In 1922 Elizabeth Hughes trusted her life to insulin, a medicine nobody could describe. In 1955 Fred Sanger read it, letter by letter: 51 amino acids in one exact order. The story, the honest limits, and two ideas you can use.

In January 1922, Leonard Thompson, 14 and 65 pounds, became the first person treated with insulin. His first shot failed; twelve days later a purer extract worked. Here is the story, Elizabeth Hughes, the honest limits, and two habits that help your insulin.