Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-07-20
Insulin Value
Lessened By
Hopkins Professor

Baltimore, July IL IA. P.D-lnSu- =
lin, the new remedy for diabetes, is
not to be considered in any sense as
cure for that disease. and it is not
of such nature as to obviate the ne
cessity of careful diet for all persons
treatment. These statements arc
made by DIR. William s. Mccain, as
sociate professor in Johns Hopkins
Medical School and associate ply
sician of Johns Hopkins Hospital, I'M
der whose care severe cases Of dia-
bctes are being given the insulin
treatment at the hospital.
DIR. Mccain says:
"Insulin is not a cure. 1t Is, how
ever, in our experience SPECIFIC
remedy for diabetes, which has al
ready saved many lives and has al
leviated much suffering from the dis
case. Its effects are only temporary,
leaving the fundamental condition OF
the disease unchanged. The discov-
erer of insulin, Dr. Banting, has al
ways been very careful not to make
the claim that insulin cures diabetes.
The manufacturers, Eli Lilly and Co,
in the advertising matter on 1nsulln,
are likewise careful not to make this
extravagant claim. Never before mas
q great medical discovery been given
to the world with more unselfshness
on the part of it's author, or by more
ethical manufacturers. The most that
can be said for insulin is that 1t is
spccific remedy for diabetes which
re stores the metabolism to normal as
long as the treatment is continued.
In some cases the beneficial effects
NAV continue for a short period after
discontinuing the treatment. sooner
or later the patients always return 10
the condition preceding the treatment
unless it is resumed.
al great deal of harm can arise
from careless statements in Inc press
to the effect that diet can be neglect
cd during insulin treatment Inc
notifications of all the men VINO nave
Subjected insulin to scientific STUDY
emphasize the fact that accurate con-
troll of the diet is more necessary
with insulin than without 1t. me
reason for this is twofold. given
dose of insulin will cause the proper
ut;lization of a fairly definite amount
Of food. If more food is taken tnan
the dose Of insulin provides Tor, the
patient will have sugar in the urine
again. so that some OF the COCO ell
fects of the treatment will have eeen
nullified. On the other hand, an
overdose Of insulin may kill the pa
tent by reducing the sugar OF the
blood below that which Is necessary
for life. This means that the diet OF
the patient must be measured so as TO
insure that there win be the right
amount of food taken to balance the
dose of insulin given. The patient
who takes insulin is given liberal
diet. but the diet must be accurately
measured, and the patient must take
all that is prescribed.
Estimates of the number of suffer-
ers from diabetes vary from half a
million to million in America. Many
of these people have the disease in a
very mild form. so that it is detected
accidentally in life insurance eXamln-
atoms. Such people may go for years
before serious consequences OF the
disease become apparent. Others
have a mild form. which responds
readily to very moderate reduction OF
the diet. These people do not need
insulin unless it be at times when 1t
is necessary to tide them over emer-
sencies, such as surgical operations,
infectious diseases. etc. From - 70
90 per cent Of all cases OF diabetes
can be controlled satisfactorily by
proper dieting, without impairing the
patients' efficiency and without undue
suffering from restriction of food. For
the ten to 20 per cent. who have the
disease in more severe form, insu-
lin is a Godsend but is not q cure,
and accurate control of the diet must
still be maintained.