Dr Sheila Reith, CBE, has been recognised at this year’s Pride of Britain Awards for her groundbreaking contributions to diabetes care, a momentous occasion for the millions of people worldwide who have benefited from her work.
The awards celebrate the extraordinary achievements of everyday heroes and will be broadcast on ITV1 at 8pm on Thursday, 24th October.
Dr Reith was honoured for her role in developing the world’s first insulin pen, a device that has revolutionised the way people with diabetes manage their condition.
Her pioneering work transformed insulin injections from a cumbersome and painful process to a much simpler, more efficient method that has improved the quality of life for countless individuals.
- Weekly insulin injections as effective at controlling blood sugar as daily injections
- Insulin, zinc and pH can help prevent protein clumps associated to type 2 diabetes
- Smart insulin: dynamic insulin responds to real-time glucose variations
Sheila’s journey towards developing the insulin pen began in the 1970s, when personal experience with managing her daughter’s diabetes drove her to find a better solution.
Reflecting on that pivotal moment, she said: “I found myself in the toilets at Euston station trying to give my daughter an insulin injection from a glass bottle and steel syringe. It was such a hassle, and I thought, this has to be easier for people.”
Determined to address this issue, Sheila teamed up with Dr John Ireland and Dr John Paton to create what would become the world’s first insulin pen.
With financial support from Diabetes UK, the device underwent trials in 1981 and proved to be an accurate, easy-to-use alternative to traditional methods of insulin administration.
Two years later, the Penject insulin pen was launched which marked a significant step forward in diabetes care.
Since its introduction in 1983, the insulin pen has been widely adopted, making insulin injections far more manageable for people living with diabetes.
The success of the Penject device spurred further innovation, leading to the development of new, improved insulin pens that continue to enhance the lives of people with diabetes globally.
Sheila also played a vital role in promoting multi-disciplinary care.
- Slapping therapy: Man in court as woman who stopped taking insulin dies at workshop
- First large-scale study shows consuming proteins and fats can help manage insulin
- Common chemical linked to reduced insulin sensitivity in healthy adults
Multi-disciplinary care is an approach that brings together specialists from different fields to provide comprehensive diabetes treatment.
Her work at Stirling Royal Infirmary in the 1980s included establishing a diabetes education centre staffed by a diabetes nurse specialist, dieticians, chiropodists, and a clinical psychologist – an innovative model at the time that has since become standard practice.
Dr Reith’s contributions to diabetes care were recognised formally in 2023, when she was awarded a CBE for her services to people living with diabetes.
