History Tidbit: Elliott Proctor Joslin (6 June 1869 to 28 January 1962) The treatment of those with T1DM, pre- and post- the Discovery of Insulin
Submitted by Alan D. Rogol, MD, Ph.D.
Elliott Joslin graduated from Harvard Medical School as the valedictorian in 1895. After post-graduate training he practiced medicine in the Back Bay area of Boston and soon dedicated himself to the study of diabetes and the care of patients with T1DM focusing on dietary therapy. He developed the “Joslin diet” low in fat, moderate in carbohydrate, but quite restricted in calories. This led to a great increase in his medical practice. Having treated more than 1,000 patients he published a soon-to-be classic book, The Therapy of Diabetes Mellitus (1916) defining a new standard of practice.
After 1922 the Joslin Clinic became the “go to” place for the treatment with insulin for those with T1DM.