagnosed
with it. Today, it’s estimated that
over the next 40 years type 2 in
children and adolescents will rise
to be four times the current rate.
(^1991) The first World Diabetes
Day is held. Launched by the
World Health Organisation in
response to the rapid rise of the
number of cases of diabetes,
November 14 was chosen as the
date because it was the birthday
of one of the scientists who
pioneered insulin therapy.
(^1993) A study proves that
when people living with
diabetes can keep their BGLs
within the ‘normal’ range as
consistently as possible, they
slow the onset and progression
of the eye, kidney and nerve
diseases that diabetes
can cause.
(^1995) Metformin,
one of the most common
tablets used to help manage
type 2, is launched. Over
the next two decades a
variety of new medications,
all of which work slightly
differently, are developed
and approved for use.
Today, more than 60 years
since the first oral diabetes
medication made inroads,
six different classes of
diabetes tablets are available
to help manage type 2.
(^2013) An artificial pancreas,
combining insulin pump
technology and a continuous
glucose monitor, is trialled
at the University of Cambridge
in the UK.
(^2015) A Scottish study
finds that people with type 1
now have a life expectancy of
little more than a decade less
than people without diabetes.
Previously the gap was
between 15 and 27 years.
(^2019) After hitting
the headlines in 2015,
earlier this year it was
announced that a bionic
pancreas designed to
revolutionise type 1
treatment, is now
undergoing
a clinical trial.
Called the iLet,
the trial marks
an important
milestone in
development
and potential
launch. ■
need to know
diabetic living NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2019 107