On the 26 May 2008 the Changing Diabetes Bus started the KZN road show in partnership with the KZN Department of Health. The 40 day road show covered 11 districts with 6961 visitors to the Changing Diabetes Bus. The bus travelled about 11200 km.

The Changing Diabetes Bus visited the following districts: Zululand, Jozini, Empangeni, Stanger, Durban, Port Shepstone, Kokstad, Pietermaritzburg, Dundee, Ladysmith and Newcastle.

During our first two weeks on the road we had already 2454 visitors to the bus. All the communities that we visited were very appreciative of the bus visiting their district and we received positive feedback from both the KZN Department of Health and the communities on our initiative to change diabetes.

We had some memorable moments on the road show. On the 23rd June 2008 the 3rd National Youth Health Indaba was held at the Durban Westville University. The Changing Diabetes Bus offered free screening to 600 delegates and created diabetes awareness. Present on the day were the Minister of Health, Government Departments, Private sector organisations, NGO’s and International organisations.

The people of Mtuba were already queuing from 05h00 in morning for the Changing Diabetes Bus to arrive. When we arrived we had about 100 people waiting in great excitement to learn more about diabetes and to have their blood glucose tested. We received a warm welcome in town. The bus was escorted by the local Traffic Department to the Town Hall.

As we were leaving the Multipurpose Centre at Mbazwana, the bus got stuck in loose sand and it took us one and a half hours to get out the sand with  assistance from the local community.
   
We travelled to the northern region of KZN visiting the town of Manguzi, which is situated 25km south of the Mozambique border. The day started quietly and at the end of the day we had 326 visitors to the bus.

We were able to extend the services offered by having an ophthalmic nurse on board to check all the diabetics either on oral medication or insulin therapy for any retinopathy damage. All those visitors who had retinopathy complications were referred for further management.

Near Richards Bay we visited the Nseleni Community Hall. What an excellent day on the bus with nearly 400 visitors. From the 400 visitors we had 13 visitors with excessive highly blood glucose and blood pressure levels that needed further management. The KZN Emergency Medical Services were on stand by to transport these visitors to the Nseleni Hospital for urgent medical care.

When we arrived at the Belvedere Community Hall, we had 80 people already waiting for the bus. The day started with a health education session in the community hall with various sisters and dieticians on diabetes prevention and the complications. We were welcomed by the CEO of Tongaat Clinic and the ward councillor, Mr Abrahams.