Carb Counting Mama

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by Carb Counting Mama

Oskar Minkowski and a Chance Bet

Oskar Minkowski was a German physiologist who, in the late 19th century, conducted research on diabetes that would eventually lead to the discovery of insulin. As important as his research was, it’s the way in which he made the discovery that was quite peculiar. A chance meeting and a friendly bet between Minkowski and his colleague Joseph Von Mering is what changed everyone’s understanding of diabetes.

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by Carb Counting Mama

Benedict’s Solution: Before CGM Systems and Glucometers

With CGM and FGM systems becoming the norm to manage type 1 diabetes, it can be hard to imagine what we ever did without them. At-home glucometers weren’t available until the 1970s. Knowing what we know now, it’s kind of scary to think of how people measured glucose levels before that. One of the most common ways to test glucose levels was to use Benedict’s Solution or another similar urine analysis method.

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by Carb Counting Mama

Is it Stable yet?

This week alone, I’ve had 3 different friends and family members ask me, “How’s Jordan’s diabetes? Is it stable now?” It’s been a while since I’ve gotten this question, but it’s still as frustrating as ever. It’s an impossible question to answer. The thing is, “stable” and “diabetes” simply don’t go together.

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by Carb Counting Mama

The Dogs of Diabetes: Dog 408, Dog 410, and Marjorie

We all know that Dr. Banting discovered insulin. He, along with his team Charles Best, John Macleod, and James Collip worked together to make that discovery 100 years ago. We celebrate Dr. Banting’s birthday as “World Diabetes Day” on November 14th. But how did he make his discovery? Let me tell you a bit about the dogs of diabetes.

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by Carb Counting Mama

Hesy-Ra, Diabetes, and the Ebers Papyrus

It’s been over 100 years since the discovery of insulin. It’s interesting to look back and see how far we’ve come. Our understanding of T1D has evolved a lot over the last few decades. But diabetes goes back quite a bit farther than that. Civilization’s journey with T1D actually started a few millennia ago with Hesy-Ra in Ancient Egypt.

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by Carb Counting Mama

Water Tasters – History of Diabetes

Diabetes is not a new disease. In fact, it has been recognized for thousands of years. And has likely been around a lot longer than that. But, the technology we use to diagnose and treat it is quite new. Blood glucose monitors only came around in the 70s. Chemical tests for urine were designed several decades prior to that. So how on Earth did people get diagnosed with diabetes before these methods were created? I have two words for you: Water Tasters. 

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by Carb Counting Mama

Who was Patient JL? Can we Talk about who He Wasn’t?

If you’ve been around T1D long enough, or done much research on it, you’ve probably seen this image before. Most likely, you have seen it somewhere and it says it’s a picture of Leonard Thompson, the first person to get an insulin injection. It’s on diabetes websites and diabetes blogs. Over and over the image is associated with Leonard Thompson. In fact, if you Google his name, more images of this little boy will come up than the actual Leonard Thompson. Despite what you’ve seen and been told, Thompson is not the person in these pictures. [Read more…]

by Carb Counting Mama

Leonard Thompson and the First Successful Insulin Dose

January 23rd is one of the most significant dates in the history of diabetes, and even the history of medicine. On January 23rd, 1922, the first successful dose of insulin was given to a patient.

Dr. Walter Campbell specialized in diabetes care and founded the diabetes clinic at Toronto General Hospital. On January 23rd, 1922, Dr. James Collip provided a more purified extract to Dr. Campbell to use on his patient, Leonard Thompson.

Thompson received a 5 cc injection, followed by another 20 cc injection of the extract. The next day, Leonard received 2 more 10 cc injections and his glycosuria almost disappeared.

But, this wasn’t the first time insulin had been tested on humans.

[Read more…]

by Carb Counting Mama

T1D Facebook Pages to Follow this Diabetes Awareness Month

November is Diabetes Awareness Month. You live with T1D in your home. It’s a part of your life 24/7. But you have no idea what to do to raise awareness about T1D. What should you say? Do you even want to share personal experiences about T1D? Don’t worry! These Facebook pages have you covered with a post a day that you can share wherever you like!!

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by Carb Counting Mama

100+ Things that Won’t Cure T1D

There’s a saying in the diabetes community. “Your diabetes may vary” (YDMV). It means what works for one person, may not work for another. You see, almost every aspect of T1D will vary from person to person. But there’s one thing that everyone dealing with T1 will experience at some point. Well-meaning friends, family, and even strangers will tell you all about various “cures” for T1.

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