Understanding and Learning About Student Health: Teacher Workshop Curriculum
Understanding and Learning About Student Health: Teacher Workshop Curriculum
Understanding and Learning About Student Health: Teacher Workshop Curriculum
Curriculum
UNDERSTANDING
AND LEARNING
ABOUT STUDENT
HEALTH
Goal: To understand Type I and Type 2 Diabetes, the differences between the two types, and how
to recognize and deal with diabetic emergencies.
Introduction: Brief introduction of yourself and teachers. Briefly review lesson plan outline. (5
minutes)
Experiences with Diabetes: Have teachers break into small groups and discuss what experiences
they have had with family members/friends having Diabetes. (5 minutes)
--Key points
*Diabetes is a very common disease and the majority of people’s lives have
likely been affected in some way by the disease.
*Most of the experiences have likely been with adults; unfortunately the “adult
onset” type is now becoming a childhood disease as well.
Type 1 vs. Type 2 Diabetes: What’s the Difference? (10 minutes) (Review definition of each
type, why difference is important. Handout: What is Diabetes?)
--Key points:
*Type I Diabetes is an autoimmune disorder resulting in destruction of pancreas
*Type II Diabetes usually is associated with family history, being overweight, and lack of
regular exercise.
* Type II Diabetes was once almost exclusively an adult disease, but is now
affecting an increasing number of teenagers
Diabetic Emergencies: When Should I be Worried? (10 minutes). (Review the two types of
diabetic emergencies and common signs/symptoms of each.) Handout: Diabetic Emergencies:
When Should I be Worried and What Can I Do?
--Key points
*Diabetic emergencies are caused by either too much sugar or too little sugar
*Review key symptoms for each type of emergency
*Severe hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia requires immediate treatment
Diabetes in the Classroom: How Can Teachers Help? (5 minutes) Handouts: Diabetes in the
Classroom: How Can Teachers Help and from http://ndep.nig.gov/diabetes/pubs/Youth_Tips_Eat.pdf
--Key points
*Be aware of students that have Diabetes
*Know how to recognize and first steps in diabetic emergencies
*Education about long-term consequences is important
*Nutrition education important in prevention of Type 2 Diabetes
Questions (5 minutes)
Diabetes: Type 1 vs. Type 2
Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic condition caused by the inability of the pancreas to
produce insulin and/or the body to use insulin appropriately. This leads to high levels of
sugar in the blood.
Type I Diabetes:
§ Also called Insulin Dependent Diabetes
Mellitus (or Juvenile Onset Diabetes)
§ Most common type of diabetes in children
§ Autoimmune disorder in which the immune
system attacks and destroys the part of the
pancreas that makes insulin.
§ Symptoms include increased thirst, increased
urination, increased hunger, weight loss, fatigue,
abdominal pain.
§ Requires daily insulin injections to control blood
sugar. http://www.isletsofhope.com/diabetes/info
rmation/genes_diagnosis_transmission_1.
§ Can’t be prevented (autoimmune disorder.) html
Type 2 Diabetes
§ Caused by failure of the body to respond to
insulin and/or not produce enough insulin
§ Used to be called Adult Onset Diabetes.
However, there is now increasing prevalence
of type 2 diabetes in children.
§ Exact cause not known, but risk factors include
family history, being overweight, lack of
regular exercise, race/ethnicity.
§ Does not usually cause symptoms early on in
disease. With very high blood sugar levels, can
see similar symptoms to those of type 1
diabetes (increased thirst, increased urination,
increased hunger, weight loss, abdominal pain.)
§ Can be controlled/prevented by improved
nutrition, weight loss, and increased exercise.
§ May also need oral medication or, in severe
circumstances, insulin injections.
medweb.bham.ac.uk
How Does Diabetes Affect Our Students?
- Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases of school-aged children.
- Approximately 186,300 people under age 20 had diabetes in 2007 (0.2%).1
- While this might seem like a small number, the prevalence of diabetes in
children is dramatically increasing, most markedly among minority populations.
- In New York City, the rate is rising much more rapidly than in the U.S.
population as a whole.
- The diagnosis of type 2 diabetes is increasing more than that of type 1.
Trends in overweight and obesity among high school students in New York City and New York State,
1999-2003 3
Source: Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) - 1999, 2001, and 2003
1
http://ndep.nih.gov/diabetes/youth/youth_FS.htm#Statistics
2
http://www.childrenshealthfund.org/publications/pubs/Urban-Health_SR_04.pdf
3
http://www.health.state.ny.us/prevention/obesity/strategic_plan/major_threat.htm
Diabetic Emergencies4
When should I be Worried and What Can I Do?
Diabetic emergencies are caused by an imbalance between the amount of sugar and the
amount of insulin in the blood.
4
http://diabetes.about.com/od/symptomsdiagnosis/a/emergencycare.htm
Diabetes in the Classroom
How Can Teachers Help?
I. Be aware of any students with Diabetes, especially those who require insulin
II. Recognize Diabetic Emergencies:
Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycemia)
§ Give sugar
§ “Quick fix” foods include glucose tablets (if student has on him/her,) 4 oz fruit
juice or regular soda, 1 cup milk, 2 tsps sugar
§ If teacher has student with Diabetes in class, may want to keep “quick fix” foods
readily available
§ Fat decreases the movement of glucose into the bloodstream, so sweet foods with
a lot of fat (candy bars, cookies, etc.) are not ideal. (However, they should be used
if the only food available).
http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/adam/images/en/diabetes-food-pyramid-picture.jpg
Handouts from National Diabetes Educational Program
(www.yourdiabetesinfo.org)
http://ndep.nih.gov/diabetes/pubs/Youth_Tips_Eat.pdf
Handouts from National Diabetes Educational Program
(www.yourdiabetesinfo.org)
http://ndep.nih.gov/diabetes/pubs/Youth_Tips_Eat.pdf