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VOLUME 8 NUMBER 1 • MARCH 2011
DIABETES NEWS
SA JOURNAL OF DIABETES & VASCULAR DISEASE
Diabetes News
Changing Diabetes Day village – ‘Let’s take control of diabetes – now’
P
elonomi Hospital was the host of the World
Diabetes Day event, organised by Novo Nor-
disk, on Saturday 13 November 2010. In excess
of 400 diabetics from mostly rural areas in the
Free State attended, to see healthcare work-
ers and practitioners who could improve their
quality of life.
These diabetics travelled from districts as
far away as Xhariep, Fezile Dabi, Lejweleput-
swa and Motheo. The day’s objective was to
carry out holistic check ups and screen for pos-
sible complications, either treating the patients
at the village or referring them back to their
Diabetes youth camps
Learning the importance of good nutrition
with diabetes.
Children who attended the camp in October
2010.
respective clinics.
The three partners in this venture included
the Department of Health, the Medical Faculty
of the University of the Free State and Novo
Nordisk. Local dedicated nurse educators and
private-sector doctors volunteered to assist
with random blood glucose, blood pressure
and body mass index assessments.
Novo Nordisk transformed their Changing
Diabetes bus into a screening area for ophthal-
mology. Ophthalmologists from the national
hospital and other volunteers screened with
two fundus cameras in excess of 180 patients
on the bus.
At the podiatry tent, eight nursing sisters
were trained to assess in excess of 800 feet for
ulcers and other ailments. The patients were
advised on foot care and the importance of
good foot care with diabetes.
Other services also offered were counselling
on good nutrition and exercise. ‘It was indeed
a humbling experience and one of which we
are very proud. To give back to communities in
need is of prime importance and we feel that
we achieved this and more at the village’, said
Donovan Swanepoel from Novo Nordisk.
T
he Centre for Diabetes and Endocrinology
(CDE) organises camps for youth with dia-
betes throughout the year. In October, one was
held in Jonkershoek, Western Cape.
These camps educate young people with
diabetes about their disease, and allow them
to participate in new, fun activities in a safe
environment, with trained medical staff and
educators constantly on hand. They need not
worry about feeling ‘funny’ and they realise
that there are other children who also struggle
with ‘hypos’ and ‘hypers’, and have to calculate
the amount of carbohydrates in a sandwich.
For young people with diabetes, going on
these camps is a very valuable experience.
Youth from different backgrounds and family
environments are brought together to share
their experiences of diabetes, and they can all
feel ‘normal’ at camp. They come away with a
renewed sense of motivation and self-esteem
that enables them to stay positive in their daily
lives. Afterwards, they are able to form social
networks and support groups to help deal with
theday-to-day realities of livingwith thedisease.
Volunteer ophthalmologists help patients in the Changing Diabetes
bus.
There was a hive of activity at the podiatry tent.
Learning the importance of exercise with
diabetes.
