Diabetes diagnoses leads local man to raise awarenss
A diabetic awareness fun walk hosted to help participants learn more about diets and good health.
Duduza – The Mandla-Wethu Chronic Support Group hosted a diabetic awareness fun walk on Thursday.
The aim was to help residents understand the impact of their diets on their general health.
“I decided to go to the clinic after a few months of constant blurry vision. I never even considered that I could be diabetic because there is no history of it in my family.
“But as soon as I told the nurse about my eyes, she knew what was wrong,” explained the chairperson of the organisation, Mandla Sibeko, who was diagnosed with diabetes on May 11, 2023.
Sibeko was hospitalised on the same day as testing for blurry vision.
“I was told my glucose levels were high and I needed emergency treatment. I was in hospital for two weeks,” Sibeko added.
Sibeko said that it was during his hospitalisation that he saw a huge gap when it came to patients understanding their medication and how to take better care of their health.
“I also met Mandla Khumalo, a diabetic for 27 years at the time. He held my hand and helped me to make changes I needed to live well with diabetes,” said Sibeko.
Now, he hopes to mentor others.
“We gave 21 glucometers to needy people struggling to check their glucose levels. I also appreciate the support of Mfundo Mtambo, a sponsor I discovered is also diabetic,” he added.
