Chapter 216: Insulin? What's that?
Chapter 216: Insulin? What's that?
Chapter 216: Insulin? What's that?
While enjoying three delicious dishes, Charlotte, a man, witnessed Vivian devouring four bowls of rice in one go. After finishing, she couldn't help but let out a satisfied burp and exclaimed, "This is so fulfilling!"
Among the three dishes, apart from Braised Intestines and Dry Pot Intestines, Braised Pig Tails also surprised and satisfied Vivian, completely overturning her previous impression of pig intestines and tails.
These ingredients, which even the household servants looked down upon, were magically transformed into such delicacies in the hands of Charlotte.
Vivian looked at Charlotte, her eyes filled with admiration.
Where else could she find another treasure of a man like him?
After all, he was the genius alchemist who developed the Anti-Aversion Potion and created miraculous surgical techniques to treat patients. Yet, he insisted on personally cooking for them every day.
"Boss, I apologize for doubting you earlier this morning," Vivian expressed her remorse.
She now felt guilty for mistakenly believing that Charlotte had brought back these free items just to appease them due to his stinginess.
Just like a surgical operation, the boss always dared to be the first, breaking people's conventional thinking and creating astonishing miracles.
"It's alright. Everyone's knowledge is limited, but we should be more cautious before raising doubts," Charlotte graciously responded, equally satisfied with the meal.
After all, he hadn't spent a penny, yet he provided a delightful lunch. Plus, there was still half a plate of Braised Intestines left, along with some pig blood soaking in water for dinner.
"Boss, what was wrong with the first customer, the tiger clan beastman, this morning? He seemed very powerful," Vivian curiously asked, as those two individuals had left a deep impression on her that morning.
"Fatty Tiger has diabetes, and it's quite severe," Charlotte answered.
"Diabetes?" Vivian looked puzzled.
"It's a disease where you constantly feel thirsty and hungry, drink and eat excessively, urinate excessively, and rapidly lose weight in a short period," Charlotte explained.
"Fatty Tiger hasn't entered the rapid weight loss phase yet, of course, that might be related to his strong physique."
"Oh! Polyuria," Vivian suddenly realized, then furrowed her brows. "But isn't there no cure for this disease? It's a typical case of being forsaken by the gods."
"You're familiar with this condition too?" Charlotte was somewhat surprised.
"Well, I had an uncle who died from it," Vivian nodded, feeling a bit sorrowful.
"He used to be a powerful and sturdy knight, but because of this disease, he quickly became skin and bones. He drank water non-stop every day, and urinated non-stop, just like a well-connected water pipe. We sought medical help countless times, but even the dean of the Imperial Medical Academy was powerless."
"Your biological uncle?" Charlotte glanced at her.
"Yeah," Vivian confirmed.
"In that case, you should be cautious because this disease has a hereditary factor. It means you are also at risk of developing diabetes," Charlotte stated.
"Ah?!"
Vivian was shocked by the revelation, her voice trembling.
"Is... is that true?"
With the horrifying image of her uncle in her mind during his final moments, she felt a chill run down her spine.
After a while, her eyes suddenly lit up.
"But he was adopted by my grandfather, so there should be no problem, right?"
"If it's an adopted relationship without blood ties, it won't be hereditary," Charlotte nodded. However, as he looked at her, he added, "But as a mage, it's also worth paying attention to why you eat so much every day but never gain any weight."
"Ah? Perhaps... perhaps it's because I have a heavy workload every day," Vivian replied nervously and uneasily.
"I suggest reducing the intake of rice for your evening meal, and after completing the potion brewing, adding some magic training to increase energy consumption," Charlotte earnestly suggested.
"Oh."
Vivian nodded reluctantly, as if making a great determination, and softly said, "Can I have two bowls instead?"
Charlotte glanced at her and could only nod.
"Let's start with that."
Vivian couldn't help but worry.
"You said the condition of that obese tiger patient is quite severe. Can you cure him? If he enters the rapid wasting phase, he can only live for one to three years, right?"
