SUBSCRIBE
Wed, Jun 29, 2022
Health For Mzansi
  • Trending
  • My Health
  • Conversations
    • Podcast
  • Grow It
  • Recipes
  • Choices
No Result
View All Result
  • Trending
  • My Health
  • Conversations
    • Podcast
  • Grow It
  • Recipes
  • Choices
No Result
View All Result
Health For Mzansi
No Result
View All Result

Dietitian gives her all to help diabetes patients

by Noluthando Ngcakani
22nd Apr 2022
in Trending
Reading Time: 4 mins read
A A
Dietitian gives her all to help diabetes patients

Stellenbosch University's Dr Joleen Cairncross (left), and the founder of the Great diabetes programme and dietitian Joy Williams (right). Photo: Supplied/Health For Mzansi

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Whatsapp

A Western Cape dietitian is on a mission to empower and educate Cape Town’s kasi communities about chronic health conditions. With her base of operations in Delft on the Cape Flats, Joy Williams is the founder of Great, a diabetes programme through which she empowers patients to better manager the chronic illness.

The Group Empowerment and Training (Great) programme offers group support for patients and training for healthcare providers in diabetes. “Research has indicated that patients benefit greatly from group counseling sessions,” she says.

“The Great programme offers a new way of thinking and learning in patient education, specifically in the context of diabetes management,” Williams explains.

ADVERTISEMENT

Williams tells Health For Mzansi that the project started in Khayelitsha and the eastern districts of Cape Town. The initiative was later rolled out in Delft, which forms part of the northern and Tygerberg district.

Max Ben says his health has improved since joining the Great initiative. Ben joined his diabetes counseling sessions online during the Covid-19 lockdown. Photo: Supplied/Health For Mzansi

“I received training along with two other dietitians to roll out this programme. After the training, we went back to our respective facilities and implemented this programme by facilitating group sessions. After the first few sessions, we could see the difference it made to patients. We have started to train other healthcare workers who will become facilitators to support more patients.”

ADVERTISEMENT

‘I felt valued’

One patient, Max Ben, from Delft says the programme made him feel valued and changed his life. In December 2020, Ben contracted Covid-19 and was hospitalised. Soon after his hospitalisation, Ben discovered that he had diabetes.

He knew he would need help to manage his new chronic illness and reached out to healthcare workers at the Symphony Way Community Day Centre in Delft, where he joined the Living Great with Diabetes Programme.

“I was very sick when I had Covid-19 and later found out I am a diabetic,” he says. “I knew that healthy living would be important. I decided to join the Living Great with Diabetes Programme.

“They called me and told me when I could join a diabetes group session. They taught us how to create a healthy diet and I have stuck with it since 2021 and am seeing the benefits. They have also taught us about importance of exercise, and I go for walks regularly now.”

“It is also important for us to take our medication as prescribed to better manage our chronic condition. I am much healthier now than before and I have learnt so much from this programme. I am grateful.”

Diabetes patient Max Ben

A challenge that proved difficult to overcome was the hard Covid-19 lockdown of 2020, when group sessions could no longer take place in person. This, however, did not deter Williams who was determined to continue the programme with her patients. She partnered with the Stellenbosch University to deliver tablets for each patient to join group sessions online.

ADVERTISEMENT
Diabetes awareness means not only knowing what to eat, but also when and how much. Photo: Supplied/Health For Mzansi

Planning for the future

The programme was first launched in 2018 under the guidance of Stellenbosch University’s Dr Joleen Cairncross.

“In 2018 Symphony Way CDC became a pilot site for the implementation of a comprehensive approach to patient education and counselling for non-communicable diseases in primary care. This was a collaborative approach partnering with the division of family medicine at Stellenbosch University, and the Collaboration for Evidence-Based Healthcare and Public Health in Africa.

“This is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). It is part of the initiative for strengthening research networks for health innovations in Sub-Saharan Africa and is based on the federal government’s strategy for the internationalisation of science and research,” says Cairncross.

Meanwhile Williams hopes to train more healthcare workers to bring the service to other communities, such as Elsies River.

“Our vision as a district health team is to train at least three facilitators per clinic to implement these groups in our healthcare facilities. This will empower our healthcare staff and improve their knowledge on the management of people living with diabetes.”

In order to manage diabetes successfully, most diabetics need to make some serious lifestyle changes. Photo: Supplied/Health For Mzansi

Easy tips for diabetics

Diabetes is a major cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, stroke and lower limb amputation. The good news is that diabetes can be treated, and its consequences avoided or delayed with diet, physical activity, medication and regular screening and treatment for complications.

