The Los Angeles County Division of Public Well being is increasing its sort 2 diabetes prevention efforts in faculties in response to an elevated prevalence of the illness. The Sort 2 Diabetes and Prediabetes Prevention Toolkit for Faculties, not too long ago launched by the Public Well being Division in response to a November 2021 movement by Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, 1st District, offers Ok-12 campuses with school-based assets to assist create environments that assist wholesome consuming and engagement in common bodily exercise.
“Extra kids and youngsters, significantly from communities of shade, are being identified with sort 2 diabetes and we should act to handle this key social determinant of well being,” Solis stated. “Fortuitously, a sort 2 diabetes prognosis could be prevented with early intervention, together with growing entry to a nutritious diet and inspiring physical exercise, which is why I used to be proud to steer a movement to handle the incidents of diabetes for Los Angeles County residents, including our youngsters. This toolkit will assist our faculties enhance entry to wholesome meals, scale back meals waste and supply culturally related messaging geared towards our numerous college students and their households.”
The share of people identified with diabetes has elevated in Los Angeles County during the last decade, from 9.5% in 2011 to 11.3% in 2018. Sort 2 diabetes disproportionately impacts Blacks (14.4%) and Hispanic/Latino People (13.6%), with the bottom prevalence amongst Asian People (8.2%).
“Traditionally, interventions to scale back diabetes charges have targeted on particular person behaviors. However whereas it’s true that way of life adjustments can scale back the danger of diabetes, the actual fact of the matter is whole communities are affected by a scarcity of entry to wholesome meals and alternatives for bodily exercise due to upstream elements which are out of their management,” Los Angeles County Director of Public Well being Barbara Ferrer stated. “On this context, we recognize that faculties are uniquely poised to create environments that assist college students’ bodily, social and psychological well being. This toolkit will empower Ok-12 faculties in Los Angeles County to do exactly that.”
The Sort 2 Diabetes and Prediabetes Prevention Toolkit for Faculties outlines free and low-cost intervention methods for faculties in 10 classes: bodily schooling and bodily exercise; vitamin surroundings and companies; well being schooling; social and emotional climate; bodily surroundings; well being companies; counseling, psychological, and social companies; worker wellness; group involvement; and household engagement. Among the methods outlined within the toolkit are already being carried out by accomplice organizations working with the CalFresh Wholesome Dwelling Program.
For data and to view the toolkit, go to ph.lacounty.gov.
