November 14 is World Diabetes Day- a day for remembering the importance of the discovery of insulin, take note of Sir Frederick Banting’s legacy, and to raise awareness for diabetes.
Grant Maltman is the curator at Banting House, and he said that “World Diabetes Day is an official united nations day and it’s celebrated globally and is held on November 14 which is also Sir Frederick Banting’s birthday. And this is the day that the world comes together to raise awareness about the seriousness of diabetes and to commemorate those and support those living with diabetes.”
One in three Canadians have diabetes, and there are 11 million Canadians and 460 million people around the world are affected by diabetes. Before Banting’s discovery, anyone who was diagnosed with diabetes had a life expectancy of 6 months to two years. But insulin has changed that for people.
Maltman said that the World Diabetes Day will look a little different this year due to the pandemic. In previous years, Banting House would host an event that would see around 250 people from over 80 different countries. They would light up the building blue at night, have a reading of 10 to 12 “Dear Dr. Banting” letters, and unveil the bricks. It was all to show people’s support and how thankful they were for the discovery of insulin and how it changed their lives, but also show their hope for a cure.
This year, they are unable to do many of these events. However, they will be releasing some of the “Dear Dr. Banting” letters online for people to read, and they will still shine the light blue on their building. But they will also be rekindling the Flame of Hope that had been vandalized.
This is a very big deal for people living with diabetes as the Flame of Hope “burns as a symbol of hope for the global diabetes community. It’s a symbol for the lives lost but also to remind the world that we have better insulin today but what we still don’t have is anything better than insulin and that the search for a cure continues. And hope is such an important symbol for the diabetes community,” said Maltman.
World Diabetes Day is important to the diabetes community and the community at large, but this year is even more important as the flame will be rekindled providing hope to the community and will not be blown out until a cure is found.
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