Meet Buyelwa Majikela-Dlangamandla . She is a Registered Nurse and Diabetes Coordinator at Groote Schuur Hospital. Buyelwa is a mother of three and has two grandchildren. She loves music and dancing. Today, she will be sharing her insights with us as part of the diabetes management team.
Who is Buyelwa?
Buyelwa is a registered nurse who obtained her BA Cur degree at the University of South Africa. She has worked in various clinical areas for many years at Groote Schuur Hospital as a professional nurse. In 2000 she joined the Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine at the University of Cape Town (UCT) as a Diabetes educator. In 2014 she obtained a master’s degree (MSc) Nursing at UCT and worked as a clinical educator and was involved in several research projects for the chronic disease initiative for Africa (CDIA).
Buyelwa was a member of the diabetes education consultative section of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) for many years and contributed to the update of the IDF education modules. In 2019 she was a committee member of the 2019 IDF Education and Integrated Care team. She is currently working as Diabetes Co-ordinator at Groote Schuur Hospital.
How do you see your role as part of a Diabetes Care Team?
My role as a diabetes educator is to guide, support and empower people with diabetes with knowledge and skills for effective diabetes self-management. A non-judgemental attitude is crucial as living with diabetes can have many challenges. Creating rapport and safe space for patients is important so that we can understand them better and be able to come up with an individualised action plan.
Why is it important to include you in the Diabetes Care Team?
The Diabetes Care Team would be incomplete without the Diabetes Educator. Although each member of the Team has a different role, the goal for everyone is the same. In fact, the most important person in the Diabetes Care Team, is the person with diabetes.
What is your number 1 tip for a person living with Diabetes?
You can live healthily with diabetes and achieve your goals in life. Don’t be shy to ask for help and support when needed.
Where can we find you?
Cell No: 0827473055
Email: Buyelwa.majikela-dlangamandla@uct.ac.za
Next, we will have Daniel Sher sharing his insights as a Clinical Psychologist and a person living with type 1 diabetes.
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The Travellingmind 