Hello Hearties (and welcome all others). In the online community, I’m known as Diabetes Dad (not ‘the’ but rather ‘a’) from my years of writing about living with, and staying positive living with, diabetes (diabetesdad.org). Two of our three children have type 1 diabetes. One was diagnosed at age 2 in 1992 and the other at age 13 in 2009. I was an actor for much of my life but gave it up to dedicate myself to this diabetes world and trying to make it better for our kids.
I’m also a Heartie. (And a ‘Hallmarkie’ too, if there is such a thing.) Just something about the movies on Hallmark that draw us in, right? We all know the sweetness of the movies and shows; and it was a running joke at our house that we might need to take a shot of our kids’ insulin due to the sweetness……..we had to eat those words after this season’s finale.
To the credit of the writers, they have kept the story about the people in Hope Valley surrounding Little Jack’s diagnosis of diabetes. It would be almost impossible to explain to the viewers the specifics on diabetes management in the lives of Little Jack and his family dealing with and what we commonly call, the new normal, At least, too much in an hour show with other storyline arcs. Chances are, Little Jack was given a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes, or what was commonly called juvenile diabetes, for a very long time. The discovery of Insulin was by Drs. Banting and Best and Dr. Macleod whose involvement was more of a hospital facilitator than actual researcher.
Diabetes, or Diabetes Mellitus, was a name around since about 1901 coming from the result of a lesion of the pancreas causing the destruction of islet cells, which make insulin. Insulin is manufactured in the body and its purpose is to lower blood sugars. In (juvenile) diabetes, the body attacks itself and destroys the insulin producing islet cells. Understanding that almost everything we eat, gets manufactured into sugar for the body’s use, with no insulin being made, the sugar (or glucose) levels will just continue to rise until eventual, death ensues.
The phrase insulin was coined in 1916, well withing the parameters of the show’s use of the word. Insulin was discovered at the University of Toronto but not truly ‘perfected’ for use. Long story short, MacLeod moved Banting and Best to the University of Toronto, giving them the tools they needed. Here, they worked to perfect the ideas until they injected Leonard Thompson with insulin on January 11, 1922. The 14-year-old young man lay dying at Toronto General Hospital. The impure extract (insulin) needed further work as Young Thompson found the insulin too harsh and developed an allergic reaction. That said, the fact that he was a child at age 14, would more than sufficiently explain Young Jack being able to receive insulin for his medical condition. The researchers worked day and night and by November Eli Lilly and Company was able to produce large quantities of purified insulin for wide use.
So everything seen in WCTH fits into the timeline of what was happening at the University of Toronto at the time, as well as in Hope Valley. When one thinks that all of the wonderful things you hear about managing and battling diabetes today, has all been done in just about the last 100 years, it truly is pretty amazing.
There is much more to the management of this disease that I can explain as we get closer to the new air date. But for the purpose of some explanations, back in the 1920s, it was much different than today. Poor Elizabeth (and probably Nathan too) would have had to have Little Jack, pee in a cup, boil it, add some ingredients and based on what the color range was (an educated guess at best) would translate as to how much insulin Litte Jack would need to bring down his sugar (glucose) just enough to continue living like a little boy. It was an educated guess, at best. (Today’s world not only has a glucose level virtually instantaneously, in some cases it talks to an insulin pump and dispenses insulin as needed. A far cry from what Little Jack will experience.) Insulin was drawn into a glass syringe and injected. Too little and the sugar level keeps rising and the individual becomes lethargic. Too much and the glucose level ‘bottoms out’ and the same fear of being lethargic or dying are feared. Before they knew that refrigerating the insulin would help keep its potency (and is why Little Jack had the reaction he did in the final episode of the season) it was a challenge to keep insulin at its full strength. It’s a lot to try to figure out and to the writers’ credit, Elizabeth heading toward the University of Toronto with Little Jack, is exactly what many parents do, even today. They go to the hospital where their children are admitted learning what they can to try to make sure their child can just be as close to ‘normal’ again; a high-wire balancing act for sure.
Every adult surrounding Little Jack’s life will learn just how to inject insulin and watch to make sure that too much or too little is not administered. It’s a precarious balance that every family must go through and a learning curve for sure but even in the 1920s as it is today, it can be learned (sort of). The challenge occurs because exercise, no exercise, excitement, sadness, fear, and almost every emotion and physical activity will play into Little Jack’s new life with diabetes. A tough balancing act.
It would have been impossible for WCTH to try to explain the management of what Elizabeth and her family will come to know as the new normal in their life. Every parent faces the same challenges even today. There were some extremely powerful moments shown through those who touch Little Jack’s life that I would like to both point out to you as a viewer, and at the same time congratulate the writers and show’s actors as they were ‘spot on’ with what happens to those who are in the life of a child newly diagnosed.
When my daughter was diagnosed, I raced to the hospital and as I got to her bedside, she looked at all the wires and contraptions attached to her, looked me in the eyes and said, “Daddy Fix,” So I understood completely when Nathan gave his speech on how it was his job to protect Hope Valley, and he failed with Little Jack. It was too close a memory and it just broke my heart.
As Dr. Faith broke the news to Elizabeth and Nathan about Little Jack having diabetes, literally my wife and I could not look at each other as the picture included with this article is the moment they heard the news, it’s the exact face every parent will make upon hearing the news. Shock, questions, doubts, what ifs, maybes, what now, how, why our child, why us………all in one very telling look. And that IS THE LOOK they gave.
Allie and Rosemary question as to why they did not see it while watching Little Jack and the entire town embraces Elizabeth and her family. So too in the neighborhoods across the country when such a thing occurs. Our ‘softball-game-called-on-the-radio’ was all the neighbors having items other than candy during Halloween. Stickers, toys, and other items were dropped in my kids’ trick or treat bags. Birthday parties came with a phone call before an upcoming party and the “just checking” what would/could work. It was also common that neighbors called at various times just to ask what they could do to help.
I, for one, am looking forward to next year to find out how WCTH will move this arc ‘down the field”. No one knows these characters more than these writers and they got it right in my opinion (feel free to ask me anything if you wish). Things will continue to be interesting in Hope Valley. Hope…….indeed.
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Tagged diabetes, diabetes dad, diabetes inspiration