Case Study:
Jamal is a 5-year-old kindergartner who is noticeably large for his age. During health screening day, his teacher, Tonya, notices that his weight is in the 95th percentile range when plotted on standard growth charts. In his backpack, she puts a notice for his family with his height and weight measurements. As she thinks about Jamal, it occurs to her that since the first day of school, he has frequently complained of being tired, has been irritable, and often has difficulty concentrating in class due to his hunger. She wonders if there is a connection to his increased weight gain.
The next day Jamal's mother, Aisha, tells Tonya that she has scheduled an appointment with the doctor. She tells Tonya that she suspects his increase in weight is related to his blood sugar and that he frequently drinks sugar-sweetened beverages, including soda and juice.
A couple of weeks later, Aisha shares important news with lonya. Jamal has been to a specialist where tests revealed that he has diabetes. Aisha was told that diabetes his diabetes is a disease where there are high levels of sugar in the blood.
She was also told that the cornerstone to his treatment is diet. Aisha asks Tonya if the school will be able to provide Jamal with healthy, balanced meals. Tonya then calls the director of food services about the need for a balanced diet. She also notes that the classroom parents rotate bringing yogurt for snacks. Aiesha agrees to bring in a couple boxes of yogurt to have on hand for Jamal. After her discussion with Tonya, Aisha feels confident that her son will receive appropriate and appealing meals at school and that he will begin to have a balanced diet to help with his diabetes.