We asked our Panel of Experts for answers to the questions you had from our Facebook page South Africans with Diabetes. Here’s all you need to know!
Category: Facts
Fast facts about diabetes – everything from living well with diabetes to diabetes complications. Whether you want to know more about current topics like coronavirus and diabetes, or you need to understand basics like what a dietician does or how to set up a sick day plan, we’ve got it all here for you.
There are so many different types of insulin, and it can be hard to understand what the difference is. Luckily, Dr Michelle Carrihill from the Red Cross Children’s Hospital Diabetes Clinic has a simple way of explaining them. Read on to find out more…
If there’s one question we get asked on South Africans with Diabetes often, it’s: Does insulin make you fat? Here, we give you the straight answer.
Retinopathy is one of the most common diabetes complications, but do you know the facts? We asked Retina SA to explain what retinopathy is and how to spot the first symptoms.
We all know we should be testing our blood glucose regularly, but we don’t always know exactly how to do it… Let’s take a look at some of the questions we get from our South Africans with Diabetes community, and answer them.
As National Kidney Month comes to a close, let’s take a look at diabetes and kidney disease. Kidney disease is a common long-term complication of uncontrolled diabetes, so knowing how to keep your kidneys healthy is important.
You might have heard that eating low GI food is a good idea. But what foods are actually low GI and what does it mean when food has a low GI? We asked registered dietician Chantelle van der Merwe to tell us all about low GI.
The theme for this year’s World Obesity Day is ‘Changing Perspectives: Let’s Talk About Obesity‘. Obesity in South Africa is a big issue, and one we should all be discussing more.
It can sometimes feel like there are a million factors that affect blood sugar – but here’s a list of 42 factors that affect blood sugar, courtesy of diaTribe.
Diabetes complications are one of those things none of us wants to think about… Having diabetes can be stressful enough without worrying about complications.
If you’re living with Type 2 diabetes, you may think that you won’t ever need insulin… But that’s not always true. Insulin is a reality…
Many people struggle with high blood sugar and find it hard to keep their diabetes under control. Here are the symptoms of high blood sugar…
Let’s talk about low blood sugar: the symptoms of low blood sugar, what it feels like, and what to do if you or someone you…
Even the most well-managed person with diabetes will sometimes get sick – we all do! Whether it’s a cold or flu, stomach bug or something…
#KnowYourDiabetesNumber 3 in 5 people with diabetes in South Africa are undiagnosed. And diabetes kills more people than TB, HIV and malaria combined. It is…
One of the things that’s hardest about being diabetic is figuring out who to ask for help: do you need a dietician, a doctor, an…
The other day I asked on Diabetic South Africans if anyone had any diabetes questions for us to ask our experts – and the questions…
We just found out about the Retina Risk App, developed in Reykjavik, Iceland, and wanted to share it with our community of South African diabetics.…
As we all know, diabetes and high cholesterol often go hand in hand. Which is why we’re spreading the word about a cholesterol clinical trial…
Did you catch Sweet Life editor Bridget McNulty when she returned to the Expresso show on SABC3 to talk about Type 2 diabetes? Here’s an…
Type 1 vs Type 2 diabetes Do you know the difference between the types of diabetes – Type 1 vs Type 2 diabetes? Type 1…
Diabetic ketoacidosis is a serious and life-threatening complication that affects people with diabetes and those who have undiagnosed diabetes. The good news? It’s treatable. So it’s really important to understand it and know the warning signs
Let’s talk about low blood sugar: the symptoms of low blood sugar, what it feels like, and what to do if you or someone you love experiences low blood sugar. Many diabetics will tell you that going low is the worst!
Motherhood is a great adventure and (morning sickness aside!) being pregnant is magical. Inside of you, a perfect little baby is growing…If you have diabetes, or get diabetes during pregnancy, you’ll naturally want to know what you can do to stay healthy.
Managing diabetes can seem like a full-time, neverending job. And that sometimes it seems like there are too many things to remember! Keeping your diabetes in check as you get older is not only possible, but important.
Most CVD can be prevented by addressing behavioural risk factors such as tobacco use,
unhealthy diet and obesity, physical inactivity and harmful use of alcohol. Screening for CVD, and other NCDs, are key for early detection, treatment and prevention of other health complications.
Are you testing your blood sugar the right way? It’s easy to make these common mistakes! Here are some top tips to ensure you get…
Neuropathy is one of the most common diabetes-related complications. It occurs when the tiny blood vessels that supply your entire nervous system with blood are damaged. Here’s some more information to help you understand it better.
All diabetics know that foot care is really important, but do you know why? Preventing foot ulcers is an essential part of keeping your feet healthy. Here are some great tips.
Newly diagnosed with diabetes? We get to grips with what your medical scheme can do for you, and what you might have to budget for…
Want to keep healthy all-year round? We’ve found the fastest ways to improve your immunity. A big part of being healthy is, obviously, eating the right food and exercising. Here are some other great tips!
All you need to know about going on holiday with diabetes – Type 1 or Type 2.
All you need to know about cholesterol and diabetes – and how to deal with high cholesterol.
All you need to know about your medication – and how to store it. Insulin is a hormone that controls the amount of glucose in…
Foot problems are one of the things that those of us with diabetes need to watch out for. We’ve got some top tips to keep a healthy spring in your step.
The HbA1c blood test is something that all diabetics should have every few months. But do you know what it is? Here are all the…
Eye disease is a major risk for people living with diabetes. We round up all the facts you need to keep bright-eyed and bushy tailed.…
High blood pressure happens when the blood moves through your arteries at a higher pressure than normal. It is dangerous because it makes the heart work harder than usual and if left uncontrolled, high blood pressure is a risk factor for heart and kidney disease, stroke and blindness.
What are the different types of diabetes? It’s one of the questions we get asked a lot on South Africans with Diabetes. There are three main types of diabetes: Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes. Here’s some basic information about the differences between them.