When our co-founder Bridget wrote this column about 15 things diabetes taught her, she was overwhelmed by all the excellent feedback from our South Africans with Diabetes community. So we gathered it up. We asked our community: What has diabetes taught you?
Answers to “What has diabetes taught you?”
Kim Andersen
That I am not to blame.
Sharon Baratang Khoza
You have one life, live it well
Alice Mabe
To accept the person that I had become and not explain myself to the ignorant.
Alexandra Van Essche
It’s taught me that looking after my body is the most important thing I can do.
Isabella Eksteen
Go with the flow….and understand that sometimes you need to kick it to the kerb!
Don’t let it become your “Tag”… go on with your life and learn what to eat.
Ams Huisamen
Beatrix Botha
That you must accept it, and try to manage your diabetes as well as you can, with the medications prescribed to you.
Cpho Smah Nkosi
That I’m always a target for infections and in peaceful nights sometimes.
Mary-Anne Cass Arnolds
Eat correctly, and watch the carbs!!!
Siraj Majid
That sugar is not sweet.
Nicolene Andries
To be humble and appreciate life.
I can only sadly think about my life before I was diagnosed and I should have appreciated life and my health more.
Lethu Makhathini
That I am so sweet
Charles Bezuidenhout
Stay positive, not the end.
Juliet Mattheus
Be in the moment. Diabetes is hard! Appreciate CGM technology. Some days you have no control..
I have learnt no sugar no carbs is best option. No bread, no pastas etc. You won’t believe it…
Ray de Wee
Raylene Captain-Hasthibeer
It’s taught me that just because you avoid getting tested and aren’t officially diagnosed, doesn’t mean you aren’t diabetic. It’s a difficult condition, but at least we KNOW we have it and can start managing it – many others don’t. I’m one month into my diagnosis and grateful for this group, and the others I’ve found on Facebook. The advice and sense of community is invaluable – thank you
Maggie Rose Bez
To be grateful.
Kemantha Govender
Re-establish relationship with food… it can be a beautiful relationship. Advocating for your own health and learning and unlearning new behaviours.
To love yourself, to take care of yourself, to eat healthy food, to exercise
Mikie Mongale
To be the best version of myself.
Katleho Iolom Moloi
Psalm Psalm
It’s taught me that it’s normal to be moody and tired after 8 hours of normal sleep.
Nokuthula Thuli
Taking good care of yourself and stick to the treatment.
Juliana Henry Cilliers
That your life can dramatically change in a blink of an eye and after that your life will never be the same
Sharon Fourie
Be cautious daily of my intake on food, drink, sweets etc.. drink water with lemon every day, eat a lot of vegetables and fruits
Never ever underestimate what diabetes can do to your body with the complications it can cause if you do not take care of the management of it.
Riaan Naudรฉ
What about you? What has diabetes taught you?
What to read next?
What are the different food groups? A simple explanation: According to the South African food-based dietary guidelines (SAFBDGs 2012) there are seven food groups that can be eaten regularly. An adequate diet is one that includes a variety of these food groups in moderation.
Free Healthy Food Guide- how to eat healthy with diabetes or to lose weight: This Healthy Food Guide shows you exactly which foods to choose (and which to avoid), as well as sharing which portions to eat. Itโs also useful if you have high blood pressure or cholesterol โ itโs a Healthy Food Guide for the whole family!
How to do carb counting- a detailed list of all the foods you need to know: Whether youโve chosen a low carb diet or a more traditional diabetes diet, itโs helpful to know exactly how many carbs youโre eating, so that you know exactly how much insulin to inject.
Photo by Graca Assane and Morgan Sessions on Unsplash
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