I Know Someone with Diabetes

I Know Someone with Diabetes

By Vic Parker

Understanding Health Issues

Heinemann Library, 2011

ISBN #9781-4329-4557-2

Nonfiction

Grades 1-3

"You might have a friend with diabetes mellitus, of just called 'diabetes.' Diabetes is a medical condition. This means that a doctor must tell your friend things to do to stay healthy.

This book caught my eye because my father had diabetes in a time when it was more difficult to control. I grew up seeing him take insulin injections daily and observed the results of what the disease can do if it isn't controlled. It's in a series that explains health problems to children. The other book in the series that I read is I Know Someone with Cancer.

This book introduces children to the medical condition diabetes, describes how it affects people, and discusses what they can do to be a friend to someone with the medical condition. It explains insulin and how it changes the sugars in food to energy in their bodies, continuing to tell how diabetics don't have the insulin necessary to do this. The book tells what isn't known about diabetes, and explains the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

In a matter of fact narration, information about controlling diabetes is well explained. Photos clearly show the effects of "going low," or having too little blood sugar for energy. It continues on to explain why they need something sweet when sugar is ordinarily a thing to avoid. The book ends with tips about what friends can do when a diabetic is your friend. The final spread features famous people with diabetes.

The book has a facts and fiction page, glossary, find out more book list, websites, and an index. Straightforward and simple, it shows diabetics living a normal life among friends. That's what is important.

Activity 1

Look over the healthy eating information from the National Diabetes Education Program site. Discuss the importance of eating well for everyone. Use their guidelines to create healthy meals for three days, including snacks.

Learn more about healthy eating here.

Take a look at the changes in portion sizes at this site and take the quiz.

Activity 2

Make a food groups chart and draw examples of healthy foods in their groups.

National Science Standard: develop an understanding of personal health

Book provided by publisher.