Diabetes prevention in primary school-age children

The increasing incidence of type 2 diabetes among primary school-age children is a rapidly growing problem throughout the world. This project was designed to explore the research question: in primary school-age children, does an alternative nutritional education intervention reduce the incidence of type 2 diabetes? A review of literature related to nutritional education for this age group yielded three research studies, one systematic review, and two evidence-based practice guidelines to corroborate alternative nutritional education as a means for potentially reducing the incidence of diabetes among school-age children. As part of this project, Pender's Health Promotion Model was examined to determine if it would be a useful framework for implementing an alternative nutritional educational program within the primary school system in an effort to decrease primary school-age onset of type 2 diabetes. Based on findings from this project, there is evidence that an alternative nutritional education intervention does reduce the incidence and risk of type 2 diabetes in primary school-age children. --P. 2.