Rationale
I feel that it is important for my students to learn about the pancreas and diabetes because diabetes is a rampant disease that has inflicted some of my students and their family members. Approximately 98% of my students are African American females and studies show that diabetes is a severe problem among African American women 1. Additionally, according to the American Diabetes Association 2 some groups of individuals have a higher risk for developing Type II diabetes than others such as African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans and Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders.
Since diabetes decreases the life span of individuals and compromises the quality of life that individuals are able to live 3, I feel that it is imperative that the students see the importance of their pancreas to their health and learn the function of this organ. Diabetes mellitus affects multiple organs including the pancreas 4. Its wide-spread affects on multiple organs also contributes to the number of individuals who suffer complications and even death after developing this disease 5. Some of the organs affected by diabetes include kidneys, limbs, eyes, and the heart 6. Since diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States 7, I am looking for ways to influence my students and their families to do all that they can to prevent diabetes. Planning nutritious meals and exercising regularly may be a way that my students and their family members can prevent the spread of this disease.
Students who are dealing with this disease in their personal lives may experience some conflicts of emotion that may result in low self-esteem. Studies have shown that girls with diabetes sometimes struggle with their view of themselves as a "normal" girl. This unit will provide an opportunity for students to express themselves and see that they are not alone in facing this disease or its side effects.
Comments: