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Diabetes and America's youth - Special section: diabetes

Ebony, March, 2004

Diabetes is skyrocketing among America's youth, and the only way to combat it, experts say, is to move youngsters--literally and figuratively--to make a difference in their lives.

The American Diabetes Association's School Walk for Diabetes does just that. Students get to put their feet in motion, raise funds and, most importantly, raise awareness among their peers, parents and educators about the seriousness of the disease and the need for school-based diabetes education.

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"Changes in diabetes management over the past decade have stimulated dramatic change in our thinking about diabetes in the school setting," says Rod Lorenz, M.D., CDE, Department of Pediatrics, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria. "Diabetes management is now a routine part of every school day for the child with diabetes, and ... the tasks required of schools are often new to them."

Diabetes, fueled by obesity, poor diets and a severe lack of exercise, is affecting more and more youngsters around the country. Children who are victimized by diabetes usually have type 1 diabetes, but there is a rising incidence of type 2 diabetes in youngsters.

Approximately 150,000 children and adolescents in the U.S. have diabetes. It is the second most common chronic health problem for children, second only to asthma, doctors say. The day-to-day management of diabetes involves balancing food, medication and activity to achieve proper blood glucose levels.

Activities such as School Walk for Diabetes serve to increase diabetes awareness among school staff and volunteers, as well as the children who participate. The educational information can be taught through games or incorporated into a curriculum.

School Walk for Diabetes is a fund-raising event that provides health information for physical education teachers, school nurses, or parent volunteers and also teaches young people about diabetes. Students also have the opportunity to raise funds for diabetes research and education. In addition, students, the school, and coordinator are eligible for incentive prizes.

The coordinators are recruited to conduct a walk in their school. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) provides all of the materials needed for the event, which may take place indoors or outdoors, depending on the time of the year and may be any distance or time length the coordinator desires. Funds raised are used for research, education and advocacy.

Experts say that this can be a great first step to promote needed changes in a school. "Lay persons employed in schools need better understanding of diabetes and how they can support children's efforts to maintain their health," Lorenz says, noting that even the best school nurses might benefit from the resources available today because, "many of them trained in an earlier era prior to the development of current treatment strategies and technologies."

The School Walks for Diabetes event brings together the entire school community, attracting such participants as Tony Dungy, coach of the Indianapolis Colts. The program also raises awareness about healthy eating as a way to control or prevent type 2 diabetes for youngsters at risk for developing the disease.

The American Diabetes Association recently unveiled a blueprint designed to help ensure that students with diabetes are medically safe at school and have equal access to the same opportunities as their classmates.

Diabetes and America's youth - Special section: diabetes

Ebony, March, 2004

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