If you haven't read this New York Times story about the history of insulin, please do. I'll wait.
The sentence that hit me where I live was this one:
"Diabetes was the first illness which forced them [doctors] to cede some medical authority to the patient, said Jean Ashton, one of the exhibit’s curators. With insulin, diabetics suddenly acquired both the right and the responsibility to maintain their own health."
I guess I don't really need to expand on that, do I?
The article mentions, but then glosses over, the stigma of having diabetes through much of the 20th century. Even the most famous recipient of insulin (Elizabeth Hughes) saw it as a stigma.
I would be lying if I said that the stigma was entirely gone, but a lot of progress has been made in the past 30 years, and that’s a good thing. I think it’s a shame that Elizabeth Hughes didn’t live to see the openness that a T1 diabetic can have today.
I was planning to see this exhibit at the New York Historical Society. I can’t believe I missed this article. Thanks for sharing!
What a great link. Thanks for sharing!
@ Elizabeth – GMTA. I hadn’t seen your blog post before writing mine.
@ Tim – I was actually more disturbed by the writer’s feeble attempt to draw parallels between diabetes and HIV.
@Corinna – yeah, he was really reaching with that one. Nobody who knows anything about it would call any of the AIDS drugs “miracle” drugs. Funny thing was, I clicked the link wondering what drug they were talking about as a “miracle” – thinking it must be aspirin, or penicillin, both of which have such widespread application, they could justifiably be given that accolade. Insulin never occurred to me!
For both Corinna , you Elizabeth and everyone else , but must admit I don’t know , if non Canadians can vote 
, worth a TRY …Canadian TU site gives a chance to vote , Maclean’s magazine, which I posted …this is the third week , contest closes mid October …Canadian Drs .Banting and Best ( INSULIN ) are in the fore front …I voted for them in the first, second and 3 rd week …please help , if you can …a fun game .( I copy/pasted ) …thanks , N.