Does anyone have any teens with DM or work with teens with this?

[~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN]

I have an education project to do for school, my original plan was to educate teen parents since I have a lot of experience their. But apparently resources in our school are not much and I have been having an impossible time working things out and getting in touch with people.

So, I was talking to my teen son who is in the 8th grade and trying to get some ideas from him on topics to come up with for a back up plan. Since we just covered Pediatric DM and how teens might be less compliant because of wanting to fit in and all of that, also since type 2 is becoming more prevalent younger and younger ages and can be prevented I thought maybe this topic would be good. Well I asked him if he has ever heard of it and he said yeah, so then I asked him more questions like, do you know how it's caused, or how to help prevent some forms and he had no idea. He said he just has heard the name. I was kind surprised by this. So I was thinking of changing my topic to teaching 8th graders about Type 1 and Type 2 DM.

I would love some ideas some people might have on how to approach teens in particular. I have a pretty good idea of the teenage mind, it wasn't that long ago I was one, and lord knows my son went from angel to teenager the past 2 years. But I don't have a lot of experience with sick teenagers. So any pointers or advice on how I might approach my teaching and what I might want to include for this specific group would be much appreciated. Some insight people might have from working with this particular disease and age group. I know you give them to much info and just read off something they aren't going to absorb much, if you just try to scare them they won't be very open because they think they are invincible. I will be making a brochure or handout for them and want to make sure it's something that will help THEM. Not just, this is DM, these are some causes, these are some ways to help prevent it.

Anyway, again, any insight would be much appreciated.

Disclaimer~ I am not trying to get anyone to do my project for me, I am actually pretty excited about it. I just want to have it mean more then to get a good grade, I want it to hopefully impact a few kids and for them to actually get something from it. It seems most everyone is going off the "ideas" our teacher gave us and pretty much 4-5 people doing the same topic. I am trying to think outside the box and not do the usual thing everyone always does and this wasn't mentioned at all.

[~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN]

Ok I could have sworn I posted this in general nursing section, it doesn't look like it was moved so I hope enough people see it here.

[Flare, ASN, BSN]

If you are going to tackle diabetes for a teenage audience, i think the best approach is a prevention standpoint. This of course would include making good food choices, a brief not too technical explaination of the disease process, a synopsis of treatment (i get quite a few of my teen diabetics that bring in a friend when they test or get insulin and the reactions are mixed). Finally, an explaination of what the consequences are for not being compliant with treatments for diabetes.

My approach would likely be more of a roundtable type discussion, let the kids steer the conversation to keep them interested- but keep it focused too. It can get off track really easily with that age group. Also - try not to turn it into a scare session (eat health and exercise or you'll end up losing your foot!) kids have a tendency to think it won't be them that it affects and will start to tune you out.

[~Mi Vida Loca~RN, ASN, RN]

Thank you for your input those are some great ideas.

I definitely agree with the scare tactics. I don't think they work well on a lot of people, I know teens think they are indestructible, but I know even with myself, trying to scare me of threaten usually gains the opposite reaction that one was hoping for LOL.

[frann]

you could just teach the differences between type 1 and type 2 and causes of each.

I find it so irritating when people get the 2 mixed up. my dd was dx with type 1-5 yrs ago.

she/we have gotten so much education