The Incredible Eva Saxl: Homemade Insulin

Happy 100th anniversary to the discovery of insulin! Yes, it was in 1921 that Banting and Best started their famous experiments in Dr. Macleod’s lab at the University of Toronto. It was a true game-changer for people with diabetes. You can check out our first blog on the topic here. In this piece, we’ll be sharing about Eva Saxl and her development of homemade insulin.

Throughout this year, we will be celebrating all things insulin—stay tuned for monthly blogs about the discovery and evolution of this special hormone, written by CIM intern Eleanor! Learn more about Eleanor here.

Though COVID-19 has fortunately not impacted the supply of diabetes equipment, living through a pandemic has perhaps made us more acutely aware of how global crises have the potential to impact access to insulin and other diabetes supplies. This was the case in World War II, when insulin supply chains were disrupted and people with diabetes living in occupied countries were left to ration their remaining insulin. One couple, Eva and Victor Saxl, took matters into their own hands and brewed homemade insulin to keep Eva and other people with diabetes in their community alive during wartime. 

The Story of Eva Saxl

In 1941, Eva was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.[5] According to Saxl, “there were ample stocks of imported insulin available… [enabling her] to continue a normal, happy life”.[6] Insulin had been around for 20 years after all. 

China’s Insulin Supply is Cut-Off

After Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, however, Japanese occupation of China tightened and the imported insulin supply was cut off.[7] Eva began a starvation diet to decrease her insulin requirements as much as possible, but her and other diabetics in her community grew desperate.[8] Some resorted to purchasing black market insulin, but it was not safe nor reliable.[9]

Then, Eva and Victor read “Beckman’s Internal Medicine” which included Banting and Best’s methods for extracting and purifying insulin from dog and cow pancreases.[10] Eva and Victor realized that if they couldn’t purchase insulin, they would need to make it themselves. 

“Eva Saxl.” Diabetes.co.uk, 15 Jan. 2019, www.diabetes.co.uk/pioneers/eva-saxl.html.

Homemade Insulin

The couple bought water buffalo pancreases and gained access to a lab in the basement of a Chinese Municipal building.[11] After months of work, they produced a brown-coloured insulin which they tested on rabbits in comparison to the limited pharmaceutical insulin they had left.[12]

Eventually, Eva ran out of pharmaceutical insulin and had to test the homemade version on herself.[13] Remarkably, the preparation was good. 

Saxl reflected on this time, saying: “I’ll never forget the day when my husband gave me the first injection of the new insulin, which had worked on rabbits. It helped! Can you imagine our happiness and relief? But there were still other things to worry about. Tropical diseases, inflation, and the Japanese military. Oh yes, also American B-29s. Once, they hit the power plant and cut off our electricity. Without it, no insulin could be made. These were difficult times indeed!”[14]

The couple started an insulin clinic at a local hospital where they kept an estimated 400 people with diabetes alive until Americans liberated the ghetto in 1945.[15] Amazingly, there were no reported casualties from insulin the Saxls made.    

After the war, the Saxls moved from Shanghai to New York City and Eva became a well-known spokesperson for Type 1 diabetes.[16]