Being diagnosed with diabeteswas once considered a death sentence. Once people learned they had the
disease, they usually died within a few months or a few years if patients followed extreme diets. This diresituation changed after Dr. Frederick Banting and his assistant, Charles Best, discovered how to isolateinsulin on July 27, 1921.
Insulin is produced in the organ called the pancreas. It is a necessary hormonerequired by our bodies to regulate the sugar levels in our blood. People with diabetes are unable to produce insulin or adequate amounts of insulin. Without insulin, nutrients cannot be correctly distributed to vital organs throughout the body. As a result, these organsslowly shut down until the body dies. Therefore, it is essential that diabeticpeople regularly receive insulin shots to survive.
At the turn of the20th century, scientists first discovered that the pancreaswas responsible forproducing insulin. In tests, animals that had their pancreas removed showed common symptoms of diabetes. After this discovery, the question then became how toisolateinsulin from the pancreas and how to administer it to patients with diabetes.
In 1921, Dr. Banting and Best figured out how to extractinsulin from a dog’s pancreas. They later used the insulin to treat another dog with diabetes successfully. In 1922, a more refined form of insulin was isolated from the pancreases of cattle. This insulin was then administered as shots to people suffering fromdiabetes. The method pioneered by Dr.Banting and Best benefits millions of people with diabetes. Dr. Banting wastherefore awardeda Nobel Prize at age 32, remaining the youngest winner in the field.
What did you learn?
1. What is the function of insulin for our bodies?
2. How do people suffering fromdiabetes receive insulin using Dr. Banting and Best’s method?
參考答案：
1. It regulates the sugar levels in our blood.
2.They receive insulin as shots. / Insulin is administered as shots to them.
單字片語整理
Words in Use
●
diagnose
[ˋdaɪəgˌnoz]
vt. 診斷
Ellen’s condition was diagnosed as Alzheimer’s disease.
艾倫的病情經診斷之後判定為阿茲海默症。
The doctor diagnosed the infant with jaundice.
醫生診斷這名嬰兒罹患黃疸。
多益金色
英檢中高
高中 Level 5
●
isolate
[ˋaɪs!͵et]
.vt. 使隔離，使孤立
=
separate
=
separate A from B
After his wife died, John isolated himself from everyone.
妻子死後，約翰便過著與世隔絕的生活。
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
●
regulate
[ˋrɛgjə͵let]
.vt. 規範；調節，調整
=
control
=
adjust
With the number of cars increasing on a constant basis, the police are having a hard time regulating traffic in the city.
由於車輛數目不斷在增加，警方在管理市區交通上遇到很大的麻煩。
Your health will be ruined if you do not regulate your life.
你生活再不規律點，健康都要給毀了。
多益金色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
●
nutrient
[ˋn(j)utrɪənt]
a. 營養的，滋養的
n. 養分
Most plants absorb minerals and essential nutrients directly from the soil as they grow.
大部分的植物在成長時，會直接從土壤吸收礦物質和必要的養分。
The nutrient value of fruits and vegetables is high; in contrast, it is low in desserts and junk food.
蔬果的營養價值很高，相反地，甜點和垃圾食物的營養價值很低。
英檢中級
高中 Level 5
●
distribute
[dɪˋstrɪbjʊt]
.vt. 分發，分配
=
deliver
The professor is distributing the examination
papers to the class.
該教授正在把考卷發給全班。
多益藍色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
●
vital
[ˋvaɪt!]
a. 維持生命必需的；極重要的
=
extremely important
Digestion is a vital function.
消化是維持生命必需的功能。
Police officers play a vital role in maintaining social stability.
在維持社會治安方面，警察扮演了至為重要的角色。
多益藍色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
●
essential
[ɪˋsɛnʃəl]
a. 必要的，不可或缺的
n. 要素，要點（常用複數）
Water and air are essential to us.
水和空氣對我們而言都是不可或缺的。
The teacher taught us the essentials of good health.
老師教導我們健康的要素。
多益綠色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
●
symptom
[ˋsɪmptəm]
n. 症狀
A high fever, a sore throat, and a runny nose are all symptoms of the flu.
發高燒、喉嚨痛以及流鼻水都是流行性感冒的症狀。
多益藍色
英檢中級
高中 Level 5
●
administer
[ədˋmɪnəstɚ]
vt. 管理；執行 / 實施（法律等）；給予（藥物、治療等）
=
manage
It takes a lot of experience to administer a big company. 管理一間大公司需要很多的經驗。
It takes a lot of experience to manage a big company. 管理一間大公司需要很多的經驗。
The duty of a judge is to administer justice.
法官的職責就是主持正義。
The doctor administered the vaccine to the villagers.
那位醫師為村民注射疫苗。
英檢中高
高中 Level 6
●
extract
[ɪkˋstrækt]
n. 萃取物
vt. 提煉；摘錄；獲取（情報、錢）
=
excerpt
Our olive oil is extracted from fine olives and
processed in our own factory.
我們的橄欖油是由精選的橄欖中所提煉出來，然後在我們自
己的工廠內加工的。
The following paragraph was extracted from the
writer’s latest book.
下面這段話摘錄自該作者最新的書。
The gangsters may torture Tommy in order to extract
information about the whereabouts of his brother,
who owed them a fortune.
這些黑幫成員可能會對湯米進行刑求，以得知他哥哥的下
落，而他哥哥欠了這幫人一大筆錢。
This facial cream is made from natural plant extracts
and is suitable for sensitive skin.
這面霜是由天然植物萃取物做的，適合敏感性肌膚。
高中 Level 6
●
refined
[rɪˋfaɪnd]
a. 精煉的
Refined sugar comes from vegetables or fruits, but it is over processed. 精製糖來自蔬菜水果，但卻被過度加工。
多益金色
英檢中高
高中 Level 6
●
pioneer
[͵paɪəˋnɪr]
n. 開拓者，先驅
vt. 率先發明 / 使用 / 倡導
=
initiate
=
forerunner
Einstein was a pioneer in the field of nuclear physics.
愛因斯坦是核子物理學方面的先驅。
Anyone who pioneers the use of a drug to cure victims of AIDS will be renowned.
任何率先發明藥物能治好愛滋病患者的人將會出名。
多益金色
英檢中級
高中 Level 4
●
insulin
[ˋɪnsəlɪn]
n. 胰島素
●
diabetes
[͵daɪəˋbitiz]
n. . 糖尿病
Susan has had to take regular insulin injections
since she was diagnosed with diabetes three months
ago.
自從 3 個月前被診斷出糖尿病之後，蘇珊必須定期注射胰島
素。
高中 Level 6
●
dire
[daɪr]
a. 極其嚴重的，危急的
●
pancreas
[ˋpæŋkrɪəs]
n. 胰臟
●
hormone
[ˋhɔrmon]
n. 荷爾蒙
Symptoms of hormone imbalance in women may be early signs of many things, such as pregnancy or the onset of menopause.
女性體內荷爾蒙不均衡的症狀可能是許多事的前兆，像是懷孕或是更年期的開始。
高中 Level 5
Practical Phrases
●
at the turn of the century
世紀交接的時期
Queen Victoria died at the turn of the century.
維多利亞女王於世紀之交去世。
●
be responsible for
負責……，為……負責
Adults are responsible for their actions.
成年人要為自己的行為負責。
●
suffer from...
飽受（疾病）之苦，罹患（疾病）
My father suffersfrom diabetes.
我爸爸患有糖尿病。
●
be awarded sth
被頒發某物
Tim was awardeda statue for Best Actor.
提姆獲頒最佳演員獎一座。
