Question:
I am a fourth grade teacher, and have a young man who is a brittle diabetic,
and for his research on the inventive process, he would like to study
someone who has invented medical devices that relate to diabetes. Do you
have any starting points for us? It could be inventions from the past, or
cutting edge technology. Thank you for any help that you can give us.
Answer:
He (and everyone concerned with diabetes), should read Michael Bliss's book
about the best invention ever for diabetes: the discovery of insulin.
(Interestingly, that's also the title of the book: The Discovery of Insulin. It was published in 1982 by McClelland and Stewart Limited,
Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The book was made into a TV movie a few years ago,
with a different title: "Glory Enough for All.")
Among the many other devices of great importance are blood glucose meters
and insulin pumps. Suggest to your student that he call the 800 numbers in
the latest issues of Diabetes Forecast and COUNTDOWN
magazines, and ask the manufacturers if they can help.
Original posting 9 Dec 95