CHI St. Joseph Health Pediatric Services received a donation of 10 Jerry the Bear pediatric diabetic teaching dolls from the Bryan Noon Lions Club at a ceremony on Nov. 14 at the CHI St. Joseph Health Pediatric Bryan Clinic. The donation coincides with World Diabetes Day, a day aimed at increasing awareness of the effects of diabetes and the complications cause by the disease.
The bears, which cost $60 each, will be used by pediatric patients with Type 1 Diabetes who require insulin injections of a pump. The bears help children learn to manage diabetes by counting carbohydrates, monitoring Jerry’s blood sugar, and administer insulin. The bears also comfort children who may be anxious or uneasy at their appointments.
“Diabetes is a daunting task to manage, even for adults. When it comes to children, it is especially important to find ways to make them comfortable as we teach them about the complicated and intimidating process of balancing food intake with insulin administration, which is something they will have to do constantly,” said Maria Cristina Soriano, MD, pediatrician at CHI St. Joseph Health Pediatric Bryan Clinic. “Jerry the Bear is an amazing tool that teaches children to manage their condition in a fun and interactive way. I am excited we will be able to incorporate these bears into our practice.”
Type 1 Diabetes is a condition in which a person’s pancreas stops producing insulin, which is necessary in transporting sugar and other nutrients to the body’s cells. Without insulin the sugar stays in the blood causing many serious issues ranging from dehydration and weight loss to blindness and poor circulation.
