The Diabetes Challenge

Youth-onset type 2 diabetes is rising globally. It is initially invisible but progressive and cell damage can be in progress at time of diagnosis. Increasingly, youth-onset type 2 cases are not responsive to the standard therapy of healthy eating, daily exercise and medications and soon also require insulin. Delayed diagnosis and hence, treatment, means youth-onset type 2 can be more severe than youth-onset type 1 and definitely more severe than adult-onset type 2.

40%
40% of people with type 2 do not know they have the condition.
70%
70% of type 2 cases can be prevented or delayed.
65%
65% of complications in either type 1 or type 2 can be prevented or delayed.
40% 70% 65%
40% of people with type 2 do not know they have the condition. 70% of type 2 cases can be prevented or delayed. 65% of complications in either type 1 or type 2 can be prevented or delayed.

Diabetes is a life-long condition requiring constant self-management attention to be safe, enjoy life and realize ones full potential. Diabetes, poorly managed, can lead to serious, life-threatening complications including heart disease, kidney disease, diabetic foot complications, eye disease, nerve disease and accompanying conditions like high blood glucose, high blood pressure and high fat levels in the blood.

 “Diabetes is a pandemic of unprecedented magnitude. Earlier this year, the World Health Organization launched the Global Diabetes Compact and United Nations Member States adopted a Resolution that calls for urgent coordinated global action to tackle diabetes. These are significant milestones, but words must be turned into action now, and if not now, when?”     – Prof. Andrew Boulton, President, International Diabetes Federation, (Nov, 2021)

The SFBLF Rural Diabetes Coalition is a cooperative initiative to extend the reach and impact of our Youth-onset Diabetes Awareness and Prevention Campaign and support the global imperative starting with the counties adjacent to the SFBLF Diabetes Management and Education Centre in Alliston, Ontario.

Councils, municipalities; District Health Units; School Boards operating, in whole or part, within the region;  pediatric diabetes centres, family health teams; and community-based groups are invited to join. All are on the front line of the youth-onset diabetes challenge. Their common ability to drive change puts these organizations in a prime position to meet the challenge and bend the diabetes curve through cooperative, innovative and sustainable solutions. Rural communities must share the responsibility. No single entity can solve the challenge alone.

Coalition Purpose

  • Youth-onset Diabetes Awareness and Prevention throughout the life-course
  • Enhanced visibility and sharing of existing diabetes-related prevention programs
  • Advocacy to help resolve persistent youth-onset diabetes issues

“I am pleased to support the work of the Sir Frederick Banting Legacy Foundation (SFBLF) in its creation of a Rural Diabetes Coalition to further the impact of its youth-onset Diabetes Awareness and Prevention Campaign. Youth-onset diabetes is a growing problem in Canada and around the world. Poor health decisions made today can lead to problematic health outcomes in adulthood. This is why the work that the SFBLF will be doing to reach 150,000 kids via schoolboards in Simcoe, Grey, Muskoka and Dufferin Counties is so important. I am proud to get behind this ambitious and much-needed campaign.”


– Terry Dowdall, Member of Parliament for Simcoe-Grey

Coalition Focus

  • 150,000 school-age children and youth in the region

“I am pleased to support the Sir Frederick Banting Legacy Foundation and its campaign to engage rural students on the important issue of diabetes prevention.  The Diabetes Awareness and Prevention Campaign is a worthy initiative that will encourage early diagnosis and treatment, helping to ensure that our youth are able to enjoy a better learning experience and more fulfilling lives.”


– Jim Wilson, Member of Provincial Parliament for Simcoe-Grey

Coalition Objectives

For all school-age children and youth

  • Raise awareness, help them and their families to understand:
    • diabetes basics and myths
    • how to reduce their risk of youth-onset Type 2 diabetes
    • what it’s like to live with diabetes
    • how they can help peers with diabetes at school
  • Encourage a preliminary online diabetes risk test followed by screening if indicated
  • Test diabetes knowledge via online quizzes
  • Facilitate access to community-based programs that support healthy eating, regular exercise, maintenance of appropriate body weight, smoking cessation and mental health

For school-age children and youth living with diabetes

  • Help prevent diabetes complications for both T1 and T2
  • Facilitate access to peer networks, online self-management applications, food insecurity tools, Individual Care Plan templates
  • Foster implementation of in-school support processes
  • Emphasize early planning and continuity of care for transition to adult healthcare

Coalition Collective Capability

In addition to expanded action to raise awareness and prevent youth-onset diabetes in the region, SFBLF will document the existing programs and infrastructure that contribute to youth-onset diabetes prevention, directly or indirectly. There are bi-directional causal relationships among overweight, obesity, mental health and diabetes.

The region has community-based programs for healthy eating, weight control, physical activity and mental health issues. Many schools have active mental health programs, programs to combat bullying in general and a focus on healthy eating. Standard curricula include diabetes basics and regular exercise for students. Some schools may have in-school support processes for students living with diabetes in response to the 2018 Ontario policy.

The Coalition Collective Capability report, to be issued in early 2022, will be an inventory of action programs that together with additional aspects that SFBLF is providing, will set an example for concerted rural community engagement and help for the prevention of youth-onset diabetes.

Join the Coalition Form

Coalition Member Focus

 

Youth-onset Diabetes Awareness and Prevention – Scope and Support

Making a Difference

Youth and families need to understand their diabetes risks and how to reduce those risks.

Our youth are our future. We all need to help protect them from youth-onset diabetes. When that fails, we need to help them to master self-management of the condition, to be safe at school and free from bullying, to enjoy a full learning experience, and to provide continuity from pediatric to adult healthcare.

