AtoZ of Diabetes 2020

Welcome to the first issue of your AtoZ of Diabetes.


This initiative offers the reader a valuable resource. Here we highlight the online Diabetes Focus magazine to a new footprint together with Medipost. This partnership engages a new audience and offers support and education to the challenges that people with diabetes live with daily. We thank Medipost for their vision and assistance with distribution of the printed booklet.

A very big thank you to our loyal advertisers and contributors for their support. You make it all happen.

Kind regards 
The Word for Word Media Team

PUBLISHER & ADVERTISING: Karen Joseph –  karen@diabetesfocus.co.za
ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE: Samantha Opie –  sam@diabetesfocus.co.za
EDITOR: Laurelle Williams – editor@diabetesfocus.co.za
WEB DESIGN & ADMINISTRATOR: Sandra De Oliveira – sandra@diabetesfocus.co.za
DISCLAIMER – PLEASE NOTE:  The views expressed in the AtoZ of Diabetes do not necessarily reflect the policy of Diabetes South Africa nor that of the publishers and their contributors. The information contained in this publication has been approved by Diabetes South Africa. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that the information is correct, neither Word for Word Media nor Diabetes South Africa, can be held responsible for any errors or omission.

Click here to download the booklet.

AtoZ HEALTH TOPICS

Alcohol and diabetes

Alcohol consumption may place people with diabetes at increased risk for hypoglycaemia, especially if taking

Blood glucose

The main sugar that the body makes from the food we eat is known as

Carbohydrate counting

A meal management tool for people with both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes who

Cardiovascular disease (CVD)

CVD affects the heart and blood vessels and may cause fatal complications, such as coronary

Causes of diabetes

Diabetes causes vary depending on your genetic makeup, family history, ethnicity, health and environmental factors.

Depression

The chance of a person living with diabetes developing depression is two to three times

Diabetic retinopathy

High and fluctuating glucose levels causes changes to the blood vessels that feeds the retina

Diabetes-related complications

Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to serious health complications, such as: Blindness  Heart attacks and strokes

Dry skin

Diabetes makes you more likely to get dry skin. Skin that’s too dry can crack,

Dietitian

Endocrinologist

A medical practitioner qualified to diagnose and treat disorders of the endocrine glands and hormones, which

Exercise

Regular exercise helps your body lower blood glucose levels, reduces insulin resistance, and promotes weight loss, reduces

Fasting

Ramadan fasting This is the month in the Islamic calendar wherein Muslims abstain from food

Flu vaccine

People living with diabetes are considered a high-risk group when contracting flu. This means they

Foot care

Diabetic foot ulcers are common in people with diabetes. The most common causes of diabetic

Glucose monitoring

Blood glucose testing is an important part of diabetes care. This can be done with

HbA1c test

The haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) test gives a percent average level of blood glucose over the

Hyperglycaemia

This is the medical term for high blood glucose (over 14mmol/L). Continued high glucose levels

Hypoglycaemia

This is the medical term for low blood glucose (below 4mmol/L) and is an emergency.

Insulin resistance

Insulin resistance is when cells in your muscles, fat, and liver don’t respond well to

Insulin

Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas that allows the body to use glucose

Infertility

The accumulation of insulin in the bloodstream elevates androgen levels; the resulting hormone imbalance will

Kidney disease

Kidney disease is much more common in people with diabetes than in those without diabetes.

Ketones

Ketones are chemicals that the body releases when it breaks down fat to use for

Medication

Medication to treat diabetes can be certain tablets or insulin, or both. They help to

Medipost Medication delivery

Medipost Pharmacy is South Africa’s largest national courier pharmacy. We strive to make adherence to prescribed

Nutrition

Along with medication, nutrition is integral for blood glucose control. For Type 1 diabetes, a

Nerve disease

Diabetes can cause damage to the nerves throughout the body when blood glucose and blood

Oral health

People with diabetes have an increased risk of inflammation of the gums (periodontitis) if blood glucose is

Pneumococcal vaccine

Pneumococcal disease is caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumonia. This can cause infection in the

Prescribed Minimum Benefits

Prescribed minimum benefits (PMB) is a set of defined benefits to ensure that all medical

Supplements

People living with diabetes are more likely to use supplements than those without the disease.

