Support diabetes awareness walk

“SEVEN per cent of South Africans, between the ages of 21 and 79, have diabetes. This means that 3,85 million South Africans in this age group may have diabetes.”

These statistics come from the Diabetes SA website. The NPO, which aims to raise awareness, recently hosted their 50th anniversary breakfast and the launch of the 2019 annual Global Diabetes Walk and Wellness Festival at the Protea Hotel by Marriott Durban Edward, a co-sponsor of the event together with uShaka Marine World. The festival will feature a 5km and 8km walk/run on Sunday, 17 November from its new home at uShaka Marine World. Funds raised on the day will support the work of Diabetes SA.

Speaking to the Northglen News at the launch, chairman of Diabetes SA, nursing sister, Philile Dlamini said healthy eating, exercising, losing weight and managing or preventing stress can help to prevent diabetes.

“Diabetes can be well managed with education. The government can ensure that every health institution has a health educator who is going to cater only to patients with diabetes. A well empowered diabetic lives longer and the complications are prevented. If they can take care of that,the costly things like dialysis, heart complications and kidney complications can be prevented.

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“If possible, government must ensure that every patient on insulin has their own glucometer to be able to test at home. Without testing, you cannot manage diabetes. The government must ensure that these patients get test trips. There are some who can afford them, but not every month,” she said.

Vice chairman, Hoosen Motala added that a healthy lifestyle should be taught to children.

“We need to educate school children, so the younger generation knows to keep away from burgers and fizzy drinks which contain a lot of sugar. It’s about knowing the right foods to eat. Children today are hooked on fizzy drinks. My grandchildren want to drink Coke in the morning. I see little children of two years old whose parents are giving them fizzy drinks. It’s absolutely wrong. Don’t get children hooked on fizzy drinks. Rather give them fresh juice,” he said.

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Promoting awareness is key to combating the astonishing diabetes statistics, he added.

“There must be more awareness about diabetes in the media and there must be a lot of talks on diabetes.

“Our current doctors must offer extensive information to diabetics. We are now distributing information in the Zulu language, where people can understand what it’s all about. We’ve got a magazine which clearly explains what diabetes is and what to do in isiZulu, which is very important,” he said.

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