On 23 November 2023, I took part in a workshop on “Living well with Diabetes” that was hosted in honour of World Diabetes Day 2023. This workshop was organised by Certified Diabetes Educator Tinotenda Dzikiti and Consultant Paediatrician Dr. I Ticklay at the Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare, Zimbabwe. Although the main focus of this workshop was on Type 1 Diabetes, the meeting was attended by people with different types of diabetes and other diabetes stakeholders. There were a number of parents with children with diabetes who attended the workshop to gain more insight and understanding of Type 1 diabetes in order to enhance their roles as caregivers. Resource People who attended the meeting, made presentations and led discussions included paediatricians, mental health experts and dieticians. I (Heather Koga) attended the meeting in my capacity as a Diabetes Advocate and made a presentation on “The Importance of Peer Support in Type 1 Diabetes”.
Topics covered included but were not limited to: the overview of diabetes mellitus (inclusive of all types); management of Hypoglycaemia, Hyperglycaemia, Diabetes ketoacidosis (DKA) (and why people REQUIRE hospital care); sick day management; Impact of menarche on people living with diabetes; peer support; mental health; the impact of substance abuse to people living with diabetes; Low Glycaemic Index (GI) versus High GI & its impact on blood glucose.
During the workshop, we also played videos of friends and partners from the global diabetes community, namely Renza Scibilia (who spoke bout about the impact of diabetes stigma and how people can take action); Dawn Adams & Apoorva Gomber who shared about the impact of menstruation on people living with diabetes from their lived experience & researches and Belinda Moore who recommended the resources that people can look up on Diabetes stigma and the connection between diabetes and mernache. The workshop was a great success!

Organizer: Tinotenda Dzikiti , Dr I Ticklay

Event Email: heather.koga@gmail.com
Event website: http://www.tinotendadzikiti.co.zw

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