Williams shares three tips for people living with diabetes:

1. Practice portion control, eat complex starches, lean meats, and increase your consumption of vegetables and salads in all your meals.

2. Exercise 30 – 45min, 3 – 4 times per week (150 min/week).

3. Use your chronic medication every day as prescribed by your medical doctor.

If you need support, visit your nearest clinic for counselling with a dietitian.

ALSO READ: Diabetes doesn’t have to be a death sentence

Tags: Covid-19healthhealthy lifestyleNutritionwellness
Share130Tweet81Send
Previous Post

The bleeding hell of living with haemophilia

Next Post

Help your kids to rock their glasses with pride

Noluthando Ngcakani

Noluthando Ngcakani

Related Articles

When is a disease deemed a global emergency?
Trending

When is a disease deemed a global emergency?

by The Conversation
29th Jun 2022
0

The world has come a long way since the outbreak of cholera in the mid-1900s, and so too have the International Health Regulations. When there is a disease outbreak, a number of...

Read more
Monkeypox: Disease experts give the true facts

Monkeypox: Disease experts give the true facts

28th Jun 2022
Tavern tragedy: Teen issues under the microscope

Tavern tragedy: Teen issues under the microscope

28th Jun 2022
Dance therapy: Dance and movement therapy offers a self-empowering mind-body approach to mental health treatment. Photo: Supplied/Health For Mzansi

Dancing can help your brain, so get your groove on!

27th Jun 2022
Next Post
Help your kids to rock their glasses with pride

Help your kids to rock their glasses with pride

Plant sprouts: The craze that’s full of yummy goodness

Plant sprouts: The craze that's full of yummy goodness

High Court sets out new guidelines for surrogacy

High Court sets out new guidelines for surrogacy

Stories

Finding a happy medium: Divorce vs co-parenting
Loyiso taps into liquid gold of extra virgin olive oil
Youth transform dumping site into thriving food garden
Winter: An ideal time to plant root veggies, take stock
Early pregnancy care essential for moms-to-be
Meet Mzansi’s Keto Queen, Sharney Blackway
Heart health: Keep your diet lean, clean and green
Yummy Meatless Wellington
No Result
View All Result

Categories

  • Choices (40)
  • Conversations (74)
  • Featured (1)
  • Grow It (52)
  • My Health (103)
  • Podcast (43)
  • Recipes (56)
  • Remedies (5)
  • Trending (274)

Recent

Olive vs vegetable oil: Soak up the best of both worlds

Olive vs vegetable oil: Soak up the best of both worlds

29th Jun 2022
When is a disease deemed a global emergency?

When is a disease deemed a global emergency?

29th Jun 2022
Boost your iron levels with Mangale’s pap and spinach

Boost your iron levels with Mangale’s pap and spinach

28th Jun 2022
Health For Mzansi

Contact us
Office: +27 21 879 1824

Marketing: +27 71 147 0388
News: hello@healthformzansi.co.za
Advertising: sales@foodformzansi.co.za

Privacy Policy
Cookie Policy

cropped-poster-2022-06-06T090553.304.jpg

Youth transform dumping site into thriving food garden

cropped-Katlego-Moloto.png

Weight loss a health triumph for determined mom

cropped-Jada-Pinkett-Smith-scaled-1.jpg

Alopecia is no joke!

Olive vs vegetable oil: Soak up the best of both worlds

When is a disease deemed a global emergency?

Boost your iron levels with Mangale’s pap and spinach

Monkeypox: Disease experts give the true facts

Tavern tragedy: Teen issues under the microscope

Dancing can help your brain, so get your groove on!

No Result
View All Result
  • Trending
  • My Health
  • Conversations
    • Podcast
  • Grow It
  • Recipes
  • Choices

© 2021 Health For Mzansi | Farmers For Change Pty (Ltd)

By continuing the use of our Website, you are explicitly and actively consenting to our processing of your personal information as per our Privacy Policy.
Cookie SettingsACCEPT
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT
Go to mobile version
Finding a happy medium: Divorce vs co-parenting Loyiso taps into liquid gold of extra virgin olive oil Youth transform dumping site into thriving food garden Winter: An ideal time to plant root veggies, take stock Early pregnancy care essential for moms-to-be Meet Mzansi’s Keto Queen, Sharney Blackway Heart health: Keep your diet lean, clean and green Yummy Meatless Wellington