by admin | Nov 13, 2015 | Grown Up
Two weeks ago, my in-laws visited for the weekend. It was a fun weekend full of activities, good food, and lots of giggles from my kids who absolutely love anytime they can get with their grandparents. But between those giggles were a lot of questions from my 4 year-old and 7 year-old, asking about the medicine Grandma and Grandpa had to take with each meal (both of them are insulin dependent Type-2 diabetics).
It can be difficult to explain diabetes to young children because they tend to focus on what’s wrong, not on how much we have in common. What seemed to help my kids, as they desperately wanted to know what was going on with Grandma and Grandpa, was a simple explanation about how they need help (insulin) for their body to use energy (food). Oversimplified, yes. Did it do the job? I think so.
With obesity still on the rise, more children, and therefore, more of their friends, are being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. As a result, for the first time as a family, we are observing American Diabetes Month and International Diabetes Day. It gives us the opportunity to talk openly about diabetes, what it means for their friends and family, and how they might be able to help. It’s also a really great opportunity to explain that we have more in common than not with those with diabetes. We all need to focus on how we can eat better, move more, and in general, take better care of our bodies.
Tomorrow, while we’re enjoying our Saturday (which also happens to be International Diabetes Day), we’re going to build and then participate in a mini backyard Olympics and cook a healthy family dinner together. Yes, these are everyday healthy activities, but that’s what this day and month is all about. We need to help our children better understand that a healthy lifestyle, where they move more and eat better, can be the fun and easy choice. When it becomes a regular part of their lifestyle, their chance of developing Type 2 diabetes is decreased.
We’ll also talk more about Grandma and Grandpa, and how we might be able to help them as they try to be their healthiest while they are taking medicine (insulin) to keep them healthy. We’ll discuss how similar they are to us and how some of the things we like to do may be good activities to do with Grandma and Grandpa next time we see them.
I hope you take a few minutes out of your day tomorrow to help your family move more and eat better. Congratulations, you’re raising diabetes awareness and officially participating in International Diabetes Day and American Diabetes Month.
You can also get helpful diabetes awareness resources for kids from The OrganWise Guys!
Today we feature OWG guest blogger and childhood obesity consultant, Melodie Griffin. Melodie’s passion lies in the prevention of childhood obesity through the school and early learning settings. All programs Melodie promotes are fully approved by her home based lab rats, five year old son, Howie, and two year old daughter, Hope. You can connect with Melodie on her Facebook page, WellConnect LLC.
by admin | Nov 3, 2015 | Educator
November is American Diabetes Month and to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the American Diabetes Association, this year’s theme is, Eat Well, America! The goal is to promote the idea that while it’s important to eat healthy to help prevent Type II Diabetes, you don’t have to sacrifice the good flavors and taste.
The OrganWise Guys are all about teaching healthy behaviors to kids (and adults!) The four OrganWise club rules of low-fat, high-fiber, lots of water, and exercise are habits that, if practiced regularly, can lower the risk of getting Type II Diabetes and other chronic diseases.
Explaining diabetes to kids, and even parents, can be quite challenging, but luckily, The OrganWise Guys have some great resources (and fun incentive items) available that explain the concept in a lighthearted and easy-to-understand way.
Here are The OrganWise Guys’ diabetes awareness resources for kids:
Undercover Diabetes Health Agents Book – Children learn about preventing adult onset diabetes. Using compelling illustrations and simple language, children learn about diabetes and what lifestyle choices they can make to help minimize their chances of getting this disease.
Undercover Diabetes Health Agents Activity Book – This companion activity book incorporates important concepts taught in the corresponding hardback into core curriculum objectives making it easy for teachers to implement in the classroom.
Undercover Health Agents Assembly Kit – This speaker’s kit provides a script, a PowerPoint CD, master activity sheets, an evaluation tool, and more! This presentation can be delivered in a group setting (individual classroom or school-wide assembly) and is a great way to kick off an OrganWise initiative.
Diabetes Newsletters – These colorful newsletters contain practical information that helps both adults and children understand diabetes. Each edition has one side in English and one side in Spanish and comes in packs of 100.
Peter Pancreas Plush Beanie – Bring Peter Pancreas to life with this plush beanie. Let children use their imagination in “healthy” play with this colorful organ character!
Peter Pancreas Tattoo Set – Tattoos are a great way to keep The OrganWise Guys health messages alive for days! These temporary tattoos are applied with water and last for 5-10 days. They come in packs of 100.
Click here for more information and resources on American Diabetes Month!
**You can even get all of these resources at 20% off! Upon checkout, just use coupon code: school2015
by admin | Mar 24, 2015 | Educator, Grown Up
Today we wanted to share something that Peter Pancreas feels very strongly about! Thanks to the American Diabetes Association for this very helpful information:
American Diabetes Association Alert Day® is a “wake-up call” asking the American public to take the Diabetes Risk Test to find out if they are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. This year, during the Association’s 75th anniversary, Alert Day kicks off today (March 24th) and continues through Tuesday, April 21st. The 2015 theme is: Take it. Share It. Step Out.
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