When Calls The Heart Little Jack’s Diabetes Drama Sparks Outrage – Is It Realistic?

Hallmark Channel When Calls The Heart spoilers and updates reveal little Jack Thornton (Hyland Goodrich) received a potentially deadly diabetes diagnosis.

However, the diabetes drama sparked outrage and confusion among fans, who were concerned it isn’t realistic.

Is Little Jack’s Diabetes Storyline Historically Accurate?

In the latest episode  titled “Through The Valley,” fans were shocked to learn that Little Jack, the son of Elizabeth Thornton (Erin Krakow) and the late Jack Thornton (Daniel Lissing), has diabetes.

As we look ahead to the upcoming episode, “Having Faith,” we see Mei and Mike Hickam (Amanda Wong, Ben Rosenbaum) hurriedly seeking medication for Little Jack’s condition.

However, this storyline has sparked considerable outrage among fans, with many questioning the accuracy and realism of the diabetes narrative, particularly in the context of the historical setting.

Here’s what viewers are expressing about the issue of historical accuracy. The forthcoming episode of WCTH Season 12, titled “Having Faith,” centers around Little Jack as he receives insulin to manage his diabetes.

Some Are Side-Eyeing The Diabetes Story

In 2025, diabetes management has advanced significantly, yet some social media users are casting doubt on the portrayal of diabetes in the storyline. They ask is this representation accurate for the time period?

It seems they are leaning on historical facts, albeit with a lack of creativity; insulin was first discovered in 1921 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

One fan wrote, as parents of a child with type 1 diabetes, my wife and I are skeptical about this narrative-insulin was  available in 1922, so what year is the show set in?

I have no doubt that Little Jack’s journey will revolve around insulin, highlighting its transformative impact since 1922—he will undoubtedly receive the care he requires.

Many Familiar With The Disease Opined

In 1930, when insulin treatment was just beginning, a child with type 1 diabetes (previously known as juvenile diabetes) had a very slim chance of a long life. Most would not survive past their teenage years, with around 90% passing away within five years.

However, thanks to improvements in insulin therapy, many people with type 1 diabetes now live into their 50s and beyond.

One posted “I’m not satisfied with how diabetes is portrayed-type 1 diabetes is a lifelong condition, and even with insulin in the mid-1900s, life was challenging for both patients and their families.”” If the story is told accurately, the characters’ lives would be dominated by the disease unless they choose to have the character die from it, which I doubt they would do.”

What Year Is Season Twelve Set In?

One major uncertainty for the Hearties is the timeline of WCTH; there hasn’t been a specific date established, other than the early 1920s.

This is suggested by Elizabeth’s bobbed hair, a style from the 1920s, and the popularity of The Charleston dance this season; Hearties have already noted the dance doesn’t fit the time period.

So, what year is it-the series began in 1910 when Elizabeth first came to Coal Valley- after 12 seasons, the best guess is that it is 1922, a time when insulin was available.

Canadian researchers Frederick Banting, Charles Best, and John Macleod developed insulin in 1921. However, it’s unclear if Little Jack could have been receiving this treatment in 1922 since he was still a child.

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