Education Law

Diabetes: what do schools have to do with it?

Diabetes is currently one of the most common chronic diseases among youth.   And recent study data presented in the March supplement of Diabetes Care shows that diabetes is on the rise among children and adolescents and that the increase is happening among all ethnic and racial groups.  Key findings on the study titled SEARCH, include that today’s incidence rate of type 1 diabetes among U.S. non-Hispanic white youth is one of the highest in the world; Asian and Pacific Islander youth, particularly adolescents, have a high risk for type 2 diabetes; and Navajo youth have the greatest risk for type 2 diabetes. 

So what is BoardBuzz trying to imply by sharing these findings — and what does it have to do with education?  Unfortunately, that the data paint a scary picture and that something needs to be done to help kids stay healthy, and prevent this chronic disease from spreading.  Also, parents, schools, and health care providers all have a stake and a part to play in diabetes treatment and prevention.  Schools?  How? 

First, schools can have diabetes management policies and programs in place.  For instance, appropriate staff could be trained on how to respond to diabetes-related emergencies and administer insulin if needed.  In addition, schools can develop policies and programs that increase opportunities for physical activity, health education, and improve the school nutrition environment - all of which help curb obesity, a risk factor for type 2 diabetes (different from type 1 diabetes, which is usually caused by autoimmune, genetic, and environmental factors, type 2 diabetes is often associated with being overweight and physical inactivity).  In addition, it is important to get parents and the community involved so that healthy behaviors can be promoted and perpetuated. 

Childhood diabetes increases the risk for complications due to the longer duration of the disease.  Complications can include: blindness, kidney damage, heart disease, lower-limb amputations, and even death.  BoardBuzz knows that schools can’t do everything to fight this disease, but if there is a concerted effort with other sectors of society, the impact will be greater.  The key message here is this: we can help our kids manage lifetime burdens such as diabetes, but we can do an even better job by helping them avoid those kinds of problems in the first place.  So let’s gear up our kids to be healthy!

Is your school district keeping kids active?  Are your school children eating healthier foods? Let us know what you are doing to curb obesity and the chronic diseases that so often accompany it, like diabetes.  NSBA’s School Health Programs is actively working to increase the leadership skills and actions of school policymakers to create and implement effective policies that promote healthy eating and physical activity in schools.  The program is funded by Leadership for Healthy Communities (LHC), a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.  LHC supports local and state government leaders nationwide in their efforts to reduce childhood obesity through public policies that promote healthy eating, active living, and healthy social environments, particularly among vulnerable populations.  For more information, visit the LHC website. To learn more about physical activity and healthy eating in schools, please visit NSBA’s School Health Programs website.

Full post as published by BoardBuzz: NSBA's Daily Weblog on March 17, 2009 (boomark / email).