Sweet Talk Mesquite

According to the American Diabetes Association, in 2015, 30.3 million Americans - or 9.4% of the population - had diabetes. Of that number, approximately 1.25 million American children and adults have Type 1 diabetes. In Mesquite alone, close to 70 children have been diagnosed with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. These numbers alone don’t account for an even greater number of families and citizens in Mesquite who are affected in some way by diabetes.

Sweet Talk was created by MISD School Nurses as an effort to reach students affected by diabetes in new and innovative ways. As the school group grew, they aimed at reaching the diabetic community as a whole in Mesquite. Diabetes can feel isolating and scary and Sweet Talk wants to acknowledge and assist families and individuals with these challenges through education, advocacy and connection.

Past events have included pre-holiday low carb potluck and recipe exchange, mentoring program for diabetic students entering middle school or high school, representing the diabetic community at school fairs, and various expert speakers including AmericanDiabetes Association, Children’s Endocrinology, Camp Sweeney and Junior Diabetes Research Foundation. Future events will include more of the above as well as a JDRF fundraising walk, food and nutrition classes, connecting students and families to each other, mental health awareness and much more. Through hands-on activities, mentoring and presentations, Sweet Talk hopes to enhance the daily lives of diabetics and their families.