National Youth Advocate

March 16, 2010 

This past weekend I attended the bi-annual National Committee Meetings in Washington, D. C. I attended both the Advocacy Committee and Youth Strategies Committee meetings throughout the day, and was pleased to see how passionate everyone was about making the lives of all those affected by diabetes better in every way. The meetings were a melting pot of ideas and strategies from across the country.

Sitting at the U-shaped tables in the meeting areas made me feel as though I was sitting among a group of "diabetes titans", who are not only highly involved in changing the landscape of this disease on a national scale, but are role models for everyone in their community as advocates, volunteers, and people affected by diabetes.

Much of the discussion in the Advocacy meeting concerned how to go about more efficiently teaching advocates how to bring about positive changes in their community. We concluded that advocacy is not necessarily “learned” best by jumping in head-first and immediately trying to meet with legislators or lobby for certain bills. Rather, we should focus on building self-advocacy skills first to develop confidence which will allow advocates to do even bigger and better things!

February 25, 2010

Wow! I could not be more proud of the new campaign rolled out by First Lady Michelle Obama in early February, calling for an end to childhood obesity through improved nutrition and exercise. A few points immediately stand out to me:

1. This campaign targets you and me — the youth of America. It recognizes that we are the future of America, and our health matters both now and in the future. Thus, we are treating the “root” of the problem of obesity (which can lead, unfortunately, to type 2 diabetes) and nipping it before it becomes worse into adulthood.
2. Even though this campaign is specifically against childhood obesity, this is very helpful to the mission of the American Diabetes Association because it acknowledges that poor nutrition and exercise may lead to diabetes.

More Children Getting Type 2

This also highlights the unfortunate rise in the instances of type 2 diabetes among youth. Not long ago, type 2 diabetes was called “Adult-Onset diabetes” because it appeared to affect almost entirely adults. Today, with the rise in unhealthful habits in America, it’s predicted that nearly 1 in 3 children born after the year 2000 is at risk of developing type 2 diabetes (1 in 2 in minority populations) if current trends continue!

Educating Clients

It seems as though everyone knows someone affected by diabetes. I work at a local gym (or a “fitness resort” for fancier types) in the protein shake shop. My duties consist of making yummy protein desserts and talking to folks about health and nutrition! While I’m not sure anything could be more “up my alley,” there have been an overwhelming number of clients who are grossly misinformed about nutritional guidelines, the cause and treatment for diabetes, or both.

Many clients, upon pointing out the insulin pump I proudly wear as my life partner at my side, proceed to spout out the most interesting theories about diabetes. “So, are you sure you need the insulin? I mean, you’re not fat!”

Another common stigma is that I cannot have any starches, sugars, or even fats. Although it is a bit amusing to hear these diabetes notions, I am eager to clear them up and distinguish between the two main types of diabetes and what exactly they entail. More often than not, the client leaves as a more well-informed advocate for their own health (armed now with correct information), and I end up with a tip or two myself! Education and awareness have only positive benefits.

Learn to Read Labels

A few customers seem to follow their own (albeit very comforting to them) ideas about nutrition, especially in terms of calories and sugar. Theywreck a decent workout by treating themselves to a high-calorie protein shake simply because the label sounds healthy or sends a positive connotation to their dieting minds.
Learning how to read nutritional information on food labels is extremely important for everyone, especially for those of us with misbehaving pancreata!

Positive Changes You Can Work On:

1. We should help pass the Child Nutrition Reauthorization this year.  This bill, according to ADA’s website, “will strengthen nutrition policies in our schools, including food sold in vending machines and a la carte lines, and require schools to improve implementation of their local wellness policies.” By passing this bill, we can help the American Diabetes Association support the Childhood Obesity campaign and improve the health of kids like ourselves, in turn lowering our risk for developing type 2 diabetes! Visit here to Urge Congress to Make Child Nutrition a Priority.
2. On the exercise front, we should support the FIT Kids Act. This will encourage public schools to offer physical education classes and require them to report on the results.
   

January 25, 2010

Today I met with Tom Bowser, President and CEO of Blue Cross/Blue Shield Kansas City, as well as a few members of his staff regarding future continued support for American Diabetes Association events and programs, such as the Tour de Cure or Step Out: Walk to Fight Diabetes.
Tom asked some great questions that provoked deeper thinking on my part. “Other than raising money, what do you tell kids to do to help the American Diabetes Association?” particularly stuck out to me.

We Can Do More

While I did answer the question, immediately after I left I began brainstorming even more. I realized that youth in general can do many things for the Association to help the fight against diabetes, and to help themselves! Several broad categories include:

1. Educate yourself. The more you know, the better you will field questions related to your diabetes. The higher quality of information you have equals improved treatment on your behalf.
2. Volunteer anywhere. A volunteer performs a service willingly and without payment. This leaves millions of opportunities for you to help out! You can do anything from making diabetes alert bracelets to cooking up healthy meals to raising money and donating it to the Association.
3. Take action. You are never too young or too small to make beneficial changes in your community. Grassroots energy is where everything begins! Become involved with your local government:
1. Get your student council to host a diabetes event
2. Contact your local representative and tell him or her about the latest issue relevant to the diabetes community 
3. Interview people about issues or bills in order to make that positive change happen.