Diabetes Mellitus (DM) has become one of the main health problems in Indonesia. Not only afflicting adults, the number of diabetes cases in children has also shown an alarming increase. Responding to this situation, Universitas Indonesia (UI), through the Faculty of Nursing (FIK) carried out community service (pengmas) by launching the program “Pendampingan Sekolah Dasar dan Menengah untuk Menciptakan Ekologi Pendidikan Sadar (PENDAR) Diabetes” (Elementary and Secondary School Assistance to Create a Diabetes Awareness Education Ecology).
Head of Pengmas FIK UI, Yulia, S.Kp., MN., Ph.D., said that this program aims to form awareness of healthy living from an early age in the school environment. In addition, this program also supports children with diabetes so that they can remain enthusiastic about learning and achieving. “The PENDAR Diabetes program was implemented from May to October 2024 involving more than 200 students from several schools in Depok, such as Sekolah Dasar Islam Terpadu (SDIT) and Sekolah Menengah Pertama Islam Terpadu (SMPIT) Nurul Fikri,” said Yulia.
She further said, based on data from the Ikatan Dokter Anak Indonesia (Indonesian Pediatric Society), or IDAI, cases of diabetes in children in Indonesia will increase by 70% in 2023, with the highest spike in cases in urban areas. Data from the Depok City Health Office (Dinkes) also revealed that in 2022 there were 109 cases of diabetes in children aged 5-14 years in the city.
In addition, the prevalence of diabetes in Indonesia as a whole also continues to increase. Indonesia is even recorded as one of the countries with the largest number of Type 2 DM sufferers in the world, and projections show that this number will continue to increase until 2045. An unhealthy lifestyle, such as a high-sugar diet and lack of physical activity, are the main triggers for the increase in cases of Type 2 Diabetes in children. Meanwhile, Type 1 DM is more often triggered by genetic and autoimmune factors.
Diabetes, both Type 1 and Type 2, not only affects physical health, but also the psychological and social conditions of sufferers. Children with diabetes often face stigma and challenges in their daily lives, from different treatments to difficulties in carrying out activities with their friends.
Seeing these conditions, preventive and educational approaches are very important. Education that starts from schools aims not only to prevent, but also to create an environment that supports children with diabetes so that they can feel accepted and supported in their daily lives.
To that end, Yulia explained that this program not only focuses on children’s physical health but also psychological and social aspects. “With this program, we want to create a school environment that not only supports physical health but is also free from stigma, so that children with diabetes can feel good social support in their environment,” said Yulia.
In its implementation, educational activities are carried out to increase students’ awareness and understanding of diabetes prevention, including interactive discussions, training in choosing healthy foods, planning physical activities, and poster competitions that spread messages about the importance of a healthy lifestyle. In addition, PENDAR Diabetes also involves teachers and school staff through Training of Trainers (ToT) training, which equips them with basic knowledge about diabetes prevention and management.
The Vice Principal for Student Affairs of SDIT Nurul Fikri Lilis Badriah, M.Pd., said that this training is very helpful for teachers to become educational drivers in the classroom. “This training is very useful for us as teachers, because we now have better knowledge in educating children about the importance of maintaining a healthy diet and exercising regularly,” said Lilis.
In this program, students are taught healthy eating patterns as the first step in preventing diabetes. This education includes choosing nutritious foods, limiting sugar and processed carbohydrates, and exercising for at least 30 minutes every day to increase the body’s insulin sensitivity. With PENDAR Diabetes, FIK UI seeks to encourage schools in Depok to become pioneers in creating an environment that supports diabetes prevention.
Through this program, Yulia and her team hope that through this small step, the PENDAR Diabetes program can have a big impact on students, families, and the wider community. “FIK UI is committed to continuing to support the creation of a healthier young generation, who care about their health, and have a deep understanding of early prevention of chronic diseases,” said Yulia. Meanwhile, the FIK UI Community Service Team consists of lecturers from FIK UI, namely Dr. Debie Dahlia, SKp., MHSM.; Dr. Nur Agustini, S.Kp., M.Si.; Dr. Ns. Dikha Ayu Kurnia, S.Kep., M.Kep., Sp.Kep.MB.; Ns. Chiyar Edison, S.Kep., MSc.; and Ns. Liya Arista, S.Kep., M.Kep., Sp.Kep.MB.
Dean of FIK UI, Agus Setiawan, S.Kp., M.N., D.N., expressed his support for the PENDAR Diabetes program and the importance of health education for the younger generation. “Healthy and smart children are the biggest investment for the future of the nation. Through the PENDAR Diabetes program, we hope to not only educate them about the importance of health, but also inspire them to become agents of change who are able to spread the spirit of healthy living in their environment,” said Agus.
