Learning About Diabetes at the Bronx Zoo

By IMANI HALL

Patients at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore learned a lesson on diabetes in a more kid-friendly setting–the Bronx Zoo. Young diabetics were shuttled to the popular attraction on July 15, learning the importance of remaining healthy.

In a field trip that included over 200 patients, their families, pediatricians, nurses and other staff members, participants took part in several activities that included arts and crafts, nutrition classes, and the importance of tracking blood sugar. Wildlife and Conservation artist Allison Nicholls was also in attendance creating artwork with CHAM patients, who were treated to full access to the zoo and a barbecue lunch.

CHAM patients were also treated to a special guest speaker- former NFL football player Kendall Simmons, once with the Buffalo Bills, whose story is similar to CHAM patients. In 2003, during his second season in the NFL, Simmons was diagnosed with type 1.5 diabetes, known in the medical field as Latent Autoimmune Diabetes of Adults (LADA), considered a slower forming version of diabetes. In 2011 he retired from football and has been spreading awareness of diabetes to folks all over the country. At the event he shared his experiences with guests.

Diabetes is a common ailment in the Bronx with 5.4 percent of children suffering from it, according to statistics from the city Department of Health. The disease is known to either produce a lack of or improperly utilize insulin, a hormone that converts sugar and starches into different types of food energy. The disease has two main types: type one and type two. With type one, the pancreas stops producing insulin while type two typically occurs when the body cannot use insulin the correct way.

The city Department of Health estimates that 12 percent of Bronx adults have diabetes compared to the 9 percent of diagnoses in the rest of the city. African-Americans in the United States suffer from disease the most, with about 18 percent.  The effects of uncontrolled diabetes can be serious as it can lead to blindness, end stage renal disease, heart disease and extreme amputations in adults. Complications from diabetes can result in death. The number of diabetes cases is expected to increase throughout the city.

The goal of the CHAM event was to raise awareness and encourage treatment for diabetes. In June, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation presented the Educator of the Year Award to three CHAM clinicians.