Category: Diabetes Warrior

Dario Leveroni

Dario Leveroni – All in his stride

Posted on by
Share

Despite travelling for work most of the year, Dario Leveroni manages to keep his Type 2 diabetes in check. He tells us how.

Dario Leveroni (75) lives in Port Elizabeth with his wife. He is a semi-retired marine engineering surveyor. 

Dario was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in 2015, at the age of 68, after consulting with his doctor as he was frequently thirsty which was out of the norm. He was prescribed metformin and other medication. “When I was diagnosed I weighed 80kg so immediately reacted and dropped to 62kg within one year,” Dario says.

In 2016, Dario was flying to Italy for his son’s wedding (and being Italian, the carbs were aplenty) so his doctor recommended going on insulin too. Since then he has stayed on insulin, which consists of insulin degludec and insulin aspart (Ryzode) and insulin aspart injection (Fiasp) as well as metformin.

Travelling

When Dario is travelling for work, he always gets his supply of medication beforehand and he tries to stick to a Mediterranean diet. A normal day of eating for Dario is as follows:

Breakfast: cappuccino, oats or crushed wheat flakes.

Lunch: mostly salads (except Sundays).

Lunch and dinner: red meat, chicken, fish, vegetables (mostly raw), legumes, vegetable cold soup (Gazpacho), vegetable soup, and pasta (limited to 50g only once a week).

“Sometime my management goes off the track when it can’t be helped due to the airplane food. Plus, the business lounge and hotel meals throw a spanner in works, but otherwise once again self-discipline comes in,” Dario explains.

Luckily, Dario’s work comprises a lot of walking and climbing, helping him to keep moving his body. But he also tries to gym every day, doing cardio and light weights, for at least an hour.

Dario attributes his good management to positive thinking and self-discipline. “I control what I eat and get plenty of exercise and gym everyday, time permitting. I now weigh between a constant 60kg and 62kg.”

Complication free

Dario is an advocate of the flu vaccine and takes it every year to prevent getting flu. He is proud that he has no other complications from diabetes thanks to his good management of his glucose levels and is happy to be involved with DSA Port Elizabeth where he gets good support from a like-minded community.

 

Laurelle Williams is the Editor at Word for Word Media. She graduated from AFDA with a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in Live Performance. She has a love for storytelling and sharing emotions through the power of words. Her aim is to educate, encourage and most of all show there is always hope. Feel free to email Laurelle on editor@diabetesfocus.co.za

MEET THE EDITOR

Laurelle Williams is the Editor at Word for Word Media. She graduated from AFDA with a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in Live Performance. She has a love for storytelling and sharing emotions through the power of words. Her aim is to educate, encourage and most of all show there is always hope. Feel free to email Laurelle on [email protected]

Header image supplied
Visit the A-Z of Diabetes - Your Journey
Siyabonga Kwanele Zuma

Siyabonga Kwanele Zuma – Tired of living a double life

Posted on by
Share

Siyabonga Kwanele Zuma shares how he got tired of living a double life and now that he has shared that he has Type 1 diabetes, he is at peace and his glucose management has improved.

Siyabonga Kwanele Zuma (27) lives in Howick, KwaZulu-Natal with his family, including his fiancée and their six-year-old son.

Diagnosis

At age 11, I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in April 2008. It was a random school day where I fell sick. My teacher took me to the school office and asked for my parents to be called to fetch me. My eldest sister fetched me and took me to the doctor. 

According to her, they could not pinpoint what was wrong with me. I was disoriented, so I don’t remember much of the doctor’s visit. My sister said as I was about to be diagnosed with the common flu, another doctor walked in. He asked what my symptoms were and once he knew, he suggested that they check my blood glucose levels. The results confirmed the second doctor’s suspicions.

The doctor then wrote a letter for me to be admitted at the hospital. I wasn’t on medical aid, so my parents took me to a public hospital. I was later transferred to another public hospitals where I stayed for three weeks.

Interestingly, my older sister also has Type 1 diabetes. She was diagnosed seven months before my diagnosis, in September 2007 aged 16. I call her my chronic twin.

Treatment

If my memory serves me correctly, I was put on Actraphane, which I believe is insulin given for free at government hospitals. I was on Actraphane for over a year, and I would get sick often.

One day in 2009, I was at my uncle’s house for the holidays. My glucose levels were uncontrollable; I think the change of climate also influenced that. One day I would experience hyperglycaemia and the next hypoglycaemia. I ended up being admitted to another public hospital in Durban.

My uncle was traumatised by the whole experience, as the hospital service was very poor. When I got discharged, he decided to put me on his medical aid, so I could get adequate help in managing my diabetes.

After that I consulted with diabetes specialists, who decided to put me on insulin aspart (NovoRapid), which is taken three times a day before meals, and insulin detemir (Levemir) which is taken at bedtime.

Since I’m not on my uncle’s medical aid anymore, I’m now on Isophane insulin (Protaphane) as it’s more affordable than Levemir but still take insulin aspart (NovoRapid).

Keeping my diabetes a secret

When I was diagnosed, those I went to primary school with knew that I had diabetes. However, when I went to high school, I decided to not share it with anyone. So, I would say I kept it a secret for 12 years.

The reason was I felt ashamed. I felt like it was my fault that I had it, and it made me different from my peers and all I ever wanted was to fit in. I didn’t feel cool which is what teenagers like being and I didn’t want to be judged when I did things my peers did, like drinking alcohol and smoking weed. Like I said, I wanted to fit in, and I did just that. Pushed by fear of missing out (FOMO) and peer pressure.

Tired of living a double life

Before my son was born, I felt like I had nothing to live for. Back in 2010, my doctor told me that if I don’t live a healthy life, I won’t reach the age of 21 with functioning kidneys, or even worse, alive. Hearing those words made me vulnerable to peer pressure and pushed me to live my life like there was no tomorrow, subconsciously. FOMO and peer pressure pushed me to rebel.

When my son was born, my perspective started to change gradually. I no longer felt like I had nothing to live for. I wanted to be a father that he would be proud to point out and say, “That’s my dad.’’

