\u201cAfter a few months of working at the hospital, I realised that the majority of the outpatients we saw were diabetic patients,\u201d said Joan.<\/p>\n
\u201cI approached the chief dietitian and asked if we could start a support group and maybe it could help minimise the number of patients we saw on a one-on-one basis, and patients could gain encouragement in a group setting.\u201d<\/p>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/31\/2018\/11\/47GCNGENERALDIAB_50961-520x390.jpg\")
ALSO READ:\u00a0Defining, diagnosing and dealing with depression<\/a><\/h4>\nSince March the group has held meetings twice a month, on the first and last Fridays of the month, and has gained almost 50 members.<\/p>\n
The hospital is populated by three types of diabetic patients, Type One, Type Two and those with gestational diabetes.<\/p>\n
\u201cType One diabetes is a bit random, it can be found in children and older people and it affects all genders,\u201d said Joan.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s no definite known cause, it develops when your body either has minimal or no insulin caused by the pancreas not secreting enough insulin.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou find that many Type One diabetics use insulin injections and the condition is diagnosed at an early stage.<\/p>\n
\u201cType Two diabetes is usually found in older people, who are overweight.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is primarily caused by a prolonged unhealthy lifestyle, which then eventually results in the body\u2019s insulin not being as responsive to glucose.<\/p>\n
\u201cGestational diabetes is usually found in pregnant women, mainly because of weight gain.\u201d<\/p>\n
ALSO READ: Bertha Gxowa speaks out against the stigma around mental health illnesses<\/a><\/h4>\nAccording to Joan, fatigue, a dry throat, always feeling thirsty, feeling faint or dizzy, a constant stinging or itching sensation on the skin and blurry vision are some of the warning signs identified in Type One diabetes.<\/p>\n
\u201cType One diabetics sometimes struggle with being underweight, and are sometimes given a supplement to balance their weight,\u201d said Joan.<\/p>\n
The same symptoms, including being overweight, contribute to red flags in identifying Type Two diabetes in patients.<\/p>\n
Joan, who has a diabetic grandmother and has lost an uncle to the condition, said spreading awareness on the condition has become a personal interest because she now fully knows the dangers that come with an unbalanced diabetic lifestyle.<\/p>\n
\u201cI always tell my patients to see a dietitian and a nutritionist if they are diagnosed with diabetes, to put them on a beneficial diet,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cDiabetes is a lifestyle condition, you have to make a lifestyle change.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith the right encouragement and a change in your diet paired with your medication you\u2019ll be in control.\u201d<\/p>\n
ALSO READ:\u00a0Every day is Older Persons Day at Methodist Homes<\/a><\/h4>\nWith a keen interest also in orphan care, Joan based her dissertation on the study of caregivers and dietary diversity in children\u2019s homes.<\/p>\n
In which she found that foods rich in Vitamin A and iron were rarely served in comparison to the popular foods which are high in starch and oil.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis type of diet can cause complications in their older years.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is why I encourage people to take on a diabetic lifestyle, even if you are not diagnosed with diabetes, adopting a diabetic lifestyle could help balance your system.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt can help you lose weight and maintain your blood sugar and blood pressure,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
According to Joan, members of her support group have sent feedback saying they have gained more confidence since gaining control over their condition, maintaining their blood sugar and the diet has notched up their energy levels too, proving that the support group has been helpful.<\/p>\n
\u201cChange your mindset and live a healthy lifestyle for the rest of your life, there are only positives to changing to a diabetic diet,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Info box:<\/strong><\/p>\nThe diabetic diet<\/strong><\/p>\n\u2022 Diabetes is not only about managing your sugar but about your intake of processed carbohydrates.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Remember that processed starches cause your blood sugar to go up a lot faster than starches that are high in fibre.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Always choose starches that are high in fibre and the portion size should only be a quarter of your plate.<\/p>\n
\u2022 The main foods on your plate should be vegetables because they too contain a lot of fibre.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Be cautious of the sweet vegetables, such as carrots and butternut, for those servings only a tablespoon or two but not half a plate.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Avoid processed meats, because they are high in fat and salt and they\u2019re not good for blood sugar.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Go for lean or fresh meat options only.<\/p>\n
\u2022 When it comes to fizzy drinks, you can have the sugar-free products, but Joan suggests you dilute them with water or simply avoid them if you aren\u2019t too sure of the brand.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Drink more water, four to six glasses a day.<\/p>\n
Hav<\/strong>e a story?<\/strong><\/p>\nContact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or Kgotsofalang Mashilo (journalist)\u00a0kgotsofalangm@caxton.co.za<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nRemember to visit the Germiston City News on the following social media platforms:<\/p>\n
Facebook<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nTwitter<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nInstagram<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nYouTube<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nOr add the GCN on\u00a0<\/b><\/span>WhatsApp 079 406 1181<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>or\u00a0BBM (BBM Pin: 7F102137)<\/strong>\u00a0<\/b><\/span>today, to get all the latest news.<\/p>\nCatch-up on more local news with our sister newspapers\u00a0<\/span>Bedfordview Edenvale News<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>Alberton Record<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>Kempton Express<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
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According to Joan, fatigue, a dry throat, always feeling thirsty, feeling faint or dizzy, a constant stinging or itching sensation on the skin and blurry vision are some of the warning signs identified in Type One diabetes.<\/p>\n
