Return to Main Menu

Parents, teach your children about diabetes by Latecia Abraham, MHA,  Community Program Coordinator, MUSC/REACH 2010  When was the last time you sat down with your child and talked about an invigorating exercise regimen, healthy eating, body parts, and how information about all of the above could decrease your child's chances of developing diabetes?    The youth capture the cultivating event along with Latecia Abraham, front left, Gloria Brown, rear left, Angie Evans, front right, Pamella Gibbs, middle right, and Hazel Simmons, rear right. Too few parents take the time to discuss the importance of a healthy body. South Carolina has one of the highest rates of diabetes in the United States. As a result, the Gamma Xi Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority (AKAs) Inc.'s Parenting Center joined forces with the Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH 2010) Program to teach children about diabetes and how it could affect their body.     The AKAs and REACH 2010 decided to join together in order to launch the 2001 Summer Student Enrichment Program entitled: “Building a Healthy Community: Reducing Health Risks in African Americans (Diabetes).” The program’s purpose was to teach approximately 50 children in grades fourth through eighth about the environment and diabetes. During a period of five consecutive weeks, the students learned how to utilize math, writing, creative arts, and computers to explore various community-related topics.     On June 14, the students met in MUSC's College of Nursing where they were taught about the symptoms and diagnosis of diabetes. Students also played games in order to better understand the seriousness of the disease.     Education and support systems are means of eliminating the disparity of diabetes in African Americans. If educated about diabetes at an early age, children have the opportunity to extend their life expectancy and hopefully their relatives’ as well.      James Sterrett, Pharm.D., Lisa Riekerk, Katharine Hendrix, Tara Jones, Sharon Burns, MUSC/REACH 2010 staff, and interns set up tour stations for the students so that they could better understand the lab tests people with diabetes must undergo.     On June 21, in Sterrett Hall, the students played a game of basketball while Burns had the task of coaching these energetic youth. In addition, the students had a choice of participating in aerobics where an intern got their juices flowing with a Jazzercise routine.   On June 28, in the Bi-Lo Supermarket located at 1621 Savannah Hwy., Jeanette Jordan, MUSC/REACH 2010 nutritionist, Donna Jordan, MUSC smoking cessation coordinator, and the MUSC/REACH 2010 interns exposed the children to healthy eating, a taste test, and the detriment of smoking. In addition,  Gloria Smith, Sheila Powell, Burns, and Virginia Thomas, MUSC/REACH 2010 community health advisors, gave the students a tour of Bi-Lo and taught them how to read nutrition labels.      On July 5, at the College of Nursing, Cheryl Stepka-Tracey MUSC/REACH 2010 outreach coordinator, instructed the children about how diabetes affects various body parts. They learned how one body part could affect so many others and control one’s outcome. The interns also performed a skit about diabetes and demonstrated how our loved ones can help save lives.   In conjunction, the sessions ended with a Culminating Ceremony that took place on July 13, at the AKA Parenting Center. This was a joyous event to say the least. The children's parents, AKA Sorority Sisters, REACH 2010 staff, and other guests attended the ceremony and enjoyed the diabetes skit that the children wrote and performed along with the beautifully decorated creative writing display, realistic paper maché food items and body parts. “The program, now in its sixth year, has been kept alive by the hard work of its dedicated staff and volunteers,” said Angie H. Evans, director of the AKA Parenting Center.   The program was sponsored by MUSC’s REACH 2010 Program, MUSC’s Environmental Biosciences Program, Gamma Xi Omega Chapter of the AKA Sorority, Inc., and the City of Charleston Enterprise Grant.    REACH 2010’s principal investigator is Carolyn Jenkins, Dr.PH, R.N., and its director is Ida Spruill.  REACH 2010’s mission is to reach out to decrease the disparities in diabetes related to African Americans through education.     During the regular school year, a free afterschool tutoring program for students in grades 4-8 is held at the AKA Parenting Center. Parents attend monthly meetings to improve parenting skills and may take computer courses to prepare for the GED. Plans are being made to launch another Summer Student Enrichment Program for next year.   For more information, call 792-0685 or Angie H. Evans at 843-722-1486/843-723-0171.