What also helped was my favourite artist, Kendrick Lamar, dropping his Pulitzer Prize winning album, DAMN. which made me develop a love for writing poetry. As time went by, I started writing poems about my life experiences and my ups and downs.

My writings made me grow tired of living a double life. As someone who loved and was inspired by Kendrick Lamar’s music, which is honest and authentic, I was doing the exact opposite. I was writing about my life hoping to inspire someone out there, but I wasn’t honest at all. I was omitting the most important factor that affected my life which is living with Type 1 diabetes. How can I claim to be a writer when my work lacks authenticity?

I wrestled with these emotions for over a year. Keeping my diabetes a secret proved to be detrimental in my life, and I couldn’t handle the pressure anymore. So, in April 2020, I courageously posted on social media that I have diabetes.

At peace with myself

I feel at peace with myself as I’m no longer in denial. Plus, I no longer have to worry about how I will take my insulin without somebody catching me do it. I feel so empowered because of that. My management has improved a lot. Before, I wouldn’t be able to say no to something I knew that I shouldn’t be doing because I would have to lie about the reason. But now with everyone aware of my situation, I can say no and give a valid reason.

Battling with flu every winter

Season changes are a nightmare for me. I struggle to control my glucose levels, as they are always up and down during these times. Getting flu doesn’t make it any better because it also affects my glucose levels.

Watching what I eat

I would be lying if I said I follow a particular diet. Even though I’ve had diabetes for 15 years, it’s only been three years since I’ve accepted it so I’m now gradually changing my lifestyle as I’ve found it quite challenging in many aspects.

Added to that, at the moment I can’t afford to be on a specific diet because my household consists of 10+ people, and those who can, contribute to buying groceries. A diet is personal, and I can’t expect everyone to follow my diet because I can’t afford it. What I do for now is to watch what I eat.

Love for poetry

My poetry book is titled Millennial Thoughts and it will be published sometime this year. I wrote most of the poems when I still had not accepted diabetes (2017 – 2020), therefore it doesn’t really focus on me living with diabetes. It’s more of a social commentary book, from a millennial’s perspective.

However, I do have a few poems where I mention my diabetes that I wrote post-acceptance. I’m also working on a memoir, where I’ll be speaking about my struggle with the negative peer pressure in my adolescence while also living with diabetes. It will tell how I managed to break-free from it and gravitate towards positive peer pressure, which led to self-acceptance helping me to regain the self-control I had long forgone for the fast life.

YouTube channel

Recently, I started my own YouTube channel which forms part of my journey to self-acceptance. As I’m a writer, that’s where the Living With Diabetes series on my YouTube Channel comes in.

I want to share my story in every way possible as not everybody enjoys reading. Some may not read my work but may watch my work. I want to grow my audience as much as possible, so I can share my knowledge about diabetes, and also learn new things about diabetes in the process.

A poem Siyabonga dedicated to his sister who also has diabetes.

CHRONIC TWINS

Our diagnosis threatened to make us the weak ones

But instead, it made us the sweet ones.

On some days, we’d feel bleak together

At the end of the week, we’d prevail together.

In a world full of unreliable souls

To me, you’re one of the few dependable

You are far from being expendable

You made an undesirable journey more bearable.

I don’t think I would’ve made it this far

If you and I grew up apart.

I want to impart that you are my star

My chronic twin, I love you with all my heart.

Connect with Siyabonga

YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Twitter

My sister and I; we both have Type 1 diabetes. This was in 2010 when I was admitted at hospital for a hyper.
My sister and I; we both have Type 1 diabetes. This was in 2010 when I was admitted at hospital for a hyper.
My sister and I were wearing blue in honour of World Diabetes Day 2022.
My sister and I were wearing blue in honour of World Diabetes Day 2022.
Laurelle Williams is the Editor at Word for Word Media. She graduated from AFDA with a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in Live Performance. She has a love for storytelling and sharing emotions through the power of words. Her aim is to educate, encourage and most of all show there is always hope. Feel free to email Laurelle on editor@diabetesfocus.co.za

MEET THE EDITOR

Laurelle Williams is the Editor at Word for Word Media. She graduated from AFDA with a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in Live Performance. She has a love for storytelling and sharing emotions through the power of words. Her aim is to educate, encourage and most of all show there is always hope. Feel free to email Laurelle on [email protected]

Images supplied
Visit the A-Z of Diabetes - Your Journey
Lana Breedt

Lana Breedt – No day will ever be the same

Posted on by
Share

Lana Breedt gives us a rundown of a typical day in her life of having a child living with diabetes, though she states no day will ever be the same,

Lana Breedt lives with her husband, Maurits van der Horst, and their five-year-old son, Rudi in Port Elizabeth. Rudi has Type 1 diabetes.

Rudi’s diagnosis

It was March 2019 when Rudi was diagnosed with diabetes Type 1 at the mere age of 19 months. My husband, Maurits, and I were both unpleasantly surprised since neither of our families has a history of diabetes. We are one chaotic household at any given time, so the diagnosis added a whole bunch of curves to our rollercoaster.

Rudi just started nursery school and was still in nappies at the time. It started with what we initially thought was a tummy bug of some sort; I had to pick him up early from school a couple of times. It was strange since he was a very healthy kid from birth and going to the doctor was not the norm.

The nursery school has been incredibly supportive since his diagnosis and his class even celebrated World Diabetes Day with us last year. We are very fortunate that both our employers are very understanding as well and they know when we need to leave work right now.

The first year

The first year was a nightmare. We relied on blood measurements only and could not see the trend of his glucose levels. We used to test Rudi every two hours day and night, at home and at school.

My husband created an Excel spreadsheet for us and I manually updated the document weekly to see where we stood more or less. I would send the graph to Rudi’s paediatrician at the end of each week for feedback and he would then adjust Rudi’s insulin intake accordingly. Our first HbA1c test result was just above 10.

Diabetes devices a game changer

When Rudi got a little bigger in size, we started using the Freestyle Libre which did wonders for his little fingers. It made both our and the teachers’ lives a whole lot easier.

