Minkowski, Oskar

Minkowski, Oskar

(born Jan. 13, 1858, Aleksotas, Russian Empire—died July 18, 1931, Fürstenberg an der Havel, Ger.) German physiologist and pathologist. While researching diabetes mellitus in 1884, he found that beta-hydroxybutyric acid and a decrease in blood bicarbonate cause diabetic acidosis (low blood pH) and that diabetic coma is accompanied by decreased blood carbon dioxide and can be treated by alkali therapy. Experiments on dogs with Joseph von Mering (1849–1908) led Minkowski to propose that the pancreas is the source of an “antidiabetic” substance, now known to be insulin. He also demonstrated that the liver produces bile pigments and uric acid.