Charlotte's expression also turned serious, and after pondering for a while, he nodded.
"I don't have much confidence, and I was too optimistic."
Vivian's shared case made Charlotte realize that strong power couldn't shield the damage caused by diabetes. If knights can die from diabetes, why not orcs?
Just reducing sugar intake probably wouldn't help the obese tiger, who was starting to enter the wasting phase, to withstand high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes is a lifelong chronic disease that cannot be cured on Earth, and it is likely the same in this world.
Chronic diseases are managed through insulin control.
Without insulin treatment, the lifespan of a diabetic patient is generally no more than three years.
"Polyuria is not uncommon. I had several elders around me who died because of it. Treatment is useless; once diagnosed, it can be considered a forsaken person," Vivian sighed lightly.
"Is it that common?" Charlotte was somewhat surprised. It seems that there are many patients troubled by diabetes in this world.
Vivian nodded. "Yes, I heard that even the elves tend to suffer from this disease, perhaps because they have been eating fruits for a long time."
"In that case, if insulin could be produced, it would rescue many patients suffering from diabetes," Charlotte muttered thoughtfully.
"Insulin? What's that?" Vivian asked, following up on his words.
"It's a special potion that is said to treat diabetes," Charlotte casually answered. He had only read about the story of Banting extracting insulin in books and knew that insulin could be extracted from the pancreas of pigs and cows. However, he did not know the specific process.
But insulin is indeed the miracle drug for treating diabetes. Diabetic patients only need a steady and continuous injection of insulin to extend their lives and even reach the level of normal people.
[Ding! New main quest activated: Extraction and Production of Insulin! Please extract insulin within one month, and purify it to a usable level! Rewards for successful completion: "Diabetes Terminator" title! 100,000 copper coins!]
Just then, the system's voice rang in Charlotte's mind.
Charlotte frowned. The rewards were good, but this task was not very friendly to him. It was like asking an elementary student to do calculus, quite challenging.
[Ding! Considering the host's lack of knowledge in extracting insulin, I will now transmit the 'acid-alcohol extraction and vacuum concentration method' to the host. Please learn and absorb it, then proceed with the preparation of insulin.]
The system's voice sounded again.
Charlotte's eyes lit up, and before he could react, a large stream of information flooded into his mind, making him a little absent-minded.
When his gaze regained clarity, a slight smile appeared on his lips.
"Boss, what are you laughing at?" Vivian asked curiously, looking at Charlotte's eerie smile.
"Just thinking of something happy." Charlotte closed his mouth.
"What about that special potion you mentioned? Can you create it?" Vivian asked again.
Patients suffering from polyuria, or as the boss mentioned, diabetes, constituted quite a large group.
Among them were nobles and powerful individuals.
If the boss could create a potion that could treat diabetes, it would be like when he created the potion to repel magic.
It would truly be good news for countless patients tormented by diabetes.
"It's hard to say, but for the next period, my work focus will be on this," Charlotte shook his head slightly. He already had a complete set of insulin extraction techniques in his mind.
However, he needed some time to digest and contemplate, and with the current limited conditions, simplify the complex process and extract usable insulin.
He only had one month, but fortunately, the system provided a reliable plan, so it wouldn't leave him completely clueless.
As for the sophisticated equipment and various chemical reagents, he could only attempt to use magic to replace them.
Otherwise, it would take him several years just to tinker with those devices and mix various reagents.
As for the candidate, Charlotte's gaze had already turned to Vivian sitting across from him.
Vivian felt Charlotte's gaze and immediately asked, "Do you need my help?"
If she could participate in this work, she might be able to make a name for herself in history. This filled her with anticipation.
"Yes, I need an experienced water mage," Charlotte nodded.
"Vivian, an intermediate water mage, is at your service," Vivian stood up, gave a gentlemanly bow, and eagerly said, "Shall we start today?"
"No, I still need to do some preparations," Charlotte shook his head, got up, and said, "I need to go out and buy some things."