The artificial pancreas is closer than we think
The end goal for the treatment of type 1 diabetes – the artificial pancreas – is an integrated, automated system that calculates how much insulin the body needs and then delivers it – in real time.
Double trouble
Gestational diabetes is the most common medical complication during pregnancy and affects as many as one in 20, putting mother and baby at increased risk for birth trauma and other serious health concerns.
Glucose intolerance and insulin-related conditions
We asked Dr Jacques van Staden, a GP at Mediclinic George who specialises in diabetes, about insulin-related conditions other than diabetes and how to spot them. The umbrella term for these conditions is glucose intolerance, meaning your body does not tolerate glucose well.
Diabetes: a growing problem
The incidence of type 2 diabetes is on the rise, says Dr Jacques van Staden, a GP at Mediclinic George who specialises in diabetes. It is also striking people earlier on in their lives as they lead sedentary lifestyles and follow diets laden with starch. But there are ways that we can stop this epidemic in its tracks.
Five myths about diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is one of the modern world’s fastest-growing diseases. But as it spreads, so too do the myths around it. Tracy Ugarchund, a dietician at Mediclinic Constantiaberg, sets the record straight.
DID YOU KNOW?
-
Our hospitals did the first minimally invasive transcatheter aortic valve implant procedure in Africa.
#MediclinicFacts -
Most nursing units have windows overlooking gardens to promote healing.
#MediclinicFacts -
Our nursing units are designed to minimise the distance between nursing staff and patients.
#MediclinicFacts -
Mediclinic is one of the three leading private hospital groups in Southern Africa and the sixth largest private healthcare group in the world.
#MediclinicFacts -
A baby has a 70% better chance of surviving a motor vehicle accident if in a secure car seat and properly restrained.
#MediclinicFacts -
We monitor the temperature of our neonatal units as newborn babies are extremely sensitive to temperature change.
#MediclinicFacts -
We use a yacht-mast design for our cabling and keep it safely wound up in our trauma pedestals to avoid any accidents.
#MediclinicFacts -
To make the most of every second, we strive to synchronise all our clocks in the hospital.
#MediclinicFacts -
Mediclinic has the highest number of internationally accredited facilities in Southern Africa.
#MediclinicFacts -
We have backup generators for our backup generators so that we can provide uninterrupted expert care.
#MediclinicFacts
Share
Tweet
Delicious recipes to help lower your risk of diabetes
During Diabetes Awareness Month in November 2015, we ran a competition, asking you to select three magnesium-rich ingredients from our list of 12. Four entrants then had their ingredients turned into a delicious recipe by Abigail Donnelly and the overall winner’s recipe was featured on Expresso. Here are those recipes for you to download and try.
Manage diabetes with strength training
The second-best way to manage diabetes is by managing your diet. The best way is to manage your diet and start a strength-training programme.
DID YOU KNOW?
-
Most nursing units have windows overlooking gardens to promote healing.
#MediclinicFacts -
To make the most of every second, we strive to synchronise all our clocks in the hospital.
#MediclinicFacts -
Mediclinic trains more than a thousand nurses annually at training centres throughout Southern Africa.
#MediclinicFacts -
We use the internationally recognised Oxford Vermont Network to keep our neonatal critical care units at the forefront of paediatric medicine.
#MediclinicFacts -
We found a practical solution to a shortage of theatre nurses by becoming a registered teaching institution.
#MediclinicFacts -
Our nursing units are designed to minimise the distance between nursing staff and patients.
#MediclinicFacts -
You get 20% of the water your body needs from eating fruit and vegetables.
#MediclinicFacts -
Our hospitals are designed to minimise ambient noise to promote sleeping and the healing process.
#MediclinicFacts -
Our 24-hour emergency centres feature state-of-the-art life-saving equipment.
#MediclinicFacts -
We use a yacht-mast design for our cabling and keep it safely wound up in our trauma pedestals to avoid any accidents.
#MediclinicFacts
When to get tested for diabetes
November is Diabetes Awareness Month – here’s why and where you should get tested.
Discussing diabetes
If caught in time, diabetes doesn’t need to be debilitating. We chat to Dr Alkesh Magan, a specialist physician and endocrinologist at Mediclinic Sandton, and Dr Heidi Ackermann, a paediatrican at Mediclinic Geneva in George, to find out more about the disease and how to manage it.
Understanding kidney disease
Dr Derek Miller, a physician and kidney specialist at Mediclinic Constantiaberg, answers your FAQs about the causes of kidney disease.
Getting to grips with a diabetes diagnosis
I’m currently in my third month of being a type 2 diabetic and it’s been quite a journey so far…
LOAD MORE ARTICLES
