According to the International Diabetes Federation, one in ten people across the world’s population are forecast to have diabetes by 2035. The US leads the world in number of people with diabetes (see handouts from class or www.idf.org). The global increase in the prevalence of insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes is predicted to lead to an increase in other diseases such as heart failure.

Part 1: In your opinion, why is our country leading the world in type II diabetes? How do you suggest that we change this? What can we do about our lifestyles, diets, etc. to decrease the number of diabetes cases? Are there organizations / government officials who are doing something about diabetes?

Part 2: Tell me about how diabetes is affecting your community. Be sure you define community; it can be your family, your neighborhood, our school etc. Does diabetes run in your family or ethnic group? If so, how is it affecting you? Talk to someone with type II diabetes. Find out what medications they are taking and what additional health problems they may have. Are they on a special diet? How old are they? How long have they had diabetes? How do they go about monitoring their glucose levels? Do they have to prick their finger for blood? How often do they have to do this?

Part 3: In January 2014, Google shared that it has come up with a contact lens made out of soft contact material that may help monitor sugar levels in diabetes patients. What sugar do you think this contact lens is monitoring? In your opinion what are some advantages and disadvantages to using a contact lens to test for sugar levels?