Eva Saxl

Eva Saxl was a notable figure in the history of diabetes treatment, particularly known for her role in the development and distribution of insulin during World War II.

Early Life

Eva Saxl was born in 1921 in Prague, Czechoslovakia. She grew up in a Jewish family and was educated in Prague before the outbreak of World War II.

World War II and Shanghai

In 1940, Eva and her husband, Victor Saxl, fled the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia and settled in Shanghai, China. At the time, Shanghai was a haven for many Jewish refugees escaping the horrors of the Holocaust.

Diabetes Diagnosis

Shortly after arriving in Shanghai, Eva was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, a condition that requires regular insulin injections to manage blood sugar levels. However, during the war, insulin was in short supply, and Eva faced a life-threatening situation.

Homemade Insulin

Faced with the scarcity of insulin, Eva and Victor Saxl, along with the help of a Chinese chemist, began to produce their own insulin using a method they developed from reading medical texts. They extracted insulin from the pancreases of water buffaloes, a process that was both challenging and dangerous.

Impact and Legacy

Eva Saxl's homemade insulin not only saved her life but also the lives of many others in the Shanghai Jewish community who were suffering from diabetes. Her efforts were recognized as a significant contribution to the survival of many during the war.

Later Life

After the war, Eva and Victor Saxl emigrated to the United States, where they continued to advocate for diabetes awareness and treatment. Eva became a symbol of resilience and innovation in the face of adversity.

Related Pages

• Insulin
• Type 1 diabetes
• Shanghai
• World War II
• Jewish refugees