Even though we still had to get up every two hours at night, it felt like we could live a fairly normal life without feeling so exhausted every morning.

It was only when we got the Miao Miao Bluetooth extension that our entire ballgame changed. We don’t need to worry about manually measuring him anymore, since the app has an alarm that goes off when his glucose is going too high or too low. We receive the data on our mobiles, so we can monitor him from anywhere, anytime.

No two days will be the same

One sentence from the book, Type 1 Diabetes in Children, Adolescents and Young Adults, sums diabetes up very well: No two days will be the same.

We have a very strict routine we stick to even during school holidays. Our days don’t always go according to plan, but at least we have a framework to work from. The rest of the time we just make stuff up as we go along. Maurits understands and relies on science and I understand nutrition and rely on motherly instincts, so we make a great team.

A typical day

We get up between 4am – 5am Rudi sometimes sleeps slightly later, but that is rarely the case. Maurits will give Rudi his Optisulin between 5am – 6am.

At 6:15 Rudi gets his breakfast injection and then we wait for a good glucose reading before he eats. This is anything from 6:30 until 7am. We’ve had instances where it takes a really long time for his glucose to drop after a high night, and then he will only eat an hour after his injection.

Under normal circumstances, his main meals last around two hours. So, by the time I drop him off at school, his glucose levels are nearly at a stage where he needs to snack again. We have a WhatsApp group including three staff members from the school, Maurits and myself. I usually type the ready for snack message when I leave home and constantly keep an eye on his glucose while driving to work. When it is time, I just press the send button and Rudi will have his snack. It sometimes feels like all this kid does is eat.

School snack time

School snack time is between 9:30 and 10am. I don’t have the energy to pack his lunchbox at night, so I normally do this between 5:30 – 6am. It’s difficult to decide what to pack and what to leave out since his glucose varies so often. In the beginning, I was obsessed with carb counting, but after a chat with a dietician at one of the PE diabetes wellness meetings, my perspective changed completely. She told me to feed my child the rainbow. So, I do just that.

I pack small portions of fruit and vegetables in as many colours as possible along with something carby like popcorn. When he had a high night, I will replace this with something non-carb like droëwors and biltong.

Somewhere close to 11am, his glucose starts to drop again, and the teachers will either give him an apple or a protein bar, depending on how close to home time it is. We also rely on Super Cs for lows and keep rolls of it everywhere.

Lunch

For lunch, he has a sandwich with his flavour of the week (at the moment it’s honey) and a generous portion of protein along with a glass of milk.

During the afternoons we just play it by ear. I’m at home in the afternoons so it makes it easy for me to manage his glucose levels by finding something in the fridge or cupboard when necessary.

When he does go to aftercare, I pack him an entire bag of carb and non-carb snacks, along with his emergency kit consisting of protein bars and Super Cs.

Aftercare is at his school and I have contact with the teacher in charge. She sees that he eats the right things at the right time and is available on WhatsApp all afternoon as well.

Dinner

Just after Rudi was diagnosed, we followed a specific meal plan for supper and I had his menu planned at least a week in advance. After the aha-moment with the dietitian, all of that changed and he now eats what we eat. Even sushi and pizza. It’s a win-some, learn-some experience when it comes to his diet and we figure things out as we progress.

After the pyjama drill, we will either read stories or watch a movie. By about 8pm his blood glucose will be at a stable low and he then has a glass of milk as a nightcap. Ideally, the milk should last him until morning, but when it doesn’t, we give him milk with glucose powder to keep his blood glucose going. Occasionally we need to inject him because of high blood glucose, but he doesn’t even wake up for that anymore.

Rudi’s fourth diabetes anniversary

We recently celebrated Rudi’s fourth diabetes anniversary. It’s hard to imagine things without the sensor and Bluetooth device, but imagining a life without the support we get from friends, family, employers, paediatrician and his school is even harder.

Living with a six-year-old diabetic child is a 24-hour duty and you can’t afford to lose focus for one minute. Our latest HbA1c result was an incredible 6.6 for the second time in a row. It takes a lot of effort and hard work, but the reward is priceless. Looking back, I don’t think we’d ever thought we’d get this far.

Laurelle Williams is the Editor at Word for Word Media. She graduated from AFDA with a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in Live Performance. She has a love for storytelling and sharing emotions through the power of words. Her aim is to educate, encourage and most of all show there is always hope. Feel free to email Laurelle on editor@diabetesfocus.co.za

MEET OUR EDITOR

Laurelle Williams is the Editor at Word for Word Media. She graduated from AFDA with a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in Live Performance. She has a love for storytelling and sharing emotions through the power of words. Her aim is to educate, encourage and most of all show there is always hope. Feel free to email Laurelle on [email protected]

Header image supplied
Visit the A-Z of Diabetes - Your Journey
Emmanuel Rajah

Emmanuel Rajah – My bestie

Posted on by
Share

We hear why Emmanuel Rajah chose to volunteer at DSA and about his experience of sharing the role of caregiver to his younger brother, Joshua Mhlanga, who has Type 1 diabetes.

Emmanuel Rajah (30) lives in Parow Central, Cape Town. He plans to finish a Pharmacist Assistant Learnership Programme and would like to practice paramedicine. He is also a full-time international fashion model.

I call my younger brother, Joshua, my bestie. He will be turning 13 this year and is in Grade 7. When he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes, I had no knowledge of diabetes. It was a complete new chapter that we, my mother and I, had to adapt to. I was now not only his brother but my role changed to caregiver.

In the early days, I watched him cry when we administered his injections. It was in this time that I learnt to be strong for him and  would kindly remind him that checking his blood glucose levels is crucial, that if we check it, it will help to be well-managed and would help him to be and live happier just like a child without diabetes.

It was a difficult time for everyone in the family, as we all had to learn how to give the right dosage and learn more about what a balanced diet consists of.

Expressing my love for him

Being a caregiver to him was an opportunity of expressing my love for him and to provide him with full unconditional love that reassures him that he matters and that being different from other children is okay.

