Bryan Baucom
Social Health & Diversity
March 25, 2014
Service Reflection: Children
For this project I was assigned to serve and spend time with a certain group that I was not affiliated with. The group I was assigned was children. Besides having two younger siblings and a handful of nieces and nephews, I do not associate with children much. And let’s be honest, usually at family events I am not one to hang out with the little ones. But in the few times I do get assigned to watch my nieces and nephews, I’ve learned that it’s not an easy task. And dealing with kids who I don’t know would be even harder. I felt nervous and uncomfortable. However, like I assumed, it wasn’t easy but what I didn’t know is that I would not only have a lot of fun doing it, but learn a lot as well.
I volunteered to work with children at the American Diabetes Association’s Diabetes Expo on March 1st. I was a volunteer in the Youth Zone area of the Diabetes Expo where we provided educational materials and games for children of all ages. Many of the children who attended the Youth Zone are living with type 1 diabetes but all of them have family members who are living with diabetes. I spent the day playing games with children and teaching them how to make healthy choices in order to keep their blood glucose at a reasonable level. We played simple games where the children had to choose which foods were better choices; vegetables or processed food, or between fruit and food high in sugar. We also played simple exercise games like hula-hoop and jump rope.
I have several family members that live with diabetes, both type 1 and type 2. I felt that volunteering at the Diabetes Expo was a good opportunity to share some of my experiences with diabetes with these kids who received a lifetime sentence of living with type 1 diabetes. It was a great experience communicating and interacting with children who just want to be treated like any other kid. I have always known the challenges that come when you have diabetes, but still cannot believe how committed, smart and happy these kids were, even though they had to check their blood before eating and exercising and often didn’t feel good.
I was very impressed with the commitment and drive of the children and very impressed with the American Diabetes Association and the events that they put together, but there were still some bridges we had to cross in order to volunteer. There was a lot of paperwork to fill out, a lot of communication that had to happen between the ADA, those in charge of the Youth Zone (lead volunteers) and the parents, and sometimes the kids were just grumpy and didn’t want to be in the Youth Zone. A few of the children asked me why I didn’t have to check my blood sugar but they did. Clearly their disease is not something they are experts about (yet) but like I said, they do an amazing job telling an adult when they “feel low” (when their blood sugar is low) or even denying snacks because they know their blood sugar will rise.
It was a challenge to volunteer and serve, but the reward and good experience out weighed the challenges. It was rewarding to give my time to a group of people that depend on an educated and trained person to teach proper health habits. It was rewarding to sit and laugh with kids about everyday things like sports, cartoons, video games and movies. As I imagined what this experience would be like, I was afraid that I would be paired up with out of control kids who would not listen to or appreciate that I was a volunteer. However, I was pleasantly surprised that I was paired with just the opposite.
With the rapid growth of type 2 diabetes in America it is estimated that one in three Americans will have diabetes by the year 2050 (Diabetes Basics, 2014). I learned that every 17 seconds someone is diagnosed with diabetes (Diabetes Basics, 2014). And even more alarming, diabetes kills more people each year than AIDS and breast cancer combined (Diabetes Basics, 2014). The good news is that there are many ways to prevent type 2. Children are our future and teaching them the right way to treat their bodies’ can and will impact the community right away and in years to come.
As I worked and played with children who were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes I could see how it changed their thought process and made them far more mature than their age. Right after diagnosis the whole family has to make major adjustments. Suddenly they aren’t as carefree; they have to have a strict eating regimen, carry extra medicine and food and visit the doctor much more often. Extracurricular activities are much more complicated and even going to school is sometimes difficult. If a child is not taught how to manage their diabetes, it can create health problems that affect their whole body. I know helping these children will have an impact on them and their families. The Diabetes Expo provided a lot of great materials and education that will help all those in attendance to better manage their diabetes and prevent it.
From a young age I was taught that I had a responsibility to help and serve those around me. And I have always been grateful that I have a body that is capable to perform activities that I enjoy and that works well and is healthy. Just being able to associate with people who were younger and whose bodies work differently from mine, really opened my eyes. I have found a new appreciation for children and children who strive to control a disease that chose them. It seems cliché to say, but serving these children taught me more than I am sure I taught them.
Works Cited
Statistics About Diabetes - American Diabetes Association. (2014, February 12). American Diabetes Association. Retrieved April 24, 2014, from http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/statistics/?loc=db-slabnav