\u201cType One diabetics sometimes struggle with being underweight, and are sometimes given a supplement to balance their weight,\u201d said Joan.<\/p>\n
The same symptoms, including being overweight, contribute to red flags in identifying Type Two diabetes in patients.<\/p>\n
Joan, who has a diabetic grandmother and has lost an uncle to the condition, said spreading awareness on the condition has become a personal interest because she now fully knows the dangers that come with an unbalanced diabetic lifestyle.<\/p>\n
\u201cI always tell my patients to see a dietitian and a nutritionist if they are diagnosed with diabetes, to put them on a beneficial diet,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cDiabetes is a lifestyle condition, you have to make a lifestyle change.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith the right encouragement and a change in your diet paired with your medication you\u2019ll be in control.\u201d<\/p>\n
ALSO READ:\u00a0Every day is Older Persons Day at Methodist Homes<\/a><\/h4>\nWith a keen interest also in orphan care, Joan based her dissertation on the study of caregivers and dietary diversity in children\u2019s homes.<\/p>\n
In which she found that foods rich in Vitamin A and iron were rarely served in comparison to the popular foods which are high in starch and oil.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis type of diet can cause complications in their older years.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is why I encourage people to take on a diabetic lifestyle, even if you are not diagnosed with diabetes, adopting a diabetic lifestyle could help balance your system.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt can help you lose weight and maintain your blood sugar and blood pressure,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
According to Joan, members of her support group have sent feedback saying they have gained more confidence since gaining control over their condition, maintaining their blood sugar and the diet has notched up their energy levels too, proving that the support group has been helpful.<\/p>\n
\u201cChange your mindset and live a healthy lifestyle for the rest of your life, there are only positives to changing to a diabetic diet,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Info box:<\/strong><\/p>\nThe diabetic diet<\/strong><\/p>\n\u2022 Diabetes is not only about managing your sugar but about your intake of processed carbohydrates.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Remember that processed starches cause your blood sugar to go up a lot faster than starches that are high in fibre.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Always choose starches that are high in fibre and the portion size should only be a quarter of your plate.<\/p>\n
\u2022 The main foods on your plate should be vegetables because they too contain a lot of fibre.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Be cautious of the sweet vegetables, such as carrots and butternut, for those servings only a tablespoon or two but not half a plate.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Avoid processed meats, because they are high in fat and salt and they\u2019re not good for blood sugar.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Go for lean or fresh meat options only.<\/p>\n
\u2022 When it comes to fizzy drinks, you can have the sugar-free products, but Joan suggests you dilute them with water or simply avoid them if you aren\u2019t too sure of the brand.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Drink more water, four to six glasses a day.<\/p>\n
Hav<\/strong>e a story?<\/strong><\/p>\nContact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or Kgotsofalang Mashilo (journalist)\u00a0kgotsofalangm@caxton.co.za<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nRemember to visit the Germiston City News on the following social media platforms:<\/p>\n
Facebook<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nTwitter<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nInstagram<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nYouTube<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nOr add the GCN on\u00a0<\/b><\/span>WhatsApp 079 406 1181<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>or\u00a0BBM (BBM Pin: 7F102137)<\/strong>\u00a0<\/b><\/span>today, to get all the latest news.<\/p>\nCatch-up on more local news with our sister newspapers\u00a0<\/span>Bedfordview Edenvale News<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>Alberton Record<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>Kempton Express<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
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The diabetic diet<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2022 Diabetes is not only about managing your sugar but about your intake of processed carbohydrates.<\/p>\n \u2022 Remember that processed starches cause your blood sugar to go up a lot faster than starches that are high in fibre.<\/p>\n \u2022 Always choose starches that are high in fibre and the portion size should only be a quarter of your plate.<\/p>\n \u2022 The main foods on your plate should be vegetables because they too contain a lot of fibre.<\/p>\n \u2022 Be cautious of the sweet vegetables, such as carrots and butternut, for those servings only a tablespoon or two but not half a plate.<\/p>\n \u2022 Avoid processed meats, because they are high in fat and salt and they\u2019re not good for blood sugar.<\/p>\n \u2022 Go for lean or fresh meat options only.<\/p>\n \u2022 When it comes to fizzy drinks, you can have the sugar-free products, but Joan suggests you dilute them with water or simply avoid them if you aren\u2019t too sure of the brand.<\/p>\n \u2022 Drink more water, four to six glasses a day.<\/p>\n Hav<\/strong>e a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>or Kgotsofalang Mashilo (journalist)\u00a0kgotsofalangm@caxton.co.za<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Remember to visit the Germiston City News on the following social media platforms:<\/p>\n Facebook<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Twitter<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Instagram<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n YouTube<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Or add the GCN on\u00a0<\/b><\/span>WhatsApp 079 406 1181<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>or\u00a0BBM (BBM Pin: 7F102137)<\/strong>\u00a0<\/b><\/span>today, to get all the latest news.<\/p>\n Catch-up on more local news with our sister newspapers\u00a0<\/span>Bedfordview Edenvale News<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0<\/span>Alberton Record<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<\/span>Kempton Express<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n