Leonard Thompson (diabetic)

Canadian diabetic patient, first person to receive insulin

Leonard Thompson (1908 – April 20, 1935) was a Canadian diabetic patient who became the first person to receive an injection of insulin as a treatment for diabetes mellitus. His case marked a significant milestone in the history of medicine and the treatment of diabetes.

Early Life

Leonard Thompson was born in 1908 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 13, a condition that was considered fatal at the time. Before the discovery of insulin, the only treatment available was a strict diet that severely limited carbohydrate intake, which often led to malnutrition and starvation.

Diagnosis and Initial Treatment

Leonard Thompson, the first patient to receive insulin

In 1921, Leonard's health was rapidly deteriorating due to the effects of untreated diabetes. He was admitted to the Toronto General Hospital in a severely weakened state, weighing only 65 pounds. His condition was critical, and his life expectancy was measured in weeks.

The Discovery of Insulin

In 1921, Frederick Banting and Charles Best, under the supervision of John Macleod and with the assistance of James Collip, discovered insulin at the University of Toronto. Their work involved extracting insulin from the pancreas of animals and purifying it for human use.

First Insulin Injection

On January 11, 1922, Leonard Thompson became the first person to receive an injection of insulin. The initial injection, however, was impure and did not have the desired effect. After further refinement by James Collip, a second injection was administered on January 23, 1922, which successfully lowered Leonard's blood glucose levels and improved his condition.

Impact and Legacy

The successful treatment of Leonard Thompson with insulin was a groundbreaking achievement that transformed the management of diabetes. It provided a new lease on life for patients who previously faced a grim prognosis. The discovery of insulin earned Banting and Macleod the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1923, which they shared with Best and Collip.

Later Life and Death

After receiving insulin, Leonard Thompson lived for another 13 years. He continued to manage his diabetes with insulin therapy, which allowed him to lead a relatively normal life. Leonard passed away on April 20, 1935, at the age of 27, due to complications from pneumonia.

Related Pages

• Insulin
• Frederick Banting
• Charles Best
• John Macleod
• James Collip
• Diabetes mellitus