Lesson 1: Play - Desperately Seeking Insulin

 

Topic: Diabetes Part of: Unit: Bittersweet: Diabetes

• Focus: Students will be introduced to diabetes, with a brief overview about the nature of the disease, warning signs, preventive measures, and maintenance of the disease.

Activities | Introduction | Objectives | Resources & Web Sites

Activities

Pre Activity 1A: Class Discussion

(diabetes, class discussion)

Activity 1A: Desperately Seeking Insulin

(diabetes, type 1, type 2, risk factor, role play, glucose, sugar, insulin, pancreas)

Activity 1B: Debriefing the Play

(diabetes, type 1, type 2, risk factor, role play, glucose, sugar, insulin, pancreas)

Entire Lesson Download (6 pages)

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Introduction

The Diabetes Unit begins with a play, "Desperately Seeking Insulin" (Lesson 1), in which the students take on the roles of glucose, insulin, and the organs in body. Written in two short acts, the play is written to introduce students to basic concepts related to glucose metabolism and the difference between Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM, Type 1) and Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes (NIDDM, Type 2).

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Objectives

Students will be able to:

• understand how the body utilizes sugar, and what happens to sugar with the onset of diabetes
• compare and contrast Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes
• recognize warning signs that help with the diagnosis of diabetes
• realize the complications of untreated diabetes such as: blindness, kidney disease, amputations, heart disease, and stroke
• implement aspects of self-care such as diet, exercise, and foot care for managing diabetes

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Resources & Web Sites

American Diabetes Association - The resource center for diabetes information. http://www.diabetes.org/

 

Kids Learn About Diabetes - informational/tutorial site designed for kids, by kids (with supervision by a pediatric endocrinologist). http://www.kidslearnaboutdiabetes.org/

 

Lower Extremity Amputation Prevention Program (LEAP) - diabetes education and instructions to order monofilament self tester for diabetic feet. http://www.hrsa.gov/leap/

 

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