About us
Sweet Life is an inspiring diabetes community for South Africans with diabetes. We are a registered non-profit with a single focus: to empower people with diabetes in South Africa.
Sweet Life is a diabetes community that informs, inspires and connects people with diabetes in South Africa. You can get expert advice on all you need to know about diabetes and join a community of South Africans with diabetes. Just because you have diabetes, doesn’t mean you can’t live a happy, healthy life.
South Africa’s largest online diabetes community
As a registered NPO (220-984) and PBO (930066897), our mission is:
- To solve diabetes education in SA, by testing out different formats and languages.
- To empower people with diabetes on their journey to a healthy, happy life – by providing answers to all their diabetes questions, and a community to support and share their experiences.
- To bring diabetes into the national spotlight by creating media-friendly talking points around diabetes, so that it’s a frequent topic of discussion on radio and TV.
Our focus is on simple, easy-to-understand information for South Africans with diabetes: foundational diabetes education building blocks.
Our values are authenticity, empowerment and empathy.
Our vision is a South Africa where diabetes is a well-managed condition.
Diabetes isn’t just a medical condition: our team includes top diabetes experts in South Africa. These diabetes experts help us to provide you with reliable, relevant and medically accurate diabetes information.
Sweet Life Voices
Bridget McNulty
Co-founder of Sweet Life, living with Type 1 diabetes
Bridget McNulty is an internationally published author, co-founder of Sweet Life and one of South Africa’s most trusted diabetes voices. She is also the co-founder and current chairperson of SA Diabetes Advocacy, a board member of the Diabetes Alliance, and a member of the IDF Blue Circle Voices. She often speaks about diabetes on national radio and TV.
Shiara Pillay
Project Manager at Sweet Life, living with Type 1 diabetes
Shiara Pillay holds her honours degree in Development Studies, along
with a deep love for tangible sustainable development. Her passion lies
in incorporating her knowledge and experiences into her offerings as an
active citizen and lifelong learner. Living with Type 1 diabetes, she
has been an active member of the diabetes community for well over a
decade.
Sweet Life Board
Lynette Ntuli
Founder and CEO of Innate Investment Solutions
Lynette Ntuli is the Founder and CEO of Innate Investment Solutions. She has held executive leadership positions in diverse sectors, and sits on the boards of various listed and unlisted organisations as a non-executive director. Lynette is passionate about sustainability, people-centered governance and socio-economic development.
Dr. Amanda Saunders
Doctor specialising in Family Medicine
Dr. Amanda Saunders is a public clinic doctor with an MBChB (UKZN), a Diploma in Anaesthesia and presently completing a specialisation in Family Medicine at UCT. She has a deep passion for our public healthcare system, and an interest in how to improve healthcare in South Africa, following exposure to other healthcare systems.
Sebastian Thompson
Co-founder of Gravity Ideas and Lake Innovation
Sebastian Thompson is a behavioural design practitioner and the co-founder of two of South Africa’s most respected behavioural science companies. Sebastian is working to make the world a better place by designing for the mind, and curious about how this can be applied to diabetes.
Nobuntu Webster
Business leader and development strategist, Deputy Leader: BOSA
Nobuntu Webster is a recognised business leader and development strategist, focusing on media strategy in social and economic development. Nobuntu has extensive leadership experience chairing development organisations such as the International Women’s Forum SA, Businesswomen’s Association of SA and KZN Youth Chamber of Commerce.
Claire Barnardo
Case Writing Centre Manager at UCT Graduate School of Business
Claire Barnardo is the Case Writing Centre Manager at the UCT Graduate School of Business, and one of the original founding members of Sweet Life. Prior to cases, Claire was an experienced print editor and journalist. She is passionate about writing and championing African and emerging market business cases.