It seemed like a good idea at the time.

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I am writing a speech on diabetes for a speech class. I will probably give it by next week so there is'nt time to make changes. But, now I have discovered that this will probably be very boring to non-science major students and unfortuanately, they are the majority of the class.

I have no idea of how to make diabetes exciting. Does anyone have any ideas? So far I am explaining disease function and the difference between type 1 and type 2. I am including the signs of type 2 and the long-term complications of the disease.

To be honest, this would have been exciting to me even before I became a pre-nursing student because the disease runs in the family and I have always had an interest in all disease processes. But what about my audience. I don't want them to fall asleep.

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Don't discount the fact that some of the students in your class may also have diabetes in their family as well. I did a persuasive speech on breastfeeding and thought, "well this won't be very exciting to the men in the class." But I feel so passionately about it that I did it anyway. After the speech, several of the men in my class approached me and told me they were glad I was able to give them some info that they might not otherwise have had access too and many statistics they felt they could share with their wives. Also my prof told me that given the mostly very young age of my class (except me of course and one other 34 year old in the class) the speech was very pertinent, considering that all the females (and males too for that matter) were of childbearing age.

What makes a speech entertaining, and interesting is how it applies to the lives of the people you are speaking too. If you point out how many people have diabetes, and the likelihood that one of them will be affected some day by the illness, then it's captivating. A sense of urgency will have been created..

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Specializes in ante/postpartum, baby RN.
I have no idea of how to make diabetes exciting. Does anyone have any ideas?

It happened to me last semester.

I gave a speech on the pH of the body for a non-science major speech class. I gave everybody a small sample (tomato, lemon, eggs) and a litmus paper to show what is the difference between acid and base. Though it was a very simple speech and project some of my classmates didn't get it. :o

You could start your speech with interesting statistics to catch their attention.

'According to statistics, by the age 60, 10 people from this class will get type II diabetes.' (Check the numbers.)

Katie

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Well, I was going to ask if Speech was a required course for Nursing, but after seeing this post, that answers it for me... Thanks..and I'm sure you will figure it out.. But I agree, you'd be surprised at how many would be interested in learning about diabetes too... and you never know..they could be wondering the same type of thing about their speech too!

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Diabeties is a subject that would probably interest them.

I would start out with a lot of statistics such as "25 percent of you already have or are going to develop diabeties." to personalize it. Give the risk factors and give preventative measures. I'm sure it will be very interesting.

I wouldn't get to technical with the A&P of insulin for instance, keep it lay terms and simple.

Good luck!

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Here is an interesting story I found on the Excite page. Maybe using the increasing incidence of obesity in the US and how it could corrolate to the increasing incidence of type II diabetes in children even within those already diagnosed with type I.

http://apnews.excite.com/article/20050718/D8BE3LC80.html

good luck

Debblynn

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Here is an interesting story I found on the Excite page. Maybe using the increasing incidence of obesity in the US and how it could corrolate to the increasing incidence of type II diabetes in children even within those already diagnosed with type I.

http://apnews.excite.com/article/20050718/D8BE3LC80.html

good luck

Debblynn

Thanks so much for the article. I have never heard of this. I will certainly add this to my speech.

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Well from the breastfeeding advocate in the group.. don't forget the correlation between breastfeeding and a REDUCED risk of type one diabetes! ;)

http://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/ofhc/news/DB/3616.asp

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Specializes in PeriOp, ICU, PICU, NICU.

IMO, I think it is a great subject even to those who are not in the medical field. It is so common these days that just about anyone knows someone with it. Best of luck to you :)

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

I agree with all the previous posts, so won't repeat the recommendations. but ...

You could also be sure to include the dietary changes that are required of those who develop diabetes, being very specific about the foods they could and could not eat, etc. Then tell them how they can lower their likelihood of developing the disease. That might actually cause a few people to make a few positive lifesyle changes.

llg

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Specializes in LTC.

Open it up with a good story. Something that will pull them in. Many people have mentioned satistics, but those can get boring. If it's something that runs in your family tell the story of the time Aunty Eleanor's BS bottomed out to far to bring it up at home and how frightening it was to watch or something to grip them. Then maybe bring in that even if they don't have diabetes it's an important for people to know the symptoms incase they are put in a situation with a diabetic... Just find a way to make it something that effects them.

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The speech went fine. Got an A for the course. Thanks for all of your suggestions.

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