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Diabetes Open Day: ‘Dealing with diabetes in a fun way’

14 October 2024 | Story Reuben Maeko | Photo Reuben Maeko

Diabetes Open Day 2024 — Dr Deepa Alexander (Senior Lecturer/Head: Clinical Unit Paediatrics and Child Health) and Dietetics student Anri Nel testing blood glucose and recording the blood glucose values of the children with type 1 diabetes.

The University of the Free State (UFS) Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, in collaboration with the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, recently hosted a successful Diabetes Open Day designed for children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

The open day, which aimed to provide a supportive environment to learn, connect, and have fun, took place on Friday 27 September in the CR de Wet/Bophelong Building on the Bloemfontein Campus. The day welcomed 10 children and 10 caregivers, offering a comprehensive programme tailored to address the unique needs of young individuals living with diabetes. The participants, aged five to thirteen, engaged in a variety of activities that educated them about their condition, but also empowered them to take control of their health in a positive and proactive way.

Angelique Carson-Porter, Lecturer in the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics and one of the organisers, stated, “Healthy eating is a cornerstone of diabetes management. Rather than viewing dietary restrictions as limitations, diabetes-friendly cooking classes encourage individuals to explore a world of new flavours and ingredients.” The department offered cooking workshops that teaches parents how to prepare delicious, low-sugar, and nutrient-rich dishes.

Education combined with fun activities

The Diabetes Open Day aimed to bring together children who face the same daily challenges in managing type 1 diabetes. Education combined with fun activities were used to teach the children to improve and control their blood sugar levels. The final-year Dietetics students provided practical advice on managing blood sugar levels, the importance of a balanced diet, and the role of physical activity in diabetes care.

While education and support were central to the day’s agenda, the organisers ensured that fun was a key component of the experience. The day included various engaging activities, all designed to promote physical well-being and emotional expression. These activities aimed to help children see that managing diabetes does not mean missing out on the joys of childhood.

Additionally, the open day offered a safe space for children to express their emotions and share their experiences with peers who understand their journey. This sense of community is crucial for building resilience and fostering a supportive network that extends beyond the event.

This event provided the final-year Dietetics students at the UFS with teaching and learning opportunities, as they were caring for and educating these children, as well as preparing the correct food for them. The students were also responsible for planning the open day, developing educational material to take home, and creating games to teach them the importance of physical activity in the management of type 1 diabetes.

Managing diabetes

According to Katleho Stemmer, a student who participated in the open day, managing diabetes can be a challenging experience, but it does not mean it has to be boring or burdensome. Health experts and diabetes patients alike, she continues, are finding innovative ways to transform their routines and make diabetes management a more engaging and enjoyable process. From interactive cooking classes to fitness challenges and support groups, there are countless ways to turn diabetes management into a fun and motivating journey.

“The key to successfully managing diabetes lies in consistency and a positive mindset. By incorporating fun activities, engaging communities, and a creative approach, individuals can transform their diabetes management routines into an enjoyable and sustainable lifestyle.

“Diabetes doesn’t have to define one's life – it can be an opportunity to explore new hobbies, make new friends, and adopt a healthier, more balanced way of living. With the right support and a little bit of fun, managing diabetes can become less of a challenge and more of an empowering adventure. These gatherings help foster a sense of community and mutual support,” she says.

News Archive

UFS is the most integrated campus in the country

2010-01-29

Judge Ian van der Merwe, Chairperson of the University of the Free State's (UFS) Council and Prof. Jonathan Jansen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS at the official opening ceremony.
Photo: Hannes Pieterse

“The University of the Free State’s (UFS) Main Campus is the most integrated campus in the country.”

This was said by Prof. Jonathan Jansen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS during the university’s official opening on its Main Campus in Bloemfontein today.

Addressing staff and students, Prof. Jansen said that the first-year students in the majority of the residences are now fully integrated on a 50/50 basis. “The majority of our house committees are now also integrated,” he said.

He used the ladies residence Welwitschia as an example. “When I walked into to this residence last year it consisted only of black female students. When I visited them again this year I could not believe what I saw: the residence is fully integrated and there are white and black students living together. This is an example of our young people’s willingness to live together and we must believe in their potential,” he said.

Prof. Jansen said that the UFS does not want to be good because “good is the enemy of great” (from Jim Collins in his book Good to Great). “We want to be great. This is the year in which our staff and students’ lives will change and this university will change as we take the first steps in making the leap from good to great,” he said.

Prof. Jansen said that there have been many developments at the UFS so far this year. “We have attracted some of the best scholars in the country and other parts of the world to this university, and we will be selecting from among them in the next two weeks. We have also attracted some of the best athletes in the country in our first-year class, including some of the best hockey players,” he said.

Prof. Jansen outlined the following as his priorities for 2010:

The phasing in of compulsory class attendance as a way to drastically improve the quality of teaching at the UFS. “This will also enhance our throughput. However, before we can to this, we are going to accelerate the building of larger classrooms to accommodate all our students,” he said.
The appointment of a senior vice-rector in the near future, who will manage the day to day operations of the UFS;
To market the UFS to the best and most promising schools in South Africa. “This will start next week when I will be visiting schools in the Eastern Cape.”
To raise R100 million to enable more students with talent to study at the UFS, and to build an endowment to be proud of for the future of the university;
To upgrade the infrastructure in the residences;
To require every member of the university’s academic staff to publish every year;
To train administrative and support staff so that a world-class service culture can be created which takes every student, every parent and every staff member seriously; and
To insist that the conditions of service of staff working for agencies outside the UFS be improved by increasing the minimum remuneration dramatically and by making study benefits available to them as well. “We will not renew our tenders with outside agencies unless they raise the minimum wage of their staff,” he said.

Prof. Jansen said that he was extremely proud of the Student Representative Council’s (SRC) leadership and what they have achieved so far during their term. He also thanked the staff for their hard work and the excellence they bring to the UFS.

Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Director: Strategic Communication (actg)
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: loaderl@ufs.ac.za
29 January 2010

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