Date

Innovation

1921

Discovery of Insulin

1922

Leonard Thompson-First Patient administered Insulin

1939

PZI (protamine zinc insulin) created

1942

Miles Laboratory launches ClinitestTM a urine glucose testing tablet

1946

NPH insulin introduced

1952

U500 Beef insulin developed to treat people with severe insulin resistance

1954

DextrostixTM, the first test strip that uses a drop of blood to measure glucose levels

1955

Frederick Sanger characterized the exact amino acid sequence of human insulin

1955

TestapeTM introduced

1956

Lente insulins (Semi-LenteTM, LenteTM and Ultra-LenteTM) introduced

1957

ClinistixTM a dip and read urine glucose reagent strip

1961

First single use disposable syringe introduced by Benton Dickinson

1969

First portable glucose meter created by Ames Diagnostic for use in a doctor’s office introduced

1970’s

Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII)

1972

The first standardized U100 insulin is introduced

1973

More highly purified Beef and Pork insulins introduced partially reduces local reactions

1977

The first HbA1c test is introduced into clinical laboratories

1980

Basal-bolus concept and intensive insulin therapy introduced

1980

DextrometerTM first meter with a digital display and operated by a battery in UK

1980

GlucochekTM by Lifescan became available in UK

1981

Blood glucose monitors are ready for home use-the Ames GlucometerTM

1982

FDA approves the first synthetic human insulin Eli Lilly and Company HumalinTM

1985

Accucheck bGTM model 750 blood glucose monitor introduced

1992

Teddy Ryder at age 5 was one of the first people to received insulin in 1922, becomes the first person to live for 70 years with T1DM. Teddy died of heart failure at age of 76 in 1993

1992

OneTouch IITM by Lifescan-simple to operate, pre-calibrated and results in 45 seconds

1993

Results of the DCT show that people with T1DM can significantly lower their risks of complications by controlling their blood sugars as close to normal as possible

1993

Commercialization of the first instant glucose tablets

1994

U500 human regular insulin (Reg-U500) approved by FDA

1996

Insulin lispro (HumalogTM) is the first rapid acting insulin introduced

1999

First CGM approved

1999

Glucowatch BiographerTM (Cygnus)-wristwatch with automatic, frequent monitoring with alarms for low and high readings

2000

First basal insulin analog approved

2006

EDIC trial and “metabolic memory”: tight glucose control for a period of time helps you live a longer, healthier life

2006

Dexcom STS CGMS

2006

ExuberaTM first inhaled insulin approve by FDA. Discontinued in 2007.

2008

Freestyle Navigator CGM

2009

Dexcom Seven Plus CGM

2009

2012 Dexcom G4 Platinum CGM

2013-2015

Longer acting basal insulin analogs approved

2014

Inhaled Insulin AfrezzaTM FDA approved

2015

Dexcom G5 CGM

2016

Freestyle Libre Pro Flash CGM

2016

Medtronic MiniMed’s iPro2 CGM

2017

First FDA approved insulin smart-pen

2018

Dexcom G6 CGM

2018

Freestyle LIBRE 14 CGM (approved in Europe 2014)

2018

Eversense implantable CGM—a smartphone-connected device, first approved in June 2018

2020

Freestyle LIBRE-2 CGM