Mission – Fight Diabetes and preserve the Banting legacy.
Our primary focus is on diabetes prevention and diabetes self-management through education, advocacy, process innovation and sustained support with an emphasis on youth. Reducing the risks of youth-onset type 2 diabetes and diabetes-related complications in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes; helping to mitigate the in-school challenges faced by youth living with diabetes; and their often daunting ‘transition’ from paediatric to adult healthcare are key priorities.
The restoration and enhancement of the Banting Homestead Heritage Park (BHHP) and the creation and delivery of programs continue to recognize and honour the Banting Legacy.
Legal Structure
The Sir Frederick Banting Legacy Foundation (SFBLF) was incorporated as a Federal NFP by Letters Patent on November 15, 2005 and registered as a Canadian charitable organization on July 19, 2006. In compliance with the new Canadian Not for Profit Act, SFBLF received a Certificate of Continuance in June 2014.
Governance and Location
SFBLF is governed and operated by an all-volunteer Board supported by a Program Director, Advisory Board, Diabetes Outreach team, partners nationally and internationally, other volunteers and donors.
SFBLF Diabetes Management and Education Centre (DMEC) is located in Alliston, Ontario at the BHHP, historic 107-acre birthplace of Sir Frederick Banting, co-discoverer of insulin and Canada’s first Nobel Laureate.
SFBLF education programs and research insights are delivered in four ways:
- At our Diabetes Management and Education Centre (DMEC) located at the BHHP
- On our website at www.bantinglegacy.ca
- Through selective, proactive advocacy directed at key influencers and decision-makers in school systems, healthcare, diabetes research organizations, universities, colleges, government ministries and agencies at all levels nationally and internationally
- Through off-site events and special print media publications and papers, written by Board members and published in 3rd party journals; and via SFBLF Newsletters
SFBLF Motivation – Raising awareness and proactive prevention matter due to the:
Nature of youth-onset diabetes
Diabetes is a worldwide pandemic and the numbers continue to increase. At the end of 2021,
537 million adults (20-79) worldwide were living with diabetes.
Over 1.1 million youth (0 – 19) were living with type 1 diabetes. The number of youth living with type 2 is unknown, unfortunately, but the numbers are escalating; strongly correlated to overweight/obesity and inactivity. There are also bi-directional relationships among diabetes, obesity and mental health difficulties.
Type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented, but 70% of type 2 cases can be prevented or at least delayed. 65% of diabetes complications in either type 1 or type 2 can be prevented or at least delayed.
Type 2 diabetes can remain invisible for a long time. At diagnosis, cell damage can be in progress with the result that type 2 in youth can be more severe than type 1 in youth and definitely more severe than type 2 in adults. There is an increased risk of early mortality the earlier the onset.
Increasingly, youth-onset type 2 cases are unresponsive to healthy diet, exercise and oral medications and soon also require insulin.
Indigenous peoples in Canada; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in Australia; and African Americans, Native Americans, Latinos and Asian Americans in the USA are at higher risk of T2.
Shortfalls in healthcare systems
Incomplete Canadian surveillance data for youth-onset diabetes by age, gender, diabetes type, date of diagnosis, ethnicity and location.
Gaps in the implementation of essential in-school support processes for students with diabetes.
Continuity of care for youth living with diabetes remains a challenge made greater by systemic disconnects between the paediatric and adult healthcare systems. Presence of mental health difficulties and other comorbidities require multi-disciplined care teams and can further amplify healthcare systemic disconnects and increase the potential for lapses in continuity of care.