NERS NEWS — Nursing Professional Education Program students from the Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Airlangga, conducted a health education activity entitled “Diabetes Foot Exercises: Healthy Movement for Controlled Blood Sugar” on Thursday, September 17, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. WIB in the 5th Floor Discussion Room of Universitas Airlangga Hospital. The activity was aimed at patients’ family members and caregivers as an effort to improve their understanding of diabetes mellitus, complication prevention, and the importance of physical activity for people with diabetes.
The health education activity was conducted through lectures, demonstrations, and question-and-answer sessions using leaflets and PowerPoint presentations. The materials covered the definition of diabetes mellitus, signs and symptoms, complications, prevention of complications, as well as the definition, benefits, and steps of diabetes foot exercises. Diabetes foot exercises are exercises performed by moving the muscles and joints of the feet. These exercises aim to help improve blood circulation, strengthen the muscles of the feet, prevent wounds and foot deformities, and increase the strength of the calf and thigh muscles. Foot exercises can also serve as a form of physical activity that can be performed regularly as part of diabetes management.
During the activity, participants not only received an explanation about diabetes and its complications but also took part in a demonstration of diabetes foot exercises. The movements demonstrated included exercises to move the toes, raise the toes and heels, perform ankle movements, straighten the legs, and exercises using newspaper with the toes. Participants were then guided to practice the demonstrated movements. Families were selected as the target of the activity based on the importance of their role as a support system for patients with diabetes at home. Families are expected to help remind patients to maintain a healthy lifestyle, adhere to treatment, engage in physical activity, and support patients in independently implementing their care routines.
The activity was conducted by seven Nursing Professional Education Program students from the Faculty of Nursing, Universitas Airlangga: Maharani Gusti Putri Sinatria, Kris Nawandari Putri Maharani, Irna Savira, Najma Faradisa Sufyan, Cici Yulia, Luisa Angelica Bassory, and Puji Tri Purnaningsih. During the activity, Luisa Angelica Bassory served as the moderator, Irna Savira and Cici Yulia as presenters, Kris Nawandari Putri Maharani and Puji Tri Purnaningsih as facilitators, Najma Faradisa Sufyan as the observer, and Maharani Gusti Putri Sinatria as the documentation officer.
The activity was conducted under the guidance of Hidayat Arifin, S.Kep., Ns., M.Kep., PhD, as the academic supervisor, and Nina Yaroh U, S.Kep., Ns., as the clinical supervisor. Through this educational activity, participants are expected to improve their understanding of diabetes mellitus, its signs and symptoms, complications, and prevention efforts. In addition, participants are expected to understand and independently practice diabetes foot exercises, as well as support patients in implementing physical activity and diabetes self-care at home.
Writer: Cici Yulia
