Do you know your diabetes rights?

People with diabetes need to be empowered to manage their own health. But how can they do that if they don’t know their diabetes rights?

Now they do. Sweet Life, in collaboration with the National Department of Health, have created easily shareable graphics to explain your diabetes rights. Sweet Life CEO and co-founder Bridget McNulty unpacks them for us.

The power of knowing your diabetes rights

Diabetes is a 24/7/365 condition. If you’re lucky, you get to see a doctor for 2 hours a year – the other 8,758 hours you’re taking responsibility for managing your diabetes. So it’s essential that you have the tools you need to manage your condition. One of the most critical tools is the right supplies: medication, testing strips and annual screenings. But too many of our community members didn’t know what they could ask for at their public clinic or hospital – or, in fact, from their hospital. That’s why we’ve created this diabetes rights campaign.

Endorsed by the National Department of Health

Critically, we worked with the National Department of Health to develop these diabetes rights, so that anyone accessing their care in the public sector is empowered to ask their clinic sister or doctor for the rights detailed on this pamphlet and WhatsApp graphic. 

Prof. Joel Dave, head of endocrinology at Groote Schuur and UCT, was also a key collaborator. “Diabetes rights are non-negotiable,” he says. “Know them, defend them, strive for equal access, reject stigma.” When people with diabetes know what they are entitled to ask for, they can take charge of their own health, which will result in better long-term outcomes for everyone.

Share these materials

We are encouraging all South Africans with Diabetes to share these materials, as well as distributing them through our nationwide network of people living with diabetes, dieticians and doctors, so that as many South Africans as possible can feel empowered by knowing their diabetes rights. You can find out all the details at https://sweetlife.org.za/diabetesrights/ 

Support for people with diabetes, from people with diabetes

Sweet Life is an online diabetes community that empowers people to live healthier, happier lives through easy-to-understand information on healthy eating, exercise, mental health and the basics of diabetes. Connect with other people with diabetes and get mental health support by joining their community on Facebook and Instagram, or find answers to your diabetes questions on www.sweetlife.org.za