Edinburg, TX – December 27, 2017 – It is no secret that the Rio Grande Valley (RGV), is known for its high prevalence of diabetes. In the United States, 9.4% of the population is diabetic. In the RGV, a staggering 1 out of 3 people suffers from diabetes. So, how can we prevent our youngest generations from growing into diabetic adults? DHR Health’s Dr. Ted E. Bear has joined the fight against diabetes by spreading an important message to our youth.
During 2017, Dr. Ted E. Bear traveled around the RGV to over 60 elementary and middle schools to encourage children to make healthier choices. In his “HealthyEATS” presentation, Dr. Bear taught the students what their diets should consist of, how to limit junk food intake, and what foods are healthy.
When he’s not battling diabetes, Dr. Bear is motivating the youth community to say no to drugs. In his Red Ribbon Week “Say NO to Drugs” campaign, Dr. Ted E. Bear uses impaired vision goggles for a fun and interactive way to demonstrate the effects of drugs on our visual and physical systems. Through this week-long campaign, Dr. Bear reached almost 6,000 students!
Dr. Ted E. Bear doesn’t just fight diabetes and drugs, he also fights germs! Although we teach our kids that sharing is caring, germs are not for sharing! In this fun presentation, Dr. Bear taught students what a germ is, and how to stop them from spreading. He introduced proper hand washing technique to the students so they’ll be warriors against germs, too!
In the coming year, Dr. Ted E. Bear will begin the fight against bullying. He will teach kids to think before they speak in his upcoming anti-bullying campaign. Partnering with Dr. Deepu George of the DHR Health UT Health Family Medicine Center, Dr. Bear aims to lower the number of incidences of bullying in our community. Bullying has become a prominent issue in society today, with more instances occurring between youth. He will preach the importance of the Golden Rule: do unto others as you would have done to you. His first anti-bullying stop will be at Alvarez Elementary in McAllen on January 19th.
Lastly, in March 2018, Dr. Ted E. Bear will aid students in conquering the STAAR test! This standardized test can be terrifying to many students, but Dr. Bear has just what they need to succeed. He came up with the three Study Buddy Steps. They are: sleep, eat, and equip! Students are encouraged to get a good night’s rest, eat a wholesome breakfast, and equip themselves with sharpened pencils, erasers, and whatever else they may need for the test.