‘Prevention’ is not just about initial ‘avoidance’; it requires attention throughout the life-course.

Youth-onset Diabetes Prevention Opportunity Points

T1 onset cannot be prevented but healthy lifestyle always matters

Pre-onset
Factors
Lifestyle

  • Healthy diet
  • Regular exercise
  • Weight control
  • No smoking

Health Checks

  • Risk self-assessment
  • Formal screening

Key Enablers

  • Family
  • Municipalities
  • Public health units
  • Schools
  • Community programs
  • Pediatricians
  • Family Physicians
Diagnosis & Treatment
Factors
Therapy

  • Diet
  • Exercise
  • Medication
  • Insulin

Learning

  • Self-management
  • Counting carbs
  • BG testing

Health Checks

  • Regular screening for complications

Key Enablers

  • Pediatricians
  • Endocrinologists
  • Diabetes Educators
  • Family Physicians
  • Family
At Schools
Factors
Individual Care Plan

  • Filed with school
  • Annual update

In-School support process

  • For T1 and T2
  • Prevent bullying
  • Provide essential accommodations

Key Enablers

  • School Boards
  • Schools & Teachers
  • Peers
  • Family
  • Diabetes Educators
Transition
Factors
Planning

  • Early with all stakeholders

Support

  • Primary care physician identified
  • ‘Reach Back’ plan in place

Key Enablers

  • Family
  • Endocrinologists
  • Diabetes Educators
  • Family Physicians
Pre-onset
Factors Key Enablers
Lifestyle

  • Healthy diet
  • Regular exercise
  • Weight control
  • No smoking
 Health Checks

  • Risk self-assessment
  • Formal screening
  • Family
  • Municipalities
  • Public health units
  • Schools
  • Community programs
  • Pediatricians
  • Family Physicians
Diagnosis & Treatment
Factors Key Enablers
Therapy

  • Diet
  • Exercise
  • Medication
  • Insulin
 Learning

  • Self-management
  • Counting carbs
  • BG testing
 Health Checks

  • Regular screening for complications
  • Pediatricians
  • Endocrinologists
  • Diabetes Educators
  • Family Physicians
  • Family
At Schools
Factors Key Enablers
Individual Care Plan

  • Filed with school
  • Annual update
 In-School support process

  • For T1 and T2
  • Prevent bullying
  • Provide essential accommodations
  • School Boards
  • Schools & Teachers
  • Peers
  • Family
  • Diabetes Educators
Transition
Factors Key Enablers
Planning

  • Early with all stakeholders
 Support

  • Primary care physician identified
  • ‘Reach Back’ plan in place
  • Family
  • Endocrinologists
  • Diabetes Educators
  • Family Physicians

 

SFBLF Support For The Coalition

  • Administrative coordination for the Coalition
  • Leadership in assembling and displaying the regional Collective Capability inventory
  • SFBLF diabetes risk self-assessment tools, infographics, eLearning courses and other educational resources
  • Content elements suitable for use on Partner web sites
  • A web page with a list of all Rural Diabetes Coalition member organizations
  • General promotion of the Rural Diabetes Coalition regionally, nationally and internationally
  • Preparation and distribution of a Rural Diabetes Coalition Newsletter for Partners and the community

 

Youth-onset Diabetes Awareness and Prevention – Taking Action

Helping to Prevent Youth-onset Diabetes – Knowledge Requirements

Do you know the risk factors for, and the nature of, youth-onset Type 2 diabetes?
Are you at risk?

Do you understand:

  • diabetes basics including T2, T1 differences, complications and comorbidities?
  • what it is like to live with diabetes and the impact?
  • the in-school challenges facing students with diabetes?
  • the early planning required to ensure successful transition to adult healthcare?

Helping to Prevent Youth-onset Diabetes – Actions Available

Check your diabetes risk and encourage youth and families to do the same
For children and youth age 8 – 18

Youth online risk assessment

For adults age 40 – 74

Adult CanRisk assessment

Seek formal diabetes screening if your online risk assessment result indicates

Certain ethnic groups are at much higher risk: e.g., First Nations, Metis and Inuit in Canada,; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in Australia; Latino, Hispanic in the US

Increase your knowledge of Diabetes and encourage youth and families to do the same.

Take the free Understanding Diabetes eLearning course.

Take the Free Course

Download the short tutorials from this website.

Download a Tutorial

Take the online self-scoring diabetes quizzes.

Take a Quiz

Take the 3D Virtual Tour of the buildings and exhibits at the Banting Homestead Heritage Park, birthplace of Sir Frederick Banting, co-discoverer of insulin and Canada’s first Nobel Laureate. Test your knowledge with the online, self-scoring quizzes

3D VirtualTour

Schedule a School or Group Tour of the Banting Homestead Heritage Park.

Schedule a Tour

 

Reduce your diabetes risk

  • choose healthy eating habits
  • reduce weight if overweight
  • be more active
  • don’t smoke
  • have a medical professional check family members for diabetes annually

Advocate for increased diabetes awareness

  • hold a Diabetes Awareness Day or Event
  • add a Prevention Campaign page or support note to your website
  • post diabetes infographics in your work place
  • promote implementation of in-school support processes for students with diabetes
  • ensure your Workplace Wellness program includes a focus on youth-onset diabetes

If you have diabetes, reduce your risk of complications

  • be diligent in adhering to your prescribed therapy
  • follow the risk reduction actions listed above
  • maintain your scheduled visits with your Diabetes Educator
  • seek help if you are experiencing emotional highs and lows as a result of your diabetes and the demands of self-management

For more information: coalition@bantinglegacy.ca