Beyond Banting

Type 1 diabetes is a severe insulin-dependent form of diabetes, which most commonly affects children, but may occur at any age. Until 1921, when the epoch-making discovery of insulin was made by Dr Fredrick Banting and colleagues at the University of Toronto, Canada, children with type 1 diabetes could only live for a few months. The discovery of insulin in 1921, (considered one of the greatest miracles of modern medicine) changed the lives of those with type 1 diabetes, forever. However, very little is known about what happened in India around the time of the discovery of insulin. Dr J.P. Bose of Calcutta was one of the first doctors to document the use of insulin in India. His contributions which have been largely forgotten have been resurrected through this book. There are also very few reports of the lives of those with type 1 diabetes in India. This book chronicles for the first time, the first recipients of insulin in India and also those who lived for several decades, some even for sixty or seventy years, with type 1 diabetes. Hence, the title of this book, Banting, Bose and Beyond is extremely appropriate. The book would be of great interest not only to those with diabetes and their families but also to students, medical professionals and indeed everyone. The true stories of the heroes with type 1 diabetes described in this book, will be an inspiration to anyone with any chronic disease. Written in Dr V. Mohan’s usual sagacious and yet gripping style, it is a thriller that is difficult to put down. Dr Mohan is a great storyteller and this book is yet another jewel in his literary crown.