Sonia Sidhu, Liberal MP of Brampton South, introduces a private member bill on the eve of the 100th anniversary of the discovery of insulin

BY PAUL JUNOR

Diabetes is undoubtedly a disease that is affecting millions of lives all over the world. According to the World Health Organization (who.int) the number of people with diabetes increased from 108 million in 1980 to 422 million in 2014. There was a 5% jump in premature mortality from diabetes between 2000 and 2016. There were approximately 1.5 million deaths directly from diabetes in 2019.

There are three types of diabetes: type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes. Type 1, which was formerly known as insulin-dependent juvenile or childhood-onset is frequently diagnosed in children, teens, and young adults. Type 2, which was formerly known as non-insulin-dependent, or adult-onset, was often diagnosed in people over the age of forty but now is frequently found in children and adolescents. It is often a consequence of excess body weight and the lack of physical exercise. Gestational diabetes tends to occur during pregnancy and although it may end when the baby is born, it puts the mother at risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the future.

It is fitting that Sonia Sidhu, Liberal MP of Brampton South, introduced a private member bill on the eve of the 100th anniversary of the discovery of insulin in 1922 by Canadians Frederick Banting and Charles Best of the University of Toronto. In the press release on June 30^th it states, “This discovery remained one of the most important medical achievements of the 20th century, saved countless lives and won Canada its first Nobel Prize.” The press release notes, “This  bill requires the Minister of Health to create and report  to Parliament on a national framework to defeat diabetes.”

The Public Agency of Canada has identified risk factors for diabetes to include not just being of advanced age, but having a family history of the disease and belonging to certain high-risk ethnic groups (Blacks, South Asians, Hispanic and Indigenous people). Facts released in the press release states that currently there are 11 million Canadians who are presently living with diabetes and pre-diabetes and there is one case diagnosed every three minutes. The rate is between three hundred to four hundred percent higher among First Nations than among the general population and Indigenous peoples are at significant risks of developing diabetes.

There was a consultative process involved in the formation of this bill between provincial and territorial governments, Indigenous communities and diverse concerned individuals who has a common goal of increasing access, prevention and treatment of this dreaded disease. The passage of this legislation ensures that the framework:

• Identifies the training and education needs of health care professionals related to diabetes
• Promotes research and improves data collection of diabetes prevention
• Promotes information and knowledge sharing
• Takes into consideration any existing diabetes prevention and treatment strategies and best practices, including those that focus on addressing health inequalities

MP Sonia Sidhu states, ”I am thrilled that my fellow parliamentarians have unanimously approved this bill. Millions of Canadians are living with diabetes, and almost all of us have a loved one that does. It costs the healthcare system billions of dollars to treat and put undue pressure on the health care system. Now that the bill has passed, it is time for the government and stakeholders to come together to create a strategy that will lead us in the fight against diabetes and ultimately to a cure. 100 years ago, Canada gave insulin to the world. We can lead the way again.”