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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

Our Abe Bailey scholars are packing for the UK
2011-08-16

 

Nida Jooste and Ryan Lamb
Photo: Earl Coetzee

Academic excellence and strong leadership has become synonymous with our university, as our two Rhodes scholars for 2011, and the recent announcement of our two Abe Bailey scholars from the UFS have shown.

Nida Jooste and Ryan Lamb are two of the proud recipients of Abe Bailey Travel Bursaries and will be heading off to the United Kingdom on 26 August 2011, to visit several universities in England and Scotland. These two were chosen from hundreds of UFS applicants and will join Abe Bailey bursary holders from the rest of the country.

Both students are academic achievers, but also excel in other fields. This is what set them apart from the rest of the applicants for the bursaries.

Ryan (23), a Medical Physics honours student at our Faculty of Health Sciences, received the Senate Medal for the best bachelor’s degree student at the UFS. He was one of a hundred students at the Brightest Young Minds Summit this year and was one of the 2008 delegates to the World Youth Forum, hosted by the International Association for Poetry and Solidarity in Italy.

This young man is the founder of a group called Poets Anonymous, which provides a platform where poets, artists and dancers in Bloemfontein can express themselves.

Nida (21) is a very familiar face on our Bloemfontein Campus, as she served as the Deputy Chairperson of the Interim Student Council for the past year.

This fourth-year LL.B. student says she has known about the Abe Bailey bursary since her first year, but had to wait to apply, since the scholarship is only open to final-year students and junior lecturers. She applied last year, but did not even make it to the short list for candidates.

“I realise now that I was not involved enough then. Luckily I became much more involved in campus activities during the past year and also improved my academic performance greatly,” she says.

Nida and Ryan both hope to use the opportunity to learn new approaches to solving problems. Ryan says he is looking forward to the opportunity to network with other bursary holders and to share experiences with them, before returning to the UFS to implement what he had learned.

Nida says she also hopes to see how universities in First-World Countries operate, in order to apply that knowledge when she returns to the UFS.

 

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