 More modern history of the diabetic diet may begin with Frederick Madison Allen and Elliott Joslin, who, in the early 20th century, before insulin was discovered, recommended that people with diabetes eat only a low-calorie and nearly zero-carbohydrate diet to prevent ketoacidosis from killing them.While this approach could extend life by a limited period, patients developed a variety of other medical problems.The introduction of insulin by Frederick Banting in 1922 allowed patients more flexibility in their eating.