MADDCAP

Last week, I taught my first MADDCAP class to two groups of kids during lunchtime at a local elementary school here in Boston. The group I spoke with were kids identified as being "at risk" for diabetes by the school staff — I was amazed to find that nearly 100% of the kids knew someone in their immediate family who had type II diabetes. Amazing.

I spent most of my time talking to the kids about adding color to their diet. And no, orange Powerade is NOT an orange food!

This has been quite a learning experience. I certainly now know more about the disease than I ever wanted to, but doing something about it is something that calls to me now... I briefly spoke with the principal, who was very grateful for my presentation — "It's absolutely necessary that we educate the whole child," she told me.

Healthy living as "self-defense." Planning to give more presentations to the community in 2009.