Some of the difficult times is when he is extremely energetic and at the same time frustrated. I try to teach him to practice patience. This is a time where he needs someone around that he trusts to calm him down and rejuvenate him.

The scary situations are when his glucose levels are extremely low and this shows in various body reactions. I have accepted that panicking is normal and stress levels starts to rise as we don’t want anything to happen. But thankfully through the years, I have learned to be calm and have faith.

We give him a couple of sweet treats or banana loaf with milk, and after 15 minutes we suddenly hear his loud voice and know he is okay. Sometimes when it’s too hot he falls asleep in the car; that is also a sign that his glucose is low.

Impact on my health

Joshua’s diagnosis has had a good impact on my own health. It was so much easier to follow a food plan. My love for food grew, and I focused on adopting a well-balanced diet. I learnt how to make different dishes tasty without meat and it helped me stay in shape.

Honestly, cooking became therapeutic for me and I healed from past traumas through cooking healthy meals for someone close to my heart.

DSA volunteer

Not only has my knowledge of diabetes grown due to my brother’s condition but I’m now assisting the diabetes community by volunteering at DSA Cape Town branch.

I assist wherever help is needed but the best description is office assistant. It’s an environment where teamwork is essential and I see it as an achievement that I can add to my service to humanity.

From being my bestie’s caregiver to becoming a caregiver to every member of DSA organisation, it takes a lot of courage, faith, consistency, and dedication to learn about diabetes and make an impact to the whole of South Africa where we have family, friends, loved ones, colleagues, and the list goes on, living with diabetes.

The National Manager of DSA, Margot Mc Cumisky, is a great mentor and one of the reasons why I love working at DSA. I’m proud to say I started the new Instagram account

We will also soon be releasing the 2023 T1 Youth warrior camp information. I will be a youth leader at the camp, and I work closely with Cain Tibbs and Robin Breedeveld in organising the camp.

Advice to caregivers

Diabetes is a condition that is just like any other sickness, it can be diagnosed without even expecting it. How you beat it, is based on a simple yet hard decision to make: what you eat. Everything you put in your mouth can either advance your longevity of life or rob you of the most precious time with your loved ones.

You can beat diabetes by carefully trying to practice and follow the suggested meal recipes available on diabetessa.org.za  and signing up for DSA’s monthly newsletters for more tips on how to beat diabetes. Drinking lots of water helps and constantly monitoring your glucose. It’s vital to understand how your body or your child’s body functions. The quicker you understand this, the better it becomes for monitoring and knowing the different symptoms they feel.

Healthy habits

For me, healthy habits means staying true to your journey. You are what you eat. It means exercise, being present in your day-to-day activities; meditate, be grateful, believe, and continue to allow yourself to experience the imagination of your creativity. Take it day by day. Be conscious of your thoughts and mind, and keep them directed on your goals.

You also must have a resilient mindset to stay disciplined to a routine of success. When you eat healthy, you feel healthy, when you talk healthy, you act healthy and your skin glows.

When you have created healthy habits within you, you spread healthy habits. Everything that is good is contagious; everyone around you will start following your habits and that creates an impact in the community.

Laurelle Williams is the Editor at Word for Word Media. She graduated from AFDA with a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in Live Performance. She has a love for storytelling and sharing emotions through the power of words. Her aim is to educate, encourage and most of all show there is always hope. Feel free to email Laurelle on editor@diabetesfocus.co.za

MEET OUR EDITOR

Laurelle Williams is the Editor at Word for Word Media. She graduated from AFDA with a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in Live Performance. She has a love for storytelling and sharing emotions through the power of words. Her aim is to educate, encourage and most of all show there is always hope. Feel free to email Laurelle on [email protected]

Header image supplied
Visit the A-Z of Diabetes - Your Journey

Clint Baron – It is what it is

Posted on by
Share

Four years into living with Type 2 diabetes, we hear how Clint Baron has adjusted to this diagnosis.

Clint Baron (56) lives in Johannesburg South, Gauteng with his wife. They have two adult children and two grandchildren.

Four years ago, in October 2019, Clint woke up in the morning with blurry vision, so he went to see his GP and was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.

Even though there is a history of diabetes in his family, with his grandmother and uncle having had it, his diagnosis still came as a shock to him. However, he says, “But there wasn’t much I could do but take the next steps to deal with it. It is what it is, so I had to accept it.”

The grandfather was prescribed vildagliptin, metformin, gliclazide and atorvastatin. He was surprised that the hospital plan that he is on covers chronic medication. “My medication was reassessed in March 2022 when my blood pressure went up but no other changes since then.”

Since being diagnosed, Clint has made small adjustments to his diet such as eating lots of green vegetables, changing to low-GI bread and he adds that he eats dinner a lot earlier than he used to.

He says that his family offers good support. “They all make sure I don’t eat chocolates and that includes my six-year-old grandson. Plus, my GP is awesome, and he too gives valuable support.”

Thankfully due to the nature of Clint’s work (he has an electrical fence business), he walks a lot with added physical activity. “I install electrical fences which requires me to be on and off the ladder, walking the length of the fences, etc.”

Healthy habits

When asked what healthy habits means to him, he responds by saying healthy breakfast, nibbles and dinner as fuelling the body in the correct way is important.

“I’m proud to say that most of the time my blood glucose levels are well-managed. However, stress is a big contributor to it fluctuating.I test once a day with a finger-prick test; but when my vision becomes blurry, I know I need to check it out,” Clint explains.

Thankfully, he hasn’t experienced any other diabetes complications other than needing glasses when using the computer.

He concludes by saying diabetes has taught him to make a change to his lifestyle, eat healthier, eat greener and make the most of life.

