2024 Diabetes Advocacy Projects
1. Continuous Glucose Monitor Access in the Public Sector
We continue to work with FIND on CGM access. FIND is working on a project which focuses on Access to Continuous Glucose Monitors for Equity in Diabetes Management (ACCEDE) which seeks to make continuous glucose monitoring devices (CGMs) more accessible and affordable to people living with diabetes in Kenya and South Africa.
“CGMs have become a standard part of diabetes management in high-income countries, but adoption of this technology in Low to Middle Income Countries has lagged. FIND market research shows that only 16% of individuals with Type 1 diabetes in South Africa have access to CGMs, with the figure dropping to just 3% in Kenya.”
2. Long-acting metformin
Diarrhea is a common side-effect of regular metformin, but long-acting metformin (that eliminates this side-effect) isn’t often available in the state sector. For those who need it, this drug can be life-saving, as it means they’ll continue taking their medication. Non-compliance (not taking the medication) is an issue when medication makes you feel ill. Mark Savary, one of our diabetes advocates, is leading this project and finding a way to get long-acting metformin on the state sector formulary.
3. Social Worker Support
In 2023, we connected with the Red Cross Children’s Hospital Diabetes Clinic, where we were told that one of their biggest needs is access to a counseling social worker. Many of these young children living with diabetes are exposed to gang violence, gender based violence, poverty and food scarcity. This exposure is impacting their diabetes care because other issues are not being dealt with adequately. We have worked year long on this project and look forward to a counseling social worker starting at the clinic in 2024.
4. Food Security Project
For some people with diabetes, food insecurity is their biggest issue. You shouldn’t take insulin if you don’t know where your next meal is coming from, but you need to take insulin if you have Type 1 diabetes. Food grants and disability grants aren’t available to them, but many organisations across South Africa have feeding schemes. What if we connected each public clinic with an organisation so that individuals who are food insecure could have access to their feeding scheme? That’s what we’re trying to answer with this Food Security Project.
5. Transitional Care Support
We have been asked to assist with a new transitional care diabetes clinic (ages 12 to 20) at Helen Joseph Hospital in Joburg. The young adults are from disadvantaged backgrounds, so there are challenges when it comes to drugs, alcohol and gang activities - on top of diabetes. We will be working with our advocates to start an Instagram account to address difficult topics that many young adults do not want to discuss with their healthcare team. We would also like to start a WhatsApp group with the potential of in-person meetups for the young adults to connect and learn from one another and leading diabetes advocates in South Africa.
While this first project is specifically for Helen Joseph, we would like to be able to replicate it in other cities around South Africa. The Instagram page would remain consistent, but each clinic would have its own WhatsApp group and bimonthly meet-up.
