Preventing Diabetes Through Song & Dance

Learning about diabetes through songs and dance? That’s what 8000 Canadian children did on a pilot program launched by Novo Nordisk Canada on October 17th, 2005.

Through songs such as “1 Disease-2 Types”, “Pick Up The Ball” and “Everyone Jump,” these grade 5 students from 21 schools learned about type II diabetes and its prevention. According to Patrick Loustau, President, Novo Nordisk Canada, “we want to find an innovative way to outreach to children. At grade 5, children are making life long decisions about themselves and their health…this is the age to reach them.”

The program named, “Everyone Jump…Kids Changing Diabetes” was delivered to schools in the form of a live concert tour. After hearing the songs and performance, the children then learned about diabetes from the teacher guide which contains ten lessons on the prevention of type II diabetes. The children then enter into a challenge where they have the option of submitting a paragraph, lyrics or poster on the prevention of diabetes. The winning entries then received awards at the First Annual Novo Nordisk Canada Diabetes Awareness Gala on December 2nd, 2005.

What was the concert like? According to Lisa Sawtell, Grade 5 teacher at Dr. Robert Thornton, a school in Ontario, Canada, “The performers themselves were very enthusiastic; it was informative as well. The program is fantastic.”

The program has received much attention in the media. Within the first week alone, over 2 million impressions were received from print and television.