Marius Schutte (32) lives in Krugersdorp, Gauteng. He was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 25.

When were you diagnosed?

I had a roller coaster experience when I was initially diagnosed as was first treated as a Type 2 diabetes patient. Symptoms were something I never experienced, or rather I never noticed symptoms as I always drank a lot of water (because it’s healthy) and in turn had to go to the toilet a lot.

I got flu just before a big competition and went to the doctor to see if I could get better before the competition. Being very thorough, the doctor did a urine test and picked up that there was glucose in my urine. He explained it should not be like this and did a random glucose test. It was at 11mmol/L which is way too high. He then sent me for tests and diagnosed me with Type 2 diabetes and prescribed oral treatment.

I did not understand my diagnosis so I went to different doctors to get a better understanding of why I got diabetes. I had so many questions but I did not get many answers. That was until I went to another doctor who said I was on the wrong treatment as I do not produce enough insulin and the tablets will not work. I did not have Type 2 diabetes but Type 1 diabetes. In her opinion, the only way I managed without insulin was because of my strict diet and gym programme.

I was then diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in December 2012. Insulin was prescribed. I am currently using Lantus insulin and inject myself. I am also on Glucophage XR, Liaglucide MR and Adco Simvastatin. Though my doctor is currently reducing the doses of Glucophage XR and Liaglucide MR so soon I won’t be using them.

Tell us more about The Grid Games

The Grid Games started at my local gym, Virgin Active Little Falls. We had an in-house competition. The competition requires participants to perform eight exercises in four minutes in a 2m x 2m grid. The aim is to accumulate as many reps (calories in rowing) within 20 seconds, with only a 10 second rest in between exercises. The winners of the male and female category went on to represent the club at the regional competition.

I succeeded in winning the regional competition and was given the honour to represent Gauteng at the national event of The Grid Games. There were more than 14 000 athletes competing through all The Grid Games stages.

It was an extremely tough competition as we had to go through knock out stages. The winner of each round would progress to the next round. We had to go through three stages on the day. I found it very difficult to recover in the small time between the rounds.

My peers without diabetes could energise themselves with supplements and energy drinks whist I only had water to drink and ate chicken. I could not have any of the products on offer though I managed to finish in third position overall.

The organisers of The Grid Games insisted that I have a paramedic in my lane when I competed. This drew a lot of attention. The officials, competitors and the crowd could see that I was different. Many enquired afterwards as to the state of my health. This was a blessing in disguise and it gave me an opportunity to share my experience with diabetes and to make people aware of the condition. Most of all, I could show that diabetes is not a death sentence and you can still live life to the fullest.

How did you become involved in sports?

I’ve always had a love for the outdoors and being active. I never believed in sitting in front of the TV. I would rather go outside and do something in nature.

But after being diagnosed with diabetes, it became more of a lifestyle. I had to be active so I took it upon myself to set an example and help motivate other people to get off the couch and get active.

I want to show people living with diabetes that diabetes that you can still have a full active life. It takes a bit more planning, etc. but it is totally possible and totally worth it. We have to look after our bodies, we only have the one and there are no spares available.

What is your art of living with diabetes?

The first word that comes to mind is consistency. Dedication and commitment follow. You need to be committed to a healthy lifestyle and dedicated enough to carry you when motivation is low.

What does your exercise regime consist of?

I absolutely love sport and being active and this can be seen in my exercise routine. I train five days a week, twice a day. The morning sessions consist of cardio training and is mixed between running and cycling. The evening sessions consist of CrossFit and weight training. On weekends, I go for active rest. This will include swimming, rowing and hiking.

What does your diet consist of?

Like mentioned before consistency is key. I try not to be adventurous with food and rather stick to the basics.

I start my day with boiled eggs for breakfast. My morning snack will usually consist of berries or an apple and mixed tree nuts. I found that the fruit does not spike my sugar when eaten with a protein.

For lunch, I have a chicken salad in summer and in winter I prefer cooked chicken and veggies. My snack between lunch and dinner is biltong.

I have an avocado before I go to gym and eat dinner straight after gym. This consists of protein (chicken, fish or red meat) and veggies. I stay away from carbs as much as possible. The only carbs I have are the veggies. I don’t eat any pasta, rice, bread or potatoes.

Do you suffer with any other side effect related to diabetes?

Diabetes affects me immensely. I suffer from a range of side effects from both the condition itself as well as the medication. It affects my mental and physical well-being. Mental – because I suffer from severe insomnia. This alters my whole countenance when I am sleep deprived. Plus, I experience immense feelings of irritability when my blood glucose levels are high. Physical – because of the muscle spasms and the body aches I experience.

What helps motivate you?

I read all the time, anything and everything about diabetes. The more informed I am, the better I can manage my condition. I find reading stories of other people living with diabetes helps me. Sometimes it feels like you’re fighting alone but then reading about someone else struggles and how they got through them motivates and encourages me to keep on fighting.

What is the reality of diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes is a lifelong condition. It is the first thing I think of when I wake up in the morning and the last thing I think about when I go to bed. This is how it will be for the rest of my life. You don’t have any days-off. A day-off can mean a trade-off with my life. Thus, it is a condition that forces me to be extremely disciplined and strict.

