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14 November 2019 | Story Charlene Stanley | Photo Supplied
DIABETES read more
The modern clinical research facilities at FARMOVS where the two ground breaking diabetes studies will be conducted.
Diabetes is no longer seen simply as a disease, but as a worldwide epidemic, with alarming increases recorded in both developed and developing countries over the past few years.

About 3,5 million South Africans have diabetes, and many more are unaware that they have it. 

The FARMOVS clinical research facility on the Bloemfontein Campus of the University of the Free State is currently involved in two exciting research studies that could lead to the development of medication for diabetes sufferers burdened by some of its most common complications.

Diabetes in a nutshell

Diabetes is a group of diseases where the sugar (glucose) levels in the blood are too high. 

In diabetes mellitus (DM), the high blood-sugar levels are caused by the body not being able to control the blood-sugar levels properly, because of the body’s inability to produce or use insulin. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas and lowers the blood-sugar levels by helping to move the sugar from the blood into the body cells where the sugar is used as a source of energy.

Type 1 DM is often diagnosed in children or teenagers and occurs when the pancreas does not produce any insulin. Type 2 DM occurs when the pancreas does not make enough insulin, or if the body can no longer use the insulin properly; this is often associated with poor lifestyle choices. Where this type of diabetes used to develop primarily in adults of 40 years and older, it is nowadays not uncommon for children to be diagnosed with it.


It is essential that people who are displaying one or more of the risk factors go for screening. This includes a search Physician at FARMOVS. “If DM is detected early enough, up to 90% of people don’t have to use medication but can address it through changes to their diet and exercise programmes.”

High blood-sugar levels essentially damage the blood vessels, which can lead to long-term implications for a person’s heart, kidneys, eyes, and blood circulation. 
The international studies that FARMOVS forms part of, aim to develop treatments for two of the most common secondary conditions that develop as a result of diabetes. 

Diabetic gastroparesis study

A sufferer’s intestines often don’t function properly due to the damage diabetes causes to the nerves which helps the stomach to empty properly; a condition called gastroparesis. Alleviating this condition, typically marked by abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, vomiting, and early satiety (feeling full after eating only a small amount of food), is the aim of one of the studies.

Diabetic impaired kidney function study

A second research study focuses on developing medication that will have a protective effect on a diabetic’s kidneys.  Although nothing can be done to reverse kidney damage, it is hoped that the treatment will slow down kidney degradation.

Focus on prevention

“Both of these studies are aimed at giving diabetics an increased quality of life, and by no means constitute a cure for their condition,” says Dr Van Jaarsveld.
 “The solution lies in combining the correct and committed use of medication with a decreased calorie intake and an increase in exercise – even if it’s just 30 minutes three times a week.”

Value of educating sufferers

A major benefit for participants in the FARMOVS diabetes research trials, is that they gain valuable insight in their own condition.
Diabetes has been called the ‘silent disease’, since sufferers initially have no symptoms.  For that reason, when the average patient is diagnosed with the disease, he/she already has had it for 10 years.   

For me, diabetes is such a sad disease – especially when you see patients with amputated body parts, knowing that it could have been prevented. It is really up to each individual to take responsibility for their own health,” Dr Van Jaarsveld concludes.

Diabetics who are interested in becoming part of the research studies can register online at www.farmovs.com, or contact FARMOVS at +27 51 410 3111.

News Archive

New challenges for animal science discussed
2006-04-04

Some of the guests attending the congress were from the left Dr Heinz Meissner (honorary president of the South African Society for Animal Science (SASAS) and senior manager at the Animal Production Institute of the Agricultural Research Council), Mr Paul Bevan (President of SASAS) and Prof Magda Fourie (Vice-Rector:  Academic Planning at the UFS).
Photo: Lacea Loader

New challenges for animal science discussed  

The South African Society for Animal Science (SASAS) is presenting its 41st Congress at the University of the Free State’s (UFS) Main Campus in Bloemfontein. 

The congress started yesterday and will run until Thursday 6 April 2006.  The theme is New challenges for the animal science industries.

It is one of the largest congresses in the 45 years since SASAS was founded in 1961.  Among the delegates 12 African countries are represented, with the biggest delegation from Kenya.  Delegates are also from the United States of America, Iran, Turkey, Germany, the Netherlands and Portugal and African countries like Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Botswana.

“Many of our members play an important role in the training of animal scientists at universities.  The congress is specifically industry orientated so that scientists can interact with farmers through the respective producer organisations,” said Prof HO de Waal, Chairperson of the organising committee and lecturer at the UFS Department of Animal, Wildlife and Grassland Sciences.

According to Dr Heinz Meissner, honorary president of SASAS and a senior manager at the Animal Production Institute of the Agricultural Research Council, the National Livestock Strategy (NLS) Plan clarifies the role and responsibility of the livestock sector. 

“Through this strategy we need to focus on enhancing equitable access and participation in livestock agriculture, improve global competitiveness and profitability of the livestock sector and ensure that the ventures implemented do not over utilise our resources,” said Dr Meissner.

In her welcoming address, Prof Magda Fourie, Vice-Rector:  Academic Planning at the UFS highlighted the related challenges that the UFS will be focusing on specifically over the next five years.  “We have identified five strategic clusters that represent broad areas of excellence in research and post-graduate education.  Two of these are food production, quality and safety for Africa and sustainable development,” she said.

“The food safety and security cluster will focus on the production of food in all its varieties within the African context, encompassing the entire value chain – from production to consumption and nutrition related issues.  This would include a strong emphasis on sustainable production systems,” she said.

According to Prof Fourie the rural development cluster will engage in questions around the role of higher education in sustainable development.  “One of the focus areas in this strategic cluster pertains to sustainable livelihoods.  It refers to a way of approaching development that incorporates all aspects of human livelihoods and means by which people obtain them,” she said.

Prof Fourie said that the challenges we are facing such as food production can only be effectively addressed through collaborative efforts.  “That is why it is important that collaboration takes place between different scientific disciplines, researchers, institutions and countries who are confronted with similar difficulties,” she said.

According to Prof de Waal the congress will give key role players a unique opportunity to present a profile of what they perceive an animal scientist should be and state their specific requirement regarding the animal sciences and its applications. 

“In this way we can determine what the industry’s needs are and we can re-align our curriculum to suit these needs,” said Prof de Waal.

During the next two days, various areas of interest will be discussed.  This includes ruminant and monogastric nutrition, animal physiology, beef, dairy, sheep and ostrich breeding and sustainable farming covering the range from commercial to the small-scale farming level.

Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel:   (051) 401-2584
Cell:  083 645 2454
E-mail:  loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za
4 April 2006

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