Diabetes School

Isabelle

11/19/08 period three

Around the nation, children and teens have been diagnosed with Type II diabetes. What can the U.S. do to stop this? One way to stop this horrible disease is to inform students in school about diabetes by taking out vending machines, replacing unhealthy snack foods and lunches with organically grown food, and teaching students the importance of exercising.

Schools should be sensitive to the students by not informing students about diabetes, but there is some risk with that. A student can be diagnosed by diabetes but not know. When interviewed, Kiki Shen agreed, “I think they [schools] should teach students about diabetes because they can know if they have it and what to expect.” According to the American Diabetes Association, teens that have diabetes low blood glucose (blood sugar) have high mood swings. “You may feel down a lot, angry, or more stressed about diabetes than usual.”

First, kick out those vending machines. Schools across the nation have vending machines on campus. And most of these vending machines have soda, chips and other salted food products, sugary candy, and energy drinks. In 2003 the soda machines were taken out of Cupertino High School. “A lot of kids were annoyed about it [vending machines] but I didn’t care, ‘Hey, just drink milk.’” Sarah Fraser remarked on the moment. Other machines might have been taken out over the years but schools nation wide have agreed that a ‘candy ban’ is the way to stop obesity and diabetes. In five Philadelphia elementary schools followed suit. (.com)

Second, organic foods. In an average chocolate bar, it contains 51 grams of fat and 900 calories (). In organic foods there isn’t any faux food coloring or flavors. No pesticides to kill bugs, just natural foods grown by gentle farmers. If replacing the unhealthy lunch foods with organically grown food, diabetes and obesity could drop by some percent. “I’d be [kind of] okay with it [switching to healthier foods] if it tasted good and makes me full instead of a snack that tastes really bad and is expensive in just making the product.” Says Chandrika Sinha when asked about organic.

Lastly, PE teachers teaching the importance of physical activity. People who participate in a vigorous activity (such as running or a sport) benefit by lowering risks of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, colon cancer, and “non-insulin-dependent” which is referred to as type 2 diabetes (). Myra Fraser said when asked, “If PE classes did not test their physical abilities and kids where to do more vigorous activity, how is this good or bad?” She answered, “It’s good because kids who don’t do well under the pressure of testing are more likely to preform better expesaly if the activity is something they enjoy.”

Teaching diabetes in the classrooms should be something to think about. But not only to think but also to do. Taking vending machines can help not only the students but budget as well. Replace the candy bar with a leafy, green, organic salad, to reduce sugar intake as well as bad Trans fats. And PE teachers should have the students work harder and tell why exercising is important and beneficial. Informing students in schools about diabetes is the way to keep kids safe.

Works Cited

Personal Interveiws:

Myra. Personal interview. 11/19/08.

Sarah. Personal interview. 11/19/08.

Kiki. Personal interview. 11/19/08.

Chandrika. Personal interview. 11/19/08.

Web Sites:

"Candies, milk chocolate." a Calorie Counter. A Calorie Counter. 20 Nov 2008 .com/search/candies%20milk%20chocolate.

"Diet and nutrition." School candy ban cuts student weight gain. MsnBC. 20 Nov 2008 ./id/23982567/.

"For Parents & Kids." Growing Up. American Diabetes Association. 20 Nov 2008 ..

"Physical Activity For Everyone." The Benefits of Physical Activity. CDC. 20 Nov 2008 ..