Winelands Diabetes Education Group

21/03/2022

Looking for a reputable website in South Africa for research in Diabetes?

https://www.cdediabetes.co.za

16/07/2020

Prof Joel Dave is about to talk about diabetes and COVID-19. Tune in if you can!

10/06/2020

Who’s going to join in with the American Diabetes Association, this weekend for a FREE 5km virtual run/walk?
The skies will be clear! Let’s get moving! 💙

5K@ADA Virtual Challenge DuSable Harbor, 111 N Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60601, USA - Join us for the 5K@ADA Virtual Challenge anytime during… - June 12, 2020

29/12/2019

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) can be a life threatening condition and should be treated immediately. It will be better to avoid DKA where possible. This article provides some insights and tips on ways to reduce your risk of developing DKA. If you are unsure, talk to your health care provider about options.

Each year, in the US, there are more than 200,000 cases of DKA.

29/11/2019

For our November talk the Winelands Diabetes Education Group team, gave tips and advice on how to ‘survive’ the, often stressful, holiday season, a time when our routines and well planned days are turned upside down. This was a practical and interactive session for our last meeting of 2019.

🗓 Save the date: 29 January 2020

10/11/2019

This! 👇🏻 The truth, especially number 7!

I am not diabetic, I am not defined by my disease. I am an amazing person with diabetes and I kick ass! 💪🏻 Who agrees? 😉

07/11/2019

14 November is World Diabetes Day. One of our dietitians will be presenting a talk at Mediclinic at 17:30. Entrance is free, so bring all your family and friends along.

07/11/2019

Free glucose & blood pressure screening during November!

03/11/2019

Living with diabetes is about so much more than just high blood glucose, thirst and hunger. Uncontrolled blood glucose can lead to various complications, of which one is kidney disease.

Managing your diabetes well will reduce your risk of developing complications.

KIDNEY HEALTH IN DIABETES: WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
In 2014, the SA Renal Registry reported that 32% of Diabetics in state hospital already have early signs of CKD (Chronic Kidney Disease). We don’t know what the stats are for the private sector, but it is on the increase…..
There are often no symptoms felt in early kidney damage and only regular, annual blood tests done by your doctor will hopefully alert you to the early changes. Always ask what your GFR (glomerular filtration rate) is.
The functions of the kidney are to remove waste products (urea and creatinine) from the body, to regulate chemical levels (for sodium, potassium, phosphates and chloride) as well as secrete red blood cells.
There are 5 stages of chronic kidney disease and if caught early, the outcome can be more favourable in terms of reversing some damage. This would involve the early referral to a Nephrologist and Dietitian, equipped to deal with Diabetes and CKD.
If left untreated, further damaging changes can occur, such as fluid retention, fluid and potassium overload, anaemia and disturbances in vit D levels.
Take home messages for kidney protection:
1) Buy and prepare fresh, unprocessed foods
2) Keep salt intake to a minimum (less than 1 500mg per day)
3) Exercise regularly
4) Eat a plentiful variety of fresh salads and vegetables daily
5) Limit red meat; give preference to more fish and white flesh

Julie Peacock Registered Dietitian
Type 1 Diabetic for past 44 years

01/11/2019

Thank you to everyone who attended our October talk on Glucose Monitoring! Those who attended got some practical hands on time with different types of glucometers and CGM’s (Continuous GIucose Monitors).

Thank you to PatientFocus Torrin Theron Biokineticist Imagine Dietitians and Nicole Du Plooy for providing products and materials for this talk.

Save the date: 27 November - we celebrate National Diabetes month and prepare for the holidays!

23/10/2019

Join us next week Wednesday 30 October at 18:00 for another informative session on blood glucose monitoring! We will be talking about measuring, meters, time in range, factors affecting blood glucose readings and more!

10/10/2019

Who can relate? 🤷🏻‍♀️

👜

23/09/2019

Are you joining us for our next Diabetes Education Group Wednesday, 25 September? Sr Marleze van Rhyn (Diabetes Nurse Educator) will be sharing information on diabetes management. Sr Marleze is accredited with the CDE and loves working with people with diabetes. We would love to meet you. Entrance is free and everyone is welcome.

18/09/2019

Who here wears their pancreas on their hip? 💪🏻

Truth

18/09/2019

It may surprise you to learn that YOU are the most important member of your diabetes care team.

After all, you are the one who has diabetes and who lives with it every day. Only you know how you feel and what you are willing and able to do.
You make the choices for:

When and how you take medicine or inject insulin, if prescribed.
When you check your blood glucose (blood sugar) and how you track the results.
What food you make and eat.
When and how often you exercise.
And, of course, you are the first to notice any problems. Your diabetes care team depends on you to tell the truth about how you feel. You may work with many different kinds of healthcare providers who are part of your diabetes care team. These can include:

Primary Care Provider: your GP

Endocrinologist: specializes in diabetes and other diseases of the endocrine system (the system that produces hormones such as insulin).

Ophthalmologist: the eye doctor

Podiatrist (DPM): the foot doctor, is trained to treat feet and lower leg problems.

Pharmacist (PharmD): knows about medicines, what’s in them, and how they interact with each other.

Dentist (DMD or DDS): to take care of your teeth and gums.

Registered Nurse/Nurse Navigator (RN): helps coordinate your healthcare needs.

Registered Dietitian (RD or RDN): the expert in nutrition (what food your particular body needs to stay healthy). Talking to a registered dietitian will help you use what you eat and drink as tools for managing your blood glucose.

Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE): This is a healthcare provider with extensive training and experience working with people with diabetes, and who has passed a credentialed board exam. Diabetes educators help you figure out how to manage the things you need to do to take care of your diabetes, in a way that fits with your daily life, routines, environment, and family dynamics.

Psychologist: To help you deal with the day-to-day challenges of living with diabetes as well as more serious emotional issues. Be sure to work with a mental health professional who understands diabetes and the medicine and insulin you are taking that may affect your blood glucose.

Biokineticist: A exercise specialist who can help you find exercises that are safe for you, and ensure you get the most out of your exercise program. Be sure to work with a fitness professional who understands diabetes and the medicine and insulin you are taking that may affect your blood glucose.

It is important to choose diabetes care team members who can provide the level of support you want and provide help when you need it. The more information you can give when you get help, the easier it is for someone to assist you. Be sure to write down questions and concerns to bring with you to your appointments.

13/08/2019

Our team Biokineticist, Torrin Theron, attended the CDE Postgraduate Forum in Diabetes Management at the beginning of the month. One of her favorite speakers was an international speaker, Prof Chad Cohen. His topic: ‘New Measures of Glycemic Control, Beyond HbA1c’
His talk centered around what the CGM data is actually telling us, how much time we spend above, in or below range, not just the average number in the middle. The more knowledge we have with regards to where our blood glucose is the easier we will be able to manage our Diabetes. The better control we have, the lower our HbA1c will be.

Improvements in sensor accuracy, greater convenience and ease of use, and expanding reimbursement have led to growing adoption of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). However, successful utilization of CGM technology in routine clinical practice remains relatively low. This may be due in part to the...

31/07/2019

This months talk was all about exercise: ‘How do I start? What should I be doing & why should I be doing it?’ Registered Biokineticist, Torrin Theron, explained why exercise is one of the cornerstones in the treatment of Diabetes, recommended guidelines to starting to exercise and helped the group set their own exercise goals.

Save the date for next months talk: 28 August 18:00

29/07/2019

is one of the most common chronic conditions, affecting 1 in 11 adults globally https://www.idf.org/aboutdiabetes/what-is-diabetes.html