1552 BCE

Egyptian physician Hesy-Ra of the 3rd Dynasty makes the first known mention of diabetes – found on the Ebers Papyrus – and lists remedies to combat the 'passing of too much urine.'

250 BCE

Diabetes described by Aretaeus as 'the melting down of flesh and limbs into urine.'

1425

Diabetes first appears in the English language as the Middle English word 'diabete.'

1776

English physician Matthew Dobson evaporates two quarts of urine from a patient with diabetes. The resulting residue is granulated and smells and tastes like sugar, conclusively establishing the presence of 'saccharine materials' as a diagnosis of diabetes.

1869

German medical student Paul Langerhans discovers the islet cells of the pancreas but is unable to explain their function. The find is dubbed the 'islets of Langerhans.'

1889

Scientists Oskar Minkowski and Joseph von Mering of the University of Strasbourg, France demonstrate how removing a dog's pancreas produces diabetes.

1901

American pathologist Eugene Opie of John Hopkins University in Baltimore establishes a connection between the failure of the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas and the occurrence of diabetes.

1919

Dr. Frederick Allen of the Rockefeller Institute in New York publishes his Total Dietary Regulations in the Treatment of Diabetes that introduces a therapy of strict dieting – dubbed the 'starvation treatment' –- as a way to manage diabetes

1920

On 1 July, 29-year old Dr Frederick Banting opens his first medical practice in London, Ontario. On 31 October that year he conceives the idea of insulin. Banting then moves to Toronto and with the assistance of medical student Charles Best and Dr James Collip, he continues his research using a variety of different extracts of de-pancreatised dogs.

Summer 1921

Banting's work finally leads to the life-changing discovery of insulin. This event continues to be one of the most remarkable milestones in the history of diabetes. People with diabetes no longer had to die.

November 1921

Banting and Best discover that extract from cattle foetal pancreas lowers blood sugar levels of de-pancreatized dogs, leading them toward plentiful, cheap sources for insulin. Experiments begin to test the long-term effectiveness of insulin treatment.

January 1922

14-year old Leonard Thompson, a ‘charity patient’ at the Toronto General Hospital, becomes the first person to receive an injection of insulin to treat diabetes. Thompson lives another 13 years before dying of pneumonia at age 27.

May 1922

Pharmaceutical manufacturer Eli Lilly & Co. of Indianapolis and the University of Toronto enter a deal for the mass production of insulin. Eighteen months later insulin is made commercially available in the US and Canada.

1937

Diabetes Australia-NSW (then called The Diabetic Association of Australia) opens its doors to become the third diabetes association in the world under the auspices of the British Diabetic Association.

1944

The risks of pregnancy and diabetes were realised by Priscilla White.

1945

The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme was introduced by the Commonwealth Government. The first camps for children with diabetes were held. Dietitians became involved in diabetes management.

1948

The first journal was produced - The Diabetic Journal of Australia.

1953

The South Australian Association and the Victorian Association (known as the Victorian Division of the Diabetic Association of Australia) were formed followed 2 years later by the Tasmanian Association formed in 1955.

1956

The Diabetes Federation of Australia was formed and the New South Wales association changed its name to the Diabetic Association of NSW.

Simple urine sugar testing was introduced and formal diabetes clinics were established.

1959

Researchers identify type 1 diabetes (insulin dependent) and type 2 diabetes (non-insulin dependent).

1960s

The Diabetic Associations of Western Australia, ACT, NT and Queensland were formed. Simple methods for home blood glucose monitoring became available - (using urine strips Dextrostix).

1970

Highly purified insulin was developed.  The NH&MRC set up national research and the multifactorial nature of complications was realised.

Sept. 14, 1971

Anton Hubert Clemens receives the first patent for a portable blood glucose meter called the Ames Reflectance Meter.

1974

The first meeting of the Australian Diabetes Society is held.

1979

Pancreatic transplantation commences as a research project.  The first national dietary guidelines as well as population blood screening for diabetes are introduced.  The first visually read blood glucose test strips become available under the National Health Scheme.

1981

The inaugural Australian Diabetes Educators Association Conference is held.

1983

The first New South Wales camp specifically for adolescents and teenagers with diabetes is held.

1984

Foundation Diabetes is launched in NSW to raise funds for diabetes research.  The Australian Diabetes Foundation is set up in Canberra to act as a national secretariat for the State and Territory Associations.

1986

Diabetes Educators become accredited.  The National body changes its name to Diabetes Australia.

1987

The Diabetic Association of NSW changes its name to Diabetes Australia-NSW.  The National Diabetic Supply Scheme was introduced providing significant subsidies to people with diabetes on their diabetes equipment. 

1988

The International Diabetes Federation Congress is held in Sydney.

1991

The formation in NSW of the Jelly Bean Club for children with diabetes and their families.

1993

After 10 years of clinical study, the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) report is published and clearly demonstrates that intensive therapy delays the onset and progression of long-term complications in type 1 diabetes.

1996

75th anniversary of the discovery of insulin is celebrated around the world.

1997

Diabetes Australia-NSW celebrates its Diamond Jubilee and releases the book ‘And not to Yield’ recording 60 years of growth.

1998

The United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) scientifically links the control of glucose levels and blood pressure to the delay and possible prevention of type 2 diabetes.

1998

The Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Diabetes in Canada is released by the Canadian Diabetes Association, and become a model for other nation’s health programs.

Dec. 20, 2006

The United Nations officially recognizes diabetes as a global threat and designates World Diabetes Day, November 14 – in honour of Frederick Banting's birthday – as a UN Day to be observed every year starting in 2007.