On the centenary of the insulin discovery

The discovery of insulin and the beginning of its use in 1921–1922 made a revolution in endocrinology and in medicine in general. This significant event gave millions of patients with diabetes not only the opportunity to live, but also the hope that their life with this disease would be full.The article examines the history of insulin discovery, as well as the evolution of several generations of insulin preparations and the advantages of each of the generations that have radically changed not only life expectancy, but also its quality.The first generation — insulins of animal origin and the solution of the first tasks of their sufficient production and purification. The next generation is human insulins, the purification of which was also a problem. The third generation is insulin analogues, the action of which became closer to the action profile of natural insulin. And the last generation — insulin analogues, most closely mimicking the action of endogenous insulin.Along with the development of insulin preparations, the article traces the evolution of the devices of its administration.

Potential Anti-Diabetic Effect of Camel Milk

Based on empirical observations regarding the low prevalence of diabetes mellitus in population drinking regularly camel milk, camel scientists have investigated and assessed the effect of regular camel milk consumption on glycaemic status of diabetic patients and animal models. All the experiments' results concluded to the reduction of blood glucose and glycosylated haemoglobin. The hypothesis of high quantity of natural insulin in camel milk was proposed, but the quantities reported in the literature could not explain by itself the beneficial effect of camel milk consumption. It is stated that the lack of coagulum formation of camel milk the stomach was supposed to act as an effective vehicle (under internal nanoparticles) to take the milk insulin unchanged throughout the digestive tract and absorbed in the intestine. Other proteins in higher concentrations in camel milk than in other milk could interact with insulin receptor and contribute by their antioxidant and inti-inflammatory effect to regeneration of beta-cells in pancreas.