A 12-year-old London relative of the Nobel Prize-winning doctor who co-discovered insulin has embraced his lineage, raising awareness and advocating for diabetics like his mother.
“I have always known in my heart I want to spread awareness about diabetes ever since I learned we were related to Dr. Banting and help my mom because she has diabetes,” said Arthur Ford elementary schooler Liam Redmond. “It’s very hard for her sometimes.”
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Frederick Banting was Liam’s great-grandmother’s cousin on his mother’s side. Liam’s mom is the only one in their family tree with Type 1 diabetes.
Born in Alliston, Banting practised medicine in London after serving in France during the First World War. He also taught at Western University and the University of Toronto. He was living here when he conceived the idea for insulin.
He and John Macleod discovered insulin in 1921. The following year, the first insulin injection was given to a 14-year-old at Toronto General Hospital.
Liam, who learned of his famous London relative when he was four, has sought to raise awareness of the disease ever since, through a school project on Banting’s work, crafting a video for World Diabetes Day and other initiatives. He often “tags along” with his mother, Rebecca Redmond, to conferences and has visited Banting House, the scientist’s one-time home billed as the birthplace of insulin, and other historic areas related to Banting and his work.
“I visited to educate myself and because there were special events,” Liam said, adding his life-long dream is to become a doctor or biologist. ”I always want to help the people in the world who have diabetes, I feel bad for them. It breaks my heart when people can’t afford to buy insulin.”
Liam said many people have misconceptions about the disease.
“The biggest misconception is people think if you eat too sugar it gives you diabetes and that is not true. Type 1 you randomly get out of the blue, your body decides to attack your pancreatic cells,” he said. “For some reason, your body goes haywire and your immune system targets the insulin cells and basically disables the function (of your pancreas).”
His mother has been living with diabetes since she was diagnosed in high school, 25 years ago.
“We’re incredibly proud of Liam, especially because I’m living with diabetes,” Redmond said. “It’s one thing to put that burden on your child, because it is a chronic illness and there are days when I don’t get to parent as much as I want, where he’s really stepped up to the plate.
“That he’s also passionate about education and advocating means a lot for me.”
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