Connect

World Diabetes Day (WDD) was created in 1991 by the International Diabetes Federation and the World Health Organization in response to growing concerns about the escalating health threat posed by diabetes. On Nov. 14 — the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting, who co-discovered insulin (along with Charles Best) — UVA Health team members engaged with local children to raise awareness about diabetes.

Backed by a team of physicians, researchers, technologists, coordinators, administrators, and medical students, Rita Basu, MD, Professor of Medicine in the Division of Endocrinology and Clinical Education Director of the Center for Diabetes Technology, reached out to our community to educate elementary-, middle-, and high-school students and to provide virtual lessons on healthy living. 

Basu says that it is important to educated children about diabetes because “today’s children are tomorrow’s future. “More than 300 million individuals worldwide either have prediabetes or diabetes. Hence, incorporating a healthy lifestyle — like eating and activity — in children and young adults is a priority to keep the growing numbers of people with this disease under check and to reduce the overall healthcare burden.”   

Second-year medical students Rajia Arbab and Lydia Hanson, who are doing a research internship with Dr. Basu, educated local students and adults on the importance of preventative care for diabetes, and gave elementary-, middle- and high-school students virtual lessons on healthy living. K-4, middle- and high-school students were given yoga lessons “movement snacks” by Sarah Creef Baugher, COO, Department of Family Medicine. An introductory discussion about the importance of nutrition and health, and lessons on how to create a healthy meal was planned by Amanda Terillo, RD. Students, staff at the schools, and community members learned about World Diabetes Day, the history of diabetes, what it is, and received a virtual introduction to Basu’s lab.

To encourage students to reflect on what they learned, nearly 2,000 students at Turner Ashby High School, Charlottesville High School, and Buford Middle School were invited to respond to an essay about their thoughts regarding diabetes and the importance of WDD. Greenbrier Elementary School students submitted drawings, reflecting on what they learned about healthy eating. Students were awarded prizes and gifts for participation. 

Here are a few samples of of their illustrations and excerpts from essay submissions.

Basu says she loves events like this: educating communities and helping people cope with the disease. Additionally, she is motivated by the latest translational research that will improve the care of patients with diabetes. She thanks her parents, who inspired her to become a physician researcher, her research subjects for motivating her to do better, and her lab team and colleagues for support and encouragement. 

Thank you, Dr. Basu and team, for sharing your knowledge and expertise with our community!