Laurelle Williams is the Editor at Word for Word Media. She graduated from AFDA with a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in Live Performance. She has a love for storytelling and sharing emotions through the power of words. Her aim is to educate, encourage and most of all show there is always hope. Feel free to email Laurelle on editor@diabetesfocus.co.za

MEET OUR EDITOR

Laurelle Williams is the Editor at Word for Word Media. She graduated from AFDA with a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in Live Performance. She has a love for storytelling and sharing emotions through the power of words. Her aim is to educate, encourage and most of all show there is always hope. Feel free to email Laurelle on [email protected]

Header image supplied
Visit the A-Z of Diabetes - Your Journey
Caine Tibbs

Caine Tibbs – Volunteering changes life

Posted on by
Share

We hear how volunteering at Diabetes South Africa changed Caine Tibbs career pathway and how he is using his Type 1 condition to help others.

Caine Tibbs (42) lives in Lakeside, Cape Town.

Diagnosed at age four

Caine was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when he was four years old. “I was told that I got up often during the night to drink water as I was unusually thirsty and would urinate a lot. My mom kept telling me to stop drinking water at night. When this continued, it was thought that I had a bladder infection, and I was taken to a doctor and then was diagnosed with diabetes,” Caine explains.

“Since there is no history of diabetes in the immediate family, it was thought that it could have resulted from a virus which I had a few months prior.”

Treatment

From the time Caine was diagnosed, he has been taking insulin injections. “I think I started on two to three per day, and now over the past 10 to 20 years I use four injections per day. I recall initially taking regular insulin and insulin isophane human in my youth but over the past years I have been taking insulin glulisine (fast-acting) and insulin glargine (long-acting) which seem to be providing me with more consistent and stable glucose levels and in general more regulation regarding my glucose readings.”

The 42-year-old says that his good management consists of strictly keeping to routines regarding his testing, eating habits and exercise.

Change of eating habits

Caine says as a family, their way of eating changed once he was diagnosed. “My mom would not have any cakes, biscuits, sweets or cooldrinks in the house. We ate balanced meals, ensuring that the whole family was an example to me.”

“I have to admit that my condition has generally been quite stable, barring the occasional hypo due to environmental and emotional circumstances. Although there definitely has been a slight degradation regarding my body’s ability to use insulin effectively and with the general way in which the disease progresses, I have managed to remain relatively fit and healthy, also as a result of keeping to a controlled and balanced diet and what works for me individually.”

Volunteering changes life

“For a few years, I struggled to find permanent employment and went through a very depressive, self-loathing almost destructive state and was feeling like I had nothing to offer and that I wanted to give up.”

“I sat down one day and gathered my thoughts regarding my life experience, the work I had done so far, the challenges and problems I had faced as a result of having diabetes and how I had overcome them. I thought that if I, just an ordinary person, was dealing with all of this and could overcome the majority of obstacles thrown at me, then there must be other people experiencing the same, and perhaps in some way I could use my condition and experience to assist, support and uplift others,” Caine explains.

Caine applied to volunteer at Diabetes South Africa (DSA), Cape Town branch last year November and was afforded the opportunity. His volunteer duties involved assisting with processing membership applications, telephonic support and basic administration and operational duties.

Thankfully Caine’s ability and willingness to help the diabetes community was rewarded by him being offered a full-time job at DSA at the beginning of the year.

He goes on to explain that his duties are similar to when he was volunteering. “However, I have taken on more of a managerial role and helping to co-ordinate and run a project with the National Manager and one of our large sponsors, aQuellé with their Have a Heart for Diabetes campaign.”

“I have taken over as the Branch Manager of the Western Cape operation and this includes a more focussed approach to finding funding opportunities and increasing our membership numbers. I’m looking forward to the challenge.”

Structure and routine

The 42-year-old admits that he is a methodical and systematic person in that he likes structure and keeping to schedules. “I eat the same foods for breakfast and lunch each day. I only drink one cup of coffee in the morning and ensure I drink a litre of water every day and monitor my glucose level before each meal and generally try to follow the same routines in life.”

He adds, “I find that this helps with controlling my glucose levels. I believe that eating regularly, testing my glucose regularly and eating balanced and healthy low glycaemic meals can only better improve my control.”

When asked what his healthy habits are, Caine responds, “I don’t smoke or drink alcohol and ensure I drink more than 1 litre of good quality spring water every day, not tap water. I hardly ever eat junk food or highly processed foods; I believe that if you want your body to function at an optimal level, then you need to supply it with the best possible ingredients. I stay away from taking medication for every ache and ensure I don’t consume products containing added sugars; this is effectively an acid and a contaminate and your body needs to remain at a balanced pH level, or at least a slightly more alkaline state otherwise it degrades internally and allows for more disease to grow and increases the possibility of internal inflammation.”

“My grandfather always used to say, ‘You are what you eat’ which is a saying I try to live by. Thus, I eat low-GI food often and a balanced meal every night, consisting of protein in the form of meat (limiting red meat), starch in the form of potatoes, brown rice, or whole grain pasta with two different colour vegetables.”

Diabetes complications

Thankfully, Caine hasn’t experienced many diabetes complications other than occasional peripheral neuropathy in his arms and hands, and damaged blood vessels in his eyes which resulted in laser surgery on both eyes and a vitrectomy on his right eye.

He adds that he occasionally suffers with sleep issues. “This is mainly due to hypoglycaemia, but not often. Since I’ve been on a more stable night-time insulin and I have taken the time and trouble to test my glucose before I go to bed, in the interest of putting my mind at ease, I find that I’m able to sleep better and more soundly, and I don’t often wake up feeling concerned or being hypoglycaemic.”

“Stress also plays a big role in that if I have had a very stressful day or have over-exerted myself physically or even emotionally, it can lead to my glucose level falling quite drastically when I’m asleep at night, and then my body and my muscle’s feel completely drained, sore and weak the next day.”

He adds that when he is very active on days when there is high humidity or temperatures can also cause his glucose level to drop suddenly, so it is important that he doesn’t overexert himself in these conditions.

We wish Caine all the best in his new role at DSA and thank him for his desire to help the diabetes community.