Sweeteners

Sweeteners are sugar substitutes that  are added to food and provide a sweet taste like

Stroke

People with diabetes are 1,5 times more likely to have a stroke than people without

Skin complications

Diabetes can affect every part of the body, including the skin. Such problems are sometimes the

Sexuality

Most commonly, women who have diabetes will experience a lower sex drive compared to women

Travelling

If you have diabetes or a child who has diabetes, travelling always takes planning and

Urological problems

People with diabetes may experience bladder problems, such as overactive bladder, poor control of sphincter

Vitamins

The 2010 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee did not recommend the use of multi-vitamins for the

Wound care

When a person has diabetes, wounds can take longer to heal, which can increase the

Youth

Type 1 diabetes often occurs during childhood, adolescence and teen years, but can start at

Alcohol and diabetes

Alcohol consumption may place people with diabetes at increased risk for hypoglycaemia, especially if taking

Blood glucose

The main sugar that the body makes from the food we eat is known as

Carbohydrate counting

A meal management tool for people with both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes who

Cardiovascular disease (CVD)

CVD affects the heart and blood vessels and may cause fatal complications, such as coronary

Causes of diabetes

Diabetes causes vary depending on your genetic makeup, family history, ethnicity, health and environmental factors.

Depression

The chance of a person living with diabetes developing depression is two to three times

Diabetes-related complications

Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to serious health complications, such as: Blindness  Heart attacks and strokes

Diabetic retinopathy

High and fluctuating glucose levels causes changes to the blood vessels that feeds the retina

Dietitian

Dry skin

Diabetes makes you more likely to get dry skin. Skin that’s too dry can crack,

Endocrinologist

A medical practitioner qualified to diagnose and treat disorders of the endocrine glands and hormones, which

Exercise

Regular exercise helps your body lower blood glucose levels, reduces insulin resistance, and promotes weight loss, reduces

Fasting

Ramadan fasting This is the month in the Islamic calendar wherein Muslims abstain from food

Flu vaccine

People living with diabetes are considered a high-risk group when contracting flu. This means they

Foot care

Diabetic foot ulcers are common in people with diabetes. The most common causes of diabetic

Glucose monitoring

Blood glucose testing is an important part of diabetes care. This can be done with

HbA1c test

The haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) test gives a percent average level of blood glucose over the

Hyperglycaemia

This is the medical term for high blood glucose (over 14mmol/L). Continued high glucose levels

Hypoglycaemia

This is the medical term for low blood glucose (below 4mmol/L) and is an emergency.

Infertility

The accumulation of insulin in the bloodstream elevates androgen levels; the resulting hormone imbalance will

Insulin

Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas that allows the body to use glucose

Insulin resistance

Insulin resistance is when cells in your muscles, fat, and liver don’t respond well to

Ketones

Ketones are chemicals that the body releases when it breaks down fat to use for

Kidney disease

Kidney disease is much more common in people with diabetes than in those without diabetes.

Medication

Medication to treat diabetes can be certain tablets or insulin, or both. They help to

Medipost Medication delivery

Medipost Pharmacy is South Africa’s largest national courier pharmacy. We strive to make adherence to prescribed

Nerve disease

Diabetes can cause damage to the nerves throughout the body when blood glucose and blood

Nutrition

Along with medication, nutrition is integral for blood glucose control. For Type 1 diabetes, a

Oral health

People with diabetes have an increased risk of inflammation of the gums (periodontitis) if blood glucose is

Pneumococcal vaccine

Pneumococcal disease is caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumonia. This can cause infection in the

Prescribed Minimum Benefits

Prescribed minimum benefits (PMB) is a set of defined benefits to ensure that all medical

Sexuality

Most commonly, women who have diabetes will experience a lower sex drive compared to women

Skin complications

Diabetes can affect every part of the body, including the skin. Such problems are sometimes the

Stroke

People with diabetes are 1,5 times more likely to have a stroke than people without

Supplements

People living with diabetes are more likely to use supplements than those without the disease.

Sweeteners

Sweeteners are sugar substitutes that  are added to food and provide a sweet taste like

Travelling

If you have diabetes or a child who has diabetes, travelling always takes planning and

Urological problems

People with diabetes may experience bladder problems, such as overactive bladder, poor control of sphincter

Vitamins

The 2010 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee did not recommend the use of multi-vitamins for the

Wound care

When a person has diabetes, wounds can take longer to heal, which can increase the

Youth

Type 1 diabetes often occurs during childhood, adolescence and teen years, but can start at

DISCLAIMER – PLEASE NOTE: 

The views expressed in Diabetes Focus do not necessarily reflect the policy of Diabetes South Africa nor that of the publishers and their contributors. The information contained in this publication has been approved by Diabetes South Africa. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that the information is correct, neither Word for Word Media nor Diabetes South Africa, can be held responsible for any errors or omission.