Diabetes Life & General Practitioner

15/11/2025

If you’ve ever wondered why your blood sugar isn’t always the same, even when your meals are, you’re not alone. Diabetes is influenced by much more than just food.

Your sleep, stress levels, hormones, hydration, activity, and even the time of day can all affect how your body processes sugar. For example:

😴 Lack of sleep raises stress hormones that make blood sugar climb.
💧 Dehydration makes glucose levels appear higher.
🏃 Exercise can lower sugar, but timing and intensity matter.
😔 Stress or illness can cause unexpected spikes.

So, if your numbers vary, don’t get discouraged; it’s normal. The goal isn’t perfection, but rather understanding your patterns so that you and your doctor can adjust as needed. 💙

14/11/2025

💙 14 November is World Diabetes Day

Today, we join the global community in raising awareness for diabetes and emphasising that everyone deserves support, treatment, and hope. Whether you’re living with diabetes, caring for someone who is, or checking your own risk, let’s commit to better knowledge, stronger habits, and a healthier future together.

What you can do today:

✔️ Check your blood sugar if you haven’t recently
✔️ Make one small change, a walk, a healthy meal, or a moment of stress-relief
✔️ Share this message and wear blue to show your support

With proper care and community support, you can live well with diabetes.

14/11/2025

World Diabetes Day💙

As deel van Wêreld-diabetesdag wat vandag aandag geniet, het ons dit goed gedink om met Dr. Nadia Joubert te gesels oor statistiek rondom diabetes en hoe dia...

14/11/2025

💙 World Diabetes Day

Today we honour World Diabetes Day, a powerful reminder of the millions of people living with diabetes and the importance of education, early detection, and supportive care. This morning, Dr Nadia joined Die GROOT Ontbyt to talk about diabetes awareness.

Here’s a little behind-the-scenes look from the studio.

Thank you to everyone who continues to learn, ask questions, and take charge of their wellbeing, you are the heart of what we do.💙

13/11/2025

Feeling dizzy, shaky, sweaty, or lightheaded can be a sign of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) when your glucose levels drop below normal. This can happen if you’ve taken too much medication, delayed a meal, exercised without eating, or skipped a snack.

💡 Here’s what to do:

🍬 If your sugar is low, have a small, quick source of glucose like half a glass of fruit juice, 3–4 glucose sweets, or a tablespoon of honey.
🥪 Follow up with a small balanced snack (like a slice of wholegrain toast with peanut butter).
📊 Always test your blood sugar if you can, and never ignore persistent dizziness or shaking.

If you often feel this way, your medication or meal plan may need adjusting please discuss it with your doctor. 💙

12/11/2025

🦶 If you’ve noticed tingling, burning, or numbness in your feet, it may be a sign of diabetic neuropathy, a condition caused by long-term high blood sugar that damages the nerves. This can make it harder to feel cuts, blisters, or changes in temperature, which is why daily foot care is so critical.

Here’s what helps protect your feet:

👣 Check them every day for redness, swelling, or wounds.
🧦 Wear comfortable, well-fitting shoes and clean socks.
🧴 Keep skin soft with moisturiser (but avoid between the toes).
📉 Keep blood sugar levels as stable as possible.

Early attention can prevent complications and keep your feet healthy for years to come. 💙

11/11/2025

If you’ve noticed weight loss without changing your diet or activity, it’s essential to pay attention, especially if you’re living with diabetes. Unintentional weight loss can occur when your body isn’t utilising glucose effectively for energy, and instead begins to break down fat and muscle.

While losing weight may sound positive, in this case, it’s usually a sign that your blood sugar levels may still be too high or that your treatment plan needs adjustment. Once your sugar levels stabilise, your body can start using food for fuel again, and your weight often returns to a healthy balance.

💙 Don’t ignore sudden changes, they’re your body’s way of asking for help. Please speak to your doctor for a proper review.

10/11/2025

Feeling tired, even when you’ve slept enough, is a common experience for many people with diabetes. Fatigue can be caused by high or low blood sugar levels, dehydration, poor sleep, or certain medications. When your sugar levels are not well balanced, your body struggles to get the energy it needs from food, leaving you drained.

💡 A few simple steps can help:

💧 Stay hydrated throughout the day.
🥗 Eat balanced meals with protein, fibre, and healthy fats.
📊 Check your blood sugar regularly to spot patterns.
🛌 Prioritise quality sleep and gentle daily movement.

If you’re feeling constantly tired, don’t ignore it; it might mean your treatment plan needs a minor adjustment.

25/10/2025

One of the biggest challenges people with diabetes face is not the diagnosis itself, it’s coping with how the medication makes them feel. Some experience nausea, fatigue, stomach issues, or weight changes, and it can feel discouraging.

If this sounds familiar, know this: you’re not alone, and stopping your medication suddenly can be dangerous. The right step is to talk to your doctor, there are often alternative treatments, dosage adjustments, or timing changes that can help ease side effects.

You deserve to feel good and be healthy. Don’t push through silently, speak up and let your healthcare team support you.💙

24/10/2025

🧠Managing diabetes can sometimes feel like a full-time job, checking levels, remembering medication, planning meals, and worrying about what’s next. It’s completely normal to feel tired, frustrated, or even discouraged at times.

But here’s the truth: you’re not failing, you’re human.

Living with diabetes takes daily effort, and even when you’re doing your best, numbers won’t always be perfect. What matters most is staying consistent, forgiving yourself on the hard days, and reaching out for support when you need it.

If you’re feeling burnt out, talk to your healthcare team. Sometimes, a small adjustment to your plan can make a big difference. 💙