If Edwarda had been given insulin shots, her bad bout with the flu likely would have been just that, nothing more.

CNN: December 24, 2012 -- Updated 0455 GMT (1255 HKT)

But you have to take insulin shots and you have to really watch what you eat, and it can be -- it's a pretty serious disease.

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Arty spoke to his daughter-in-law for a while about heart stents, gallstones, impacted bowels, insulin shots, and stomach ulcers before he announced that he was being referred to an oncologist for twinges that might indicate a tumor.

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Meanwhile, as Pfizer had to conduct long safety studies to deal with the lung capacity issue, insulin shots got less painful as companies like Becton, Dickinson developed less painful needles and drug firms started to market insulin in easy-to-use pre-packaged "pen" devices.

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Cecchi began taking shots of insulin twice a day, but still his condition worsened.

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MiniMed produces tiny pumps that deliver shots of insulin.

ECONOMIST: The father of invention | The

Millions of adult diabetics who need insulin don't take it because they hate shots, putting themselves at risk of complications ranging from nerve damage to kidney failure.

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