In 1922, the world changed for Australians with diabetes.

Mosman machinery merchant, Harry Adams was troubled as his young daughter grew sicker with diabetes. But one day his research on diabetes led to the discovery of something which could drastically change the health of his daughter.

Canadians Dr Frederick Grant Banting and Dr Charles Herbert Best made what has been described as one of the greatest discoveries of modern medicine – the isolation of insulin.

Excitedly, Harry wrote to Banting and Best asking for a dispatch of their life-saving medicine for little Phyllis and the response was bittersweet. Banting wrote back: “Keep your little girl alive. I hope to have something very soon which, though not a cure, will allow diabetics to lead a normal life.”

Five-year-old Phyllis was only allowed whey and a teaspoon of butter for the months that followed. For six months, the Adams waited for a response from Banting.

Finally he wrote back saying that he was able to send a supply of insulin to Australia after his drug was reviewed for clinical use.

The day the insulin arrived, Phyllis’ father waited at the wharf to receive the package and hurried home to meet the family doctor, who was at the ready to inject Phyllis with her first dose of the life-saving hormone. Up until this moment, Phyllis wasn’t expected to live.

Three times daily the family doctor would visit to give Phyllis injections before her meals until her father took over and eventually Phyllis injected herself.

Her return to good health took some years but Phyllis went on to live a normal life. She gave birth to a son and lived a healthy lifestyle with a focus on exercise. Most days, she would rise at 4.45am to run around a nearby park with her husband.

Phyllis was almost certainly the first person in Australia to receive insulin and certainly was one of the few people in the world to have used it continuously since the treatment was launched.

Australia is thankful to Phyllis’ father, Harry for his work in getting insulin to our shores.

Diabetes is the fastest growing chronic condition in Australia with 280 Australians developing diabetes every day.

Diabetes Australia – Vic is the leading charity and peak consumer body working to reduce the impact of diabetes through education, information and support to promote and empower self-management for people with all types of diabetes.