Laurelle Williams is the Editor at Word for Word Media. She graduated from AFDA with a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in Live Performance. She has a love for storytelling and sharing emotions through the power of words. Her aim is to educate, encourage and most of all show there is always hope. Feel free to email Laurelle on editor@diabetesfocus.co.za

MEET OUR EDITOR

Laurelle Williams is the Editor at Word for Word Media. She graduated from AFDA with a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in Live Performance. She has a love for storytelling and sharing emotions through the power of words. Her aim is to educate, encourage and most of all show there is always hope. Feel free to email Laurelle on [email protected]

Header image supplied
Visit the A-Z of Diabetes - Your Journey
Robin Breedeveld

Robin Breedeveld – Living in Africa

Posted on by
Share

Foreign student, Robin Breedeveld, tells us why she chose to volunteer at Diabetes South Africa and about her adventures in SA so far.

Robin Breedeveld (22) stays in Rondebosch, Cape Town and is currently studying at the University of Cape Town (UCT). S

Studying in SA

Originally from the Netherlands, I completed my bachelor’s degree but moved to Cape Town South Africa to complete a master’s degree in international development studies with a focus on Sub-Saharan Africa.

For this reason I figured that UCT would be the best place to continue my studies, and I moved to Cape Town in February 2022. Cape Town is an amazing versatile city to live in and I’m learning a lot about myself and the world by living abroad. I currently live very close to the university. I like to walk so I try to walk to university, although it’s uphill and my blood glucose always steeply drops after that walk.

Diagnosis

My diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes happened when I was six years old. I remember being incredibly thirsty, and this wouldn’t go away despite all the glasses of water I drank. My parents would put me to bed but I would sneak out of my bed and tiptoe to the tap to drink more, and tiptoe again to the toilet. At first, my parents got mad because they thought I stubbornly wouldn’t go to sleep, but very soon they realised I should see the GP.

After a glucose test, we discovered I had Type 1 diabetes. I started my diabetic journey with injections on a very strict diet. Not necessarily low carb at all, but my doctor had a schedule of how many carbs I should eat every day and exactly how much insulin I should inject for that. I used both long-acting and short-acting insulin.

Insulin pump

The doctors in the Netherlands wanted to get me on the insulin pump for a while, but I refused because I didn’t like the idea of having something permanently attached to my body. But once I turned 12 and puberty hit, my hormones spiked my blood glucose through the roof and the doctors said I had no choice anymore but going on the insulin pump.

That turned out to be one of the best turning points in my life. I no longer suffered from the tender bruises that I had on my legs from injecting, and I was able to pretty much eat anything as long as I correct it with the pump (although pizza and Asian noodles always seem to stay a problem).

Alongside the pump, I was still finger-pricking. Once I turned 19, I was able to get the FreeStyle Libre sensor. This has been so helpful in reducing my feelings of diabetes burnout because it reduces the amount of actions of having to finger-prick so much. It also really helps with exercising and improving my awareness of what my blood glucose levels are doing overall.

Diabetes youth camps

From when I got diagnosed, my parents sent me to diabetes youth camps in the Netherlands. For an entire week, I would be surrounded by other kids with diabetes, even group leaders with diabetes, and there were so many fun activities.

This was a great, eye-opening and empowering experience for me, because I realised that I wasn’t the only child in the world with diabetes. From that first camp experience onwards, I ended up going every year until I turned 12. I made some really good friends at those camps, and still keep in contact with some.

DSA volunteer

I always wanted to go back to one of these camps in my twenties. My friend (who I met at a camp)  and I had the ambition to go together as team leaders one day. Unfortunately, we never got to do that together as she abruptly passed away at 19.

When I moved to South Africa, I decided that both for myself, and in honour of my friend, I would get involved in diabetes youth camps in Cape Town. I googled and came across Diabetes South Africa (DSA) and started volunteering.

It has been a really rewarding experience and I’m so happy I became involved. It was so nice being a group leader at Camp Diabetable that took place recently, and to see the effect it has on kids with diabetes, just like it had on me when I was younger. I aim to stay involved with DSA until I leave Cape Town. The DSA team has also started feeling as my own little family here in South Africa.

The ups and downs

Diabetes has never really affected my work or education. Of course, a bad day of blood glucose levels or a sleepless night because of lows can affect your deadlines, but I have generally found that teachers at UCT and back at home are very understanding. In my experience, they are quite lenient in providing deadline extensions if I need them, although that is rarely the case. I also just try to be kind to myself when that happens, despite how frustrating it may be.

An active life

I love being active; I’ve been playing rugby since I was 15 years old and I also really love hiking. With diabetes, this isn’t always easy. One of my horror stories is that I went on a not very known hike on Table Mountain with a friend and we were completely lost. We couldn’t find the trail anywhere. Initially the hike was supposed to take max five hours, but it ended up taking us nine. And of course, I only took food and drinks for five hours and I ran out of energy bars and juice while we were still climbing up. I even ate all the energy bars from my friends who I was hiking with.

Luckily, my blood glucose level was stable at that moment, but I was afraid of what would happen if it were to drop. I decided to take my pump off completely and just hope for the best. Once we got to the top, we were also unlucky because the restaurant and cable car were far from where we were and we still didn’t see any people on the trail. We decided we would go down slowly and if my blood glucose dropped, we would have to call the Table Mountain emergency line.

Eventually, we saw a couple walk in the distance and we screamed for help. Luckily, they had so much food and sugar on them. We decided to accompany them all the way down and that is how everything turned out well in the end. So, my tip would be, as a person with diabetes, please take food and drinks for three days on any hike, even if it’s only supposed to take two hours.

Rugby

When it comes to rugby, I try to always start training with a blood glucose level of 8 – 12, and in the middle of training I inject a little bit of insulin so that I don’t skyrocket afterwards. This works quite well for me.

Sometimes, rugby coaches don’t really understand my diabetes which can be frustrating. They might not understand that if I’m low, I can’t go back on the field immediately after a sip of juice. They do not understand that I need a solid 15 minutes to feel slightly better.