People in general have a limited understanding of this condition and think that I can’t eat sweets or chocolates. That is not true. Diabetes is affected by everything, from the food I eat to the weather I experience and my emotional condition, etc. In short, it is a forced lifestyle change, that if not taken seriously can mean my life can be lost.

What is next?

I am a very adventures person and love living. I hope to inspire other people to do the same. Even people without diabetes. It is just so easy to say that something is difficult and to just give up. I want show that anything is possible. If I, with my diabetes, can do it, so can any other person.

I have two big dreams that I would like to achieve to bring more awareness to diabetes. Firstly, I would like to climb Mount Kilimanjaro and to complete an Ironman (I will start with Ironman 70.3).

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 editor@diabetesfocus.co.za

Metal fillings (amalgam) has had its place in dentistry for decades. Dr Marc Sher educates us on the facts and the myths.

Patients frequently ask what should they do with their metal (amalgam) fillings. Mostly, it’s because they’ve read an article that says metal fillings are poisonous and can cause cancer, dementia, Alzheimer’s, and a host of other deadly diseases.

There are also patients, whom have visited a ‘holistic’ health practitioner, and have been advised to remove all their metal fillings. Then, there are patients that simply don’t like the dark shadow they see when they smile or open their mouth.

Whatever the reason, amalgam has had its place in dentistry for decades. It’s important to separate the facts from the myths, and for you to understand the facts to be able to choose the best course of treatment.

What you need to know about metal fillings

Amalgam, a metal alloy, made up of mainly mercury, silver, zinc and copper was the filling of choice for many dentists across the globe for decades. It’s been clinically proven to withstand all the complexities that the oral environment can deliver as well as been shown to last for many years, without wearing down, breaking, or changing its shape.

Amalgam is not moister sensitive (a big issue in the mouth) and it’s condensed into a cavity using the tooth undercuts for mechanical retention. It has a low-cost output for the dentist and a short working time. Which means many dentists have chosen this as a filling of choice to increase production and turnover. There is no wonder that many government dental clinics only offer amalgam as the filling of choice.

Patients more aesthetically demanding

In my 10 years in the dental industry, my personal journey with amalgam has been short. We were taught, and instructed, to place a certain number of amalgam fillings in dental school and had to be fully competent in its application.

We were also taught about resin (white) fillings, but to a much lesser extent. When I left dental school, and entered private practice, naturally I did what I was taught in the beginning. So yes, I was placing amalgam fillings.

As I grew in my role as a private practitioner, I developed a passion for aesthetic dentistry, leading me into the world of tooth-coloured/white fillings. I’ve done research, tried different resin, ceramic and glass ionomer filling materials, and attended courses and workshops learning about their application and function.

As my patients became more aesthetically demanding, I had to make a choice on filling material, and what it basically boiled down to was a simple question, “Why place a metal filling in a white tooth?” The last time I recall placing an amalgam filling was in 2010.

Advances in filling material

As technology and innovation drives the growth and changes in every industry, dentistry has seen a paradigm shift in filling materials. The dental material companies, manufacturing tooth-coloured fillings, have pushed each other to create filling materials that can truly withstand all that the mouth can throw at them.

It’s been a long road, but the science has shown that composite resin, glass ionomers, ceramics and other tooth-coloured materials are a superior choice. There is no reason, other than increased productivity and low-costs, that dentists should turn to an amalgam filling in this day and age.

Technique sensitive

Placing a tooth-coloured filling is extremely technique sensitive; all the steps need to be followed to ensure the correct bonding of the filling to the tooth. There will still be instances where these tooth-coloured fillings will fail, but this is mostly due to poor technique or incorrect material selection. Every other aspect of the tooth-coloured materials we are using nowadays is superior to amalgam.

The difference between amalgam and tooth-coloured fillings

The fundamental difference between amalgam and tooth-coloured fillings is that tooth-coloured materials are ‘bonded’ onto the tooth surface, and metal is not. Metal is held in place mechanically.

What now?

Do you rush to your dentist and have he/she replace all your amalgam fillings? My advice, definitely not! If you have sound, functional metal fillings that do not give you a moments trouble then let sleeping dogs lie.

Unless your dentist has pointed out that there is a health issue (secondary decay), functional issue (broken or chipped), or an aesthetic issue with your amalgam filling, I do not recommend removing them.

Is there scientific proof that metal fillings are poisoning the body?

The short answer is no. Nothing has been clinically proven, and the literature on the topic states that they cannot conclusively prove that amalgams are the cause of said illness. What is known, is that the ‘feel-good factor’ and ‘placebo effect’ have been shown to reign true when it comes to removing metal fillings.

Another important fact is when a dentist picks up his/her drill to remove the amalgam filling, that process completely vaporises the filling into millions of tiny particles. At which time, the patient is at the greatest risk of swallowing and inhaling the harmful metal alloys that the filling contains. Basically, it’s safer in then out.

Removing metal fillings

If you need to have an amalgam filling removed, please request that the dentist places a rubber dam (isolation device) and uses a high-powered suction. This will greatly limit your exposure to debris caused when having an amalgam filling removed.

It is also expected that a tooth will experience some post-operative sensitivity after amalgam has been removed. Most often, the sensitivity is short-lasting and will settle. However, there are exceptions, and removal can lead to further treatment needed on the tooth, such as root canal and a ceramic crown or overlay.

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The sky’s the limit for Marius Schutte