A recently concluded Diabetes Boot Camp hosted by CIDRZ’s PEN-Plus in collaboration with the Diabetic Association of Zambia (DAZ) and the Sonia Nabeta Foundation (SNF) of Uganda was nothing short of a thrilling four-day adventure for Type 1 diabetic patients drawn from the Mwachinsopola, Kapiri Mposhi, and Matero first-level hospitals PEN-Plus clinics.

The camp, which combined entertainment with valuable health education on the intersection of diabetes and sports, mental health, and nutrition, created a fun and supportive atmosphere. The campers were grouped and engaged in various competitive sports activities, vying for top honours, with the winners crowned at the end of the activities.

Before the sports activities, Dr. Ruth Nawa from Matero level 1 hospital emphasised the importance of physical activity in managing blood sugar levels, noting that exercise enhances insulin sensitivity, thereby reducing the amount of insulin needed to process carbohydrates.

“As we head for sports, checking your blood sugar before exercising is important to ensure it is within the target range of 7 mmol/L to 10 mmol/L. And be alert to how your body responds to exercise to prevent immediate or delayed hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar),” she advised.

Sonia Nabeta Foundation Regional Director Ophelia Nabeta said boot camps such as this should be part of the T1D care model, offering dynamic, interactive sessions that use song and dance to reinforce self-management techniques.

She added that the camps help forge lifelong friendships and build a supportive community with warriors supporting each other.

“Our flagship camps, which address some of the psychosocial barriers to good clinical outcomes, provide a structured environment where children and adolescents with T1D (aka warriors) can learn tailored to their age and needs,” Ms Nabeta said.

During the awards ceremony for the best performers, PEN-Plus Principal Investigator Professor Fastone Goma thanked the Ugandan team for their tremendous efforts and praised the campers for their boundless energy and enthusiasm, reminding everyone that they were all winners.