Get to know Holly Rey: SA star advocating for diabetes

Holly Rey is a 30 year old award-winning South African musician, presenter, and producer living with Type 1 diabetes.

Holly Rey brought the Record of the Year Award home to Durban from the 2019 SAMAs. She was the first female artist to hoist this crown in twenty years at 24 years old; just the beginning of her musical journey, which is filled with international tours, platinum record status and a tsunami of local radio play.

Mzansi’s most loved house star has brought diabetes education to her platform! Holly was on our list of 20 South African voices for diabetes. Check out her Instagram profile here and keep reading to get to know what’s under those impressive vocals.

How long have you had diabetes, and how were you diagnosed?

I was diagnosed when I was 11 years old. But I was incorrectly diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and a year later I became extremely ill and was admitted to ICU with diabetes-related complications. I was correctly diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes then.

What’s the one thing you wish you’d known when you were diagnosed with diabetes?

That it gets easier. As you get older and gain a better understanding of how your body works, what your insulin-to-carbohydrate ratio is, and what your insulin sensitivity is, how stress affects you, and of course, diabetics all react differently to different foods. For example, I eat watermelon as one of my fruit portions every day. It has a minor impact on my blood sugar levels, but the benefits for hydration outweigh the few units of insulin I need to take. Another person with diabetes might find that watermelon spikes their readings.

“As you learn about how your body functions living with Type 1 diabetes, you can step into the driver’s seat and gain good control.”

If you could change one thing about diabetes, what would it be?

Shame, comparison culture, and good vs bad diabetic narratives. We will never progress as a community until we shift the stigma.  We all know that language and communication have a powerful impact on perception and the culture around diabetes, so when speaking about diabetes, avoid blame culture language like: 

• High insulin usage
• Too much insulin
• They need more insulin than normal 

Instead, say:

• Higher insulin requirements 
• Different insulin sensitivity
• Individualised insulin needs

What would you say to a person with diabetes who is struggling?

Don’t compare yourself to another person living with diabetes, or better still, do not allow anyone else to compare you with another person with diabetes.

“Diabetes management is not about discipline or willpower; it’s about biology. Two people can eat the same meal and need completely different amounts of insulin.”

Insulin needs can change daily. Hormones, stress, exercise, growth, illness, and even sleep all play a role. Be kind to yourself, you are doing your best. It’s like shoe sizes. Two people can be the same height and still need completely different sizes. Insulin works the same way; it has to fit the individual. Take note of how your body reacts to different foods, exercise, stress, and hormonal cycle, discuss it with your doctor or endocrinologist so that they can better assist you with finding your insulin ratio and doses.

What makes your life sweet?

My insulin pump, wish I had made the transition years ago.