This year Diabetes South Africa celebrated their 55th anniversary; with that we get a rundown of their 55-year history.
Diabetes South Africa was formed in 1969 to be a source of education, information, and support for people living with diabetes throughout South Africa.
At the time, there was very little assistance for those with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. There was a desperate need for information in order for patients to manage their diabetes and avoid the long-term complications if not well-managed.
Initially called SA Diabetes Association, but with the advent of the internet and search engines, the name was changed to Diabetes South Africa, in 2002, for easier access.
DSA joined the International Diabetes Federation in 1976 and were founding members of the SA Non-Communicable Disease Alliance along with two other national organisations in 2006. The purpose was to advocate for vitally needed attention and resources to NCDs.
Over the years, DSA have worked on several diabetes projects with the Medical Research Council and University of Western Cape as well as two European universities.
DSA branches
Various branches were established in Pretoria, Pietermaritzburg, Durban, Port Elizabeth, and the Western Cape. The purpose is to support people with diabetes in the surrounding communities with workshops, diabetes wellness groups, and events.
Youth Type 1 warriors
Since DSA started, one of our passions has been to help and support children and teens with the very challenging and life-threatening Type 1 diabetes.
For nearly 50 years, DSA has been holding annual and bi-annual camps for children with Type 1 to provide them with advice and education on diabetes management. We always work closely with hospitals, clinics, children’s homes, and doctors around South Africa. Many assist with volunteering at the camps.
The aim of the camps is for the children to realise they are not alone and help and support is available. We teach and encourage them to manage their diabetes so that they can thrive and achieve their goals in life with assistance and a positive attitude.
The Youth Type 1 camps have benefited 1000s of children and teens from all over South Africa but can only be held if we receive sponsorship and donations to cover costs. The children have a lot of fun and have fond memories of attending our camps growing up. Several of them have joined our volunteer camp team to pay it forward and help us organise and run camps.
Including the whole family
DSA also reach out to parents and caregivers by hosting family camps, picnics, day workshops and events where the whole family can come and receive support and vital information to help them and their child/children with diabetes.
Diabetes Community Wellness Groups
In 1991, DSA reached out for volunteers through our newsletter. The newsletters were typed on a small portable typewriter and delivered by post. We had the idea of starting Diabetes Community Wellness Groups to assist people in their own communities with regular meetings which we would be able to support. This concept has had such success that we have started and assisted groups around SA, with many running for 30 years and more.
They are all run by volunteers who generously give their time and energy to help people with diabetes. We continue to keep close ties and assist where we can with literature, guidelines, and visits when we can. The groups and facilitators we assist have drawn attention from local and overseas media, BBC, the Guardian, International Diabetes Federation to name a few.
This is an ongoing programme and we continue to work on starting these groups and work with them in order to help those with diabetes in their communities.
See our Support Group Network.
Diabetes training of home-based carers
DSA developed a five-day course, approved by the Department of Health for home-based carers. From 2011 to 2014, DSA ran the diabetes courses in the Khayelitsha area and trained over 400 carers in the management of diabetes.
DSA product endorsements
When you are diagnosed with diabetes, the first thing you are faced with is “What am I allowed to eat which will not push my blood glucose levels up too high?”
In the early 2000s, DSA partnered with the GI Foundation of SA and Department of Health to approve products which are suitable for those with diabetes. Our aim is to assist patients in making the right choices. This project is still ongoing with many products listed.
Diabetes community screening
DSA has spent 55 years doing ongoing community and corporate screening programmes aimed at educating and informing the people of SA about diabetes and assisting with diagnosing those who may already have diabetes and are not aware they have it.
We give out literature, information, and advice to prevent the devastating complications which can arise from undiagnosed or unmanaged diabetes.
Diabetes South Africa website
Our website was established in 2000 and has been an ongoing source of information, education. and support for all people with diabetes and those wanting to find out more about issues relating to diabetes.
Diabetes Focus magazine
In March 1995, Rupert and Sue Leaner launched our national magazine Diabetes Focus with an excellent response. It was published, printed, and distributed to pharmaceutical companies, pharmacies, clinics, dietitians, doctors, and patients every quarter.
In 2014, the last print issue was produced. Due to the high costs, we decided to make it available to everyone on our national website.
Our Diabetes and You booklet was launched in 2000 with 127 000 copies. It’s available in five languages: English, Afrikaans, Xhosa, Zulu, and Sesotho, and explains diabetes in comic book style with lots of graphics and pictures. Our booklet won an international prize for excellence in educating people with diabetes.
Agents for Change
Agents for Change Rural Outreach Project was launched in 1999 and diabetes nurse educators, Buyelwa Majikela-Dlangamandla and Noy Pullen, travelled to the deeply rural and disadvantaged communities in South Africa for 21 years.
This project was funded by the World Diabetes Foundation to enable the two-day interactive learning experience for doctors, nurses, traditional healers, and patients throughout the rural areas in South Africa.
Global Diabetes Run/Walks
DSA Western Cape Branch started doing run/walk events every year from 2000 to 2006. In 2007, the Global Diabetes Run/Walk was launched and so DSA joined and received an award for our participation.
The rest of the branches followed suit and began doing their own Global Diabetes Run/Walk events which are still being done today. During these events, various screenings take place: blood pressure, blood glucose screening, foot examinations, eye screenings, and much more.
We have done many other events such as workshops, awareness, seminars, fundraising train trips, visits to clinics, and screenings.
DSA membership
A membership outreach was started early in DSA’s history and had been ongoing. Members can receive a free blood glucose meter, booklets, recipes, newsletters, discounts on products, free samples, discounted strip prices and much more, for a very small annual fee or a monthly debit order.
DSA is small with a huge challenge and has little financial support. As a result, we have had to think out of the box to provide services to the nearly five million people with diabetes in South Africa.
We would like to continue to help patients with diabetes.
Please help us to continue to save lives by supporting us. Every little bit helps!