Lurina Fourie: The ABC of T1D
SA Diabetes Advocacy has a FREE, online diabetes advocacy course. SA Diabetes Advocacy created this course to empower people living with diabetes, and people caring for those with diabetes, to create meaningful change in South Africa. We want to give people all the tools, knowledge and strategy to make a difference in the lives of those with diabetes. Lurina Fourie is one of our course graduates and has been doing incredible things in the diabetes community. We asked Lurina what advocacy projects she is involved in, how she got inspired and any advice she can give to others who are wanting to advocate for diabetes in their own community.
“When I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 16, I felt a gap in my immediate surrounds and I wished that more people knew just some basic facts about my life with Type 1 diabetes ”
What advocacy projects are you involved in?
Project name: The ABC of Type 1D
I do educational talks at primary schools where there are children living with Type 1 diabetes in the schools. It is not a general T1D talk for the whole school, instead I focus on the inner circle of the child living with Type 1 diabetes. I am the voice speaking on behalf of those living with T1D. By visiting the specific classrooms and talking to the classmates and teachers, a basic understanding and a more comfortable environment surrounding Type 1 diabetes is created.
It is quite a task to explain a complex condition like T1D in a short period of time and to such a young crowd, so I don’t talk about what T1D is and how the body works, etc. Instead, I focus on the warning signs of low blood sugar and also crush stigmas like “diabetes is contagious”, “it was caused by eating too much sweets”, etc. The talks are presented in a fun and interactive way and each child receives an educational paper toy called a “quacker”with valuable information printed all over. While playing the game, they learn the facts about a hypo and as they take the games home and introduce it to their siblings, parents, etc it creates a ripple effect and the information infiltrates into a bigger network.
The “quacker” is focused on warning signs of low blood sugar, for people to be able to recognize it and react accordingly, which could save a life. There is another “quacker” coming soon, shining the spotlight on stigmas associated with Type 1 diabetes.
What inspired you to get started?
When I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 16, I felt a gap in my immediate surrounds and I wished that more people knew just some basic facts about my life with Type 1 diabetes. This feeling just grew over the years. I’ve been dreaming about my role in the diabetes community for a very long time and it has been hammering on my heart for years, but I was looking for something different. It always felt as if my contribution wouldn’t be big enough to make a change.
While participating in the course hosted by SA Diabetes Advocacy in February 2023, I realized the incredible need for basic hands on education and my goal has always been to not educate people living with diabetes, but those around them instead, to try and eliminate misconceptions regarding diabetes. One of the topics of discussion was also based on the fact that we will never be able to assist in every single aspect of diabetes that needs attention, but if we can focus on one thing and run with it, it could make a significant impact. I love to keep things fun and light and the idea of using the age old concept of the the paper “quacker” and turning it into an educational toy, just popped into my head and I started playing around with the idea.
The very first “quacker” was super handmade and primitive and I introduced it in the Advocacy Course. I kept it on my desk for weeks after and started re-designing it in my head. I did a few tests with individual children and they loved it, so I made a few alterations to ensure that it is a perfect fit. One thing lead to another and we’ve reached the point where the “quackers” are distributed in each classroom that I visit, as part of the interactive session.
The SA Diabetes Advocacy course helped me to find my voice in the diabetes community by showing the huge need for a fresh approach to a condition which seems so watered down, even though it is majorly complicated. It also opened my mind about the different areas of diabetes that needs attention. To me stigma is a big thing, but to a next person access to medication is a major issue and stigma is their last worry. It made me think. Just because I am not confronted by something, doesn’t mean that it is not important or real.
Any advice for others who want to do something similar?
There will never be too much diabetes awareness going around, so don’t ever think that you will not be able to create the change you wish to see when it comes to drawing attention to the condition. If you can reach one person, whether living with diabetes or not, it is one person’s life that can be changed or saved. I can’t cure Type 1 diabetes (well, who knows, lol) but I can lighten the load for someone else, and while doing it, it enriches me too.
This Swedish Proverb has always been special to me: “Shared joy is a double joy, shared sorrow is half a sorrow” and since starting with the project, it has become even more true to me: parents are phoning me in tears, because they can’t believe that someone is reaching out. I see kids freely engaging and smiling about a condition that is intimidating and grim, and it gives my heart the warmest, fuzziest feeling!
The lyrics of Rachel Platten’s Fight Song keep playing in my mind, over and over again:
Like a small boat, on the ocean
Sending big waves, into motion
Like how a single word, can make a heart open
I might only have one match, but I can make an explosion
Follow Lurina Fourie below:
Instagram: @theglucoseglitch
YouTube Channel: The Glucose Glitch
Facebook Group: The Glucose Glitch
TikTok: TheGlucoseGlitch