A few weeks ago, I went on a rugby tournament to Kimberley. After having had a bus ride of 12 hours, only having eaten breakfast and arriving in Kimberley in the evening, the coach spontaneously decided to do an hour training before dinner in 30 degrees. I tried to communicate that this really doesn’t work for me and can cause problematic blood glucose levels, especially after not eaten anything since breakfast, but the coaches failed to understand and didn’t accommodate my needs. It was really frustrating but I’m never afraid to stand up for myself, so that is what I did. In this instance, I recommend young people with diabetes to stand up for themselves, and if people aren’t interested to hear about your situation, you must choose for yourself and make them understand, whether they want to or not. I think diabetes has taught me this skill and has taught me to sometimes be fierce, if really necessary.

Visible pump and sensor

I never feel the need to hide my diabetes from people. I always wear my pump visibly on my trousers, and the sensor is also quite often visible. It has actually resulted in the nicest encounters with other people with diabetes. Once I was walking on the street, and as a guy passed me, he stopped, took his pump out and shouted, “Buddies!”

Last month I went to Rocking the Daisies, a music festival, and a girl came up to me because she saw my sensor. She showed me hers, and we ended up giving each other tips on which alcoholic drinks are best for our blood glucose.

Of course, sometimes non-diabetics ask me funny questions like if I’m recording them (sometimes they think my pump is an old MP3 player), but I’ve never gotten negative comments. Even if I did, I don’t think I would care.

Living my life like anyone else

Diabetes has never stopped me from doing what I want to do. Age 19, I went solo backpacking through Kenya and Tanzania then went back to live in Kenya for three months at age 21, and went wild camping and hiking through the Swiss mountains. I didn’t experience major struggles related to my diabetes doing this, I just made sure I had enough food, pump consumables and insulin with me and a bag to keep my insulin cold.

My diabetes has also not stopped me from pursuing my dream of studying and living abroad. Of course, it always remains an extra challenge. You always have to make sure you have the right stuff with you to make sure you don’t get into tricky situations like what happened to me on Table Mountain.

When I arrived in South Africa I was also really confused with how the medical system works here, because in the Netherlands it works completely differently. It took me months to figure it out, but it has never been a reason to hold me back. I encourage every person living with diabetes to just do the badass things they want to do and to not be afraid! All it requires is a little extra planning.

Images supplied
Visit the A-Z of Diabetes - Your Journey
Sharon Sampie

Sharon Sampie – Living her best life

Posted on by
Share

Sharon Sampie has lived with Type 2 diabetes for over 20 years and has been living her best life. She tells us all about her adventures.

Sharon Sampie (60) lives in Plumstead, Cape Town. She is divorced. 

Type 2 diagnosis

Sharon was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in her late thirties. The diagnosis came about when she had a routine medical check-up and one of the outcomes was that Sharon had pre-diabetes.

“Due to both my parents having diabetes and testing my blood glucose regularly as I was an active advanced life support paramedic at the time, I knew that there was a high possibility of me developing diabetes too. I had a good understanding of diabetes due to my career choice,” she explains.

The 60-year-old is insulin-dependent (short- and long-acting) and also takes metformin tablets. She still finger-pricks to test her blood glucose once a day, sometimes twice.

Managing hypos

Sharon says she has experienced many hypo episodes. One being when she was walking the Camino from Portugal to Spain in 2019. “Obviously I took insulin and didn’t eat enough and did too much strenuous activity. But thankfully, I had everything on hand to correct it. Unfortunately, the reason for me experiencing many hypos is due to not eating enough.” She adds that the insulin bag she bought from Diabetes South Africa came in handy for this trip, to keep her insulin cold.

She goes on to say that managing her diabetes consists of taking her medication and testing her blood glucose daily. “I’m also very conscious of cutting out carbohydrates, especially rice, pasta and potatoes. So, I replace potatoes with sweet potatoes and eat very little rice and when I do I use Tastic Rice as this brand has a lower glycaemic index. The recommended pasta brands for people with diabetes is Mr Pasta and Pasta Grande. This info I got from two books namely Eat Smart and Stay Slim – The GI Diet and Dr Atkins’ New Diet Revolution.”

Unfortunately, my exercise programme has been much reduced, but I need to get it up again. I was an avid hiker when I was younger. I have a treadmill at home that I should spend much more time on. “

Sharon walked 260km from Porto, Portugal to Santiago, Spain in 2019.

Sharon walked approximately 260km from Porto, Portugal to Santiago, Spain in 2019.

Lions Club International

Sharon has been a member of Lions Club International since 2006; she belongs to the Bergvliet Lions Club. She was elected as the District 410w Chairperson for diabetes in July 2022; this district comprises Namibia, Northern Cape and Western Cape. Due to this new role, she contacted Diabetes South Africa to see how she could get involved. A project was discussed but at the time Sharon couldn’t assist.

However, she asked about transportation of children to the upcoming Camp Diabetable Western Cape. Margot McCumisky, national manager of DSA, explained that this was one of the biggest hurdles as a bus company had quoted R6 000.

Sharon knew she could assist as she works for the Department of Health Emergency Services and manages the transport for non-emergency transport. “I got authorisation to transport the children as they are children with a health issue. It gave me great joy to be able to offer this service. I picked up kids from three provincial hospitals and took them to the camp site.”

Sharon with some on the children she transported to Camp Diabetable.

Sharon with some on the children she transported to Camp Diabetable.

 

 

World Diabetes Day

As part of the Athlone Lions Club in collaboration with Groote Schuur Hospital, Sharon joined by assisting with the free testing station in the hospital’s main passage way this past World Diabetes Day. She says many of the staff as well as patients got tested.

My message to newly diagnosed patients is, “It’s really all about nutrition and exercise, avoidance or smaller portions of carbohydrates and sugar.”

Since Sharon is a Lions Club International ambassador for diabetes, she grabs any opportunity to do online assessments or awareness. “Once I went camping with friends and I even took my banner with and at the camp site I did some online assessments. When a person asks a question, I will go on and explain as much as I can.”

Sharon doing blood glucose tests for World Diabetes Day at Groote Schuur Hospital.

Sharon doing blood glucose tests for World Diabetes Day at Groote Schuur Hospital.

