Conestoga students raise awareness for diabetes

Four students manned Conestoga Elementary School’s cafeteria doors on Nov. 14, greeting everyone coming in for lunch with smiles, stickers and wristbands.

The stickers and wristbands were blue in color with a special design – a smiling dog, holding a needle with the letters D.O.G. below it. The script Diabetics of Gillette took up the rest of the space, marking the reason James, Nevaeh, Emily and Eli stood just inside the doorway.

“I like to hand out things,” Nevaeh said, as she happily passed out stickers to students passing through the doors. “And I’m very much a people person. I can talk to anyone.”

“It also makes other kids happy by giving things to them,” James added.

Along with enjoying each other’s company, the four were also raising awareness for diabetes on World Diabetes Day.

“I think a lot of teachers know about diabetes but not a lot of students,” Eli said. Earlier this school year, he made a presentation to another class so his peers would know more about what he and a few other students at the school cope with each day.

“I read a few books on diabetes and answered any questions they had,” he said.

According to Eli, most people with Type 1 diabetes are born with the autoimmune disease that attacks insulin production in the body. But they don’t realize it until they have a “big sickness.”

After that, it’s a matter of tracking sugar levels in the body. He now knows that if his glucose level is below 90, he needs to eat some carbs. If it’s above 250, he needs to eat protein to bring those numbers down. He carefully keeps track of the food he eats throughout the day with help from the school nurse, who also happens to double as his mom.

He and the others Friday have joined in some of the events Diabetics of Gillette hosts to bring families living with diabetes together.

Paula Petry, D.O.G.’s group leader, prepped the sticker bags and wristbands Friday, supporting in a hands-off way as the crew independently passed out the goodies. She said the local group meets once or twice a month to give families living with diabetes a way to meet someone new and offer support.

In the last few years, the group has grown considerably, with upwards of 80 participants showing up to some events. Rock climbing and holiday ornament making tend to be the most popular but the group also meets to play board games, ice skate and go bowling – developing relationships each time everyone comes together.  

The group comes highly recommended by the four young Cougars and if you’d like to learn more, you can follow the Diabetics of Gillette Facebook page.