MEET OUR EDITOR

Laurelle Williams is the Editor at Word for Word Media. She graduated from AFDA with a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in Live Performance. She has a love for storytelling and sharing emotions through the power of words. Her aim is to educate, encourage and most of all show there is always hope. Feel free to email Laurelle on [email protected]

Images supplied
Visit the A-Z of Diabetes - Your Journey
Tshepo Howza Mosese

Tshepo Howza Mosese – Making the change

Posted on by
Share

Kwaito singer and TV actor, Tshepo Howza Mosese, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 20. We hear how he changed his lifestyle after he was diagnosed.

Although Tshepo Howza Mosese has a family history of Type 2 diabetes, he was caught off-guard by the diagnosis; especially given his young age. Like many young people, he believed that diabetes was a condition that affected older people.

Type 1 diabetes primarily occurs in children and adolescents and is believed to be an interplay between environmental and genetic factors. Type 2 diabetes accounts for 90-95% of individuals living with diabetes and typically occurs in older adults with genetic and environmental factors, particularly diet and exercise having a role in the development of the condition.

After recovering from the shock of his diagnosis, Howza was proactive about taking charge of his health and has never been shy about his diabetes diagnosis. He uses every opportunity he gets to raise awareness and educate people about diabetes using different platforms.

Making the change

After his diagnosis, Howza made the wise decision to change his lifestyle and make sure he takes care of himself the best way possible by engaging in regular exercise, eating a healthy balanced diet, and regularly checking his blood glucose levels.

His journey of managing his condition was not an easy one. He started losing weight, having blurred vision, dehydration, frequent urination, and loss of energy.

“I have lived with the condition for many years, and over the years I have learned to make health and lifestyle choices that support my ongoing quest to live well and maintain healthy blood glucose levels.”

Being diagnosed with diabetes didn’t stop Howza from pursuing his dreams and aspirations. He continued with his acting career and used his popularity to communicate the importance of understanding your body and ways to better take care of yourself with or without diabetes. He continues to live a healthy lifestyle and shares his journey with legions of people in the country.

Tshepo Howza Mosese

This article is sponsored in the interest of education and awareness by Sanofi. The article has not been changed or altered in anyway by the sponsor.

This article was written by Britespark communications on behalf of Sanofi.

Thapi Semenya – Passionate about advocacy

Posted on by
Share

We chat to Thapi Semenya, who has been living with Type 1 diabetes for 16 years, about how she uses social media as a platform for diabetes advocacy.

About Thapi

Thapi Semenya is a diabetes advocate and uses her social media accounts to educate about her multiple chronic conditions namely diabetes, vitiligo and bipolar disorder.

She is currently studying Law and is a looking to specialise in health law. Her passion for advocacy started in 2018 when she realised that she wanted to form a community and allow for a space where people living with diabetes can come together and share their hopes and struggles. The focus of her advocacy is access to basic diabetes management and affordability of diabetes technologies.

Thapi is also a dedoc° voice; dedoc° is an international community by and for people with diabetes, and she is also a trainee in the IDF Young Leaders in Diabetes programme for 2022-2024.

Her volunteer work includes working as a professional advisor for a Glasgow-based charity, The Luna Project UK, that is committed to raising awareness of and supporting disabled young people

One-on-one with Thapi

When were you diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes?

I was diagnosed in 2006.

What were your symptoms?

Nausea, excessive thirst, frequent urination.

When and why do you advise people to start testing for diabetes?

It’s important to continuously test as diabetes is a condition that can be diagnosed at any stage in your life, but it’s important to test when you show symptoms or if you know you have a family history of diabetes.

What treatment do you use to manage your diabetes?

A continuous glucose monitor and multiple daily insulin injections.

How often do you test your glucose levels?

Because I wear a continuous glucose monitor, I get my readings every five minutes. However, I pay more attention to them before meals and two hours after meals.

Have you experienced an hypo (hypoglycaemia) episode and how did you treat it?

Yes, I have frequent hypos and I treat them by eating a fruit, like a banana, or glucose sweets. Sometimes fruit juice also works but it ultimately ends up spiking my blood glucose levels so I try to avoid it.

How do you manage your diabetes?

Changing from a glucometer to a continuous glucose monitor has been one of the best ways to manage my diabetes. Besides the continuous glucose monitor, I exercise and move around often, drink water, eat smaller portions at every meal, snack regularly and check my blood glucose levels habitually which enables me to do corrections, especially when I’ve eaten something that could potentially increase my blood glucose levels.

What is the most challenging aspect of nutrition for you?

The most frustrating aspect of nutrition is how we as people living with diabetes are expected to follow diets such as the low-carb diet. I find this extremely frustrating as not all households can afford this particular diet, and most of the staple foods we eat, especially in African homes, contain a lot of carbohydrates.

Has diabetes ever affected your work or education?

It has affected my education. In 2019, I had to move back home when COVID started due to the fact that people living with diabetes were considered to be high-risk of contracting COVID so I had to go from being a full-time student to a part-time student and studying online at home.

Do you ever feel the need to hide your diabetes from people?

No, I’m comfortable to talk about my condition.

How do you raise awareness about diabetes amongst your peers?

By advocating on my social media platforms. I do community work and run support groups for other people living with diabetes. I volunteer at various diabetes organisations to help people receive insulin and I’m part of international diabetes communities, such as dedoc° voices, which allows us to interact with other diabetes advocates around the world. Luckily, we get scholarships to attend conferences namely EASD, ATTD and ISPAD. Through attending these conferences, we take what we learn from them and we pay it forward to our communities.

Do you exercise, if so did you start because you have, or was it a lifestyle choice?

Yes I do. This was a lifestyle choice and mainly because I love moving around.

What has diabetes not stopped you from doing?

Diabetes has not stopped me from obtaining my degree, getting my voice heard on large platforms, modelling, or being anything I want to be. I have done so much and diabetes has helped me to grow as an individual.

Thapi 1
Thapi 2

This article is sponsored in the interest of education and awareness by Sanofi. The article has not been changed or altered in anyway by the sponsor.

This article was written by Britespark communications on behalf of Sanofi.