So what exactly is Sweet Life? It’s a magazine and community for people with diabetes who want to live their lives to the full. We want to show you that if you’re in good control there’s nothing you can’t do. You can climb mountains! Travel the world! Become a rockstar! Every quarter, we’ll put together a fabulously inspiring collection of articles – from fresh, healthy recipes to questions about health and fitness and relationships, from great stories of ordinary people who’ve done extraordinary things to answers to all your diabetic questions.
To help us ensure we give you the best possible advice, we’ve assembled a group of experts to be on our PANEL OF EXPERTS:
PROFESSORS:
* Timothy Noakes MBChB, MD, DSc, FACSM, (hon) FFSEM (UK) is a Professor in the Discovery Health Chair of Exercise and Sports Science at the University of Cape Town. He is also Director of the UCT/MRC Research Unit for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine and co-founder with Morné du Plessis of the Sports Science Institute of South Africa (SSISA). He has authored many books and papers over the years including his book Lore of Running which is in its 4th edition and which has been published in countries worldwide.
* Wayne Derman MBChB BSc (Med)(Hons) PhD is the Director of the Chronic Disease Lifestyle Rehabilitation Programme based at the UCT Sports Science Institute of South Africa, where he is also Professor of Sport Science and Sports Medicine and Co-Director of the Sports Medicine Services and Research Group. He has served as Chief Medical Officer for the South African Olympic and Paralympic Teams, and is a popular motivational speaker.
ENDOCRINOLOGISTS:
* Dr. Joel Dave MBChB PhD FCP Cert Endocrinology is a Senior Specialist in the Division of Diabetic Medicine and Endocrinology at the University of Cape Town and Groote Schuur Hospital. He is also in private practice in Cape Town. He specialises in the diagnosis and management of a wide spectrum of simple and complex endocrine-related disorders, particularly thyroid disease and diabetes.
* Dr. Zaheer Bayat MBBCh (Wits), FCP(SA), Cert Endo (SA) is a specialist physician and specialist endocrinologist working in Gauteng. He is the Co-chair of the Post Graduate Committee in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Witwatersrand, and the Head of Endocrinology and Diabetic Services at Helen Joseph Hospital, and sees private patients at the Centre for Integrative Health in Bedfordview and the Centre for Medical Excellence in Lenasia.
DOCTORS:
* Dr. Neville Wellington has been in General Practice for 17 years, and has always had an interest in treating patients with diabetes. He recently completed the CDE diabetes course, and has subsequently been doing the Diploma in Diabetes through the University of Cardiff. He is married with 3 children and works at the Kenilworth Medicross.
* Dr Gabaza Ngobeni is a general practitioner based in Diepkloof, Soweto. She runs Dr Gabaza’s Healing Centre, a division of the CDE, in Soweto and is involved in a lot of community work around diabetes, including community workshops and monthly diabetes days. She is a board member for Choc, Readucate and Diabetes South Africa, and resident doctor for Jozi FM, Shift SABC1 and Soweto TV.
DIABETES EDUCATORS:
* Jeannie Berg is the Chairperson of DESSA: the Diabetes Education Society of South Africa. A dedicated registered pharmacist and diabetic educator with specialty experience in primary health care and diabetes, Jeannie serves on a clinical co-ordination committee of a medical aid administrator and works in Secunda, doing local education for all diabetes patients. Her motto is: Diabetes is a journey and we need a lot of friends to walk it with!
* Lyn Starck is a registered nurse who specialised in paediatrics and adolescents, and has an advanced diploma in paediatrics and neonatal science. She was a founder member of DESSA and has served on the NEC for 25 years. She is currently a clinical diabetes nurse specialist at the Red Cross Children’s Hospital, where she has worked since 1981, and was part of a task team to formulate a course for health professionals in the management of diabetes.
DIETICIANS:
* Genevieve Jardine is a dietician based in Durban, who is registered with ADSA, the Association for Dietetics in South Africa, and specialises in diseases of lifestyle, diabetes and weight loss. She is the co-author of Your Journey with Diabetes: guiding you through the highs and lows towards optimal blood glucose control, with Dr. Kathryn Wiseman, and is in private practice in Durban.
* Faaiza Paruk holds a Bsc Dietetics (Hons) from the University of the Western Cape and is a member of ADSA, the Association for Dietetics in South Africa. She specialises in diseases of lifestyle, especially diabetes, and has worked in hospitals, both private and public. She is now in private practice in Mayfair, Gauteng.
BIOKINETICIST:
* Sarah Hall is a Registered Biokineticist with a BSc. (Med)(HONS) in Exercise Science (Biokinetics) UCT who loves working out the best possible exercise options for individuals. She is currently in private practice in Sea Point, Cape Town.
PODIATRISTS:
* Andy Blecher is a podiatrist who has been in practice in Cape Town for over 10 years, where she now lives with her three children. She is currently running the Western Cape Diabetic Foot Clinic with a team of other specialists. She holds a 4 year National Higher Diploma in Podiatry, and is on the Western Cape committee of the diabetic foot working group (DFWG). She has a certificate in biomechanics from the international ICB college of biomechanics and is a member of the HPCSA and BHF. Her special interests are the diabetic foot and her motto is: Prevention IS the cure.
* Anette Thompson holds an M Tech Podiatry (UJ) and B Tech Podiatry (SA) and is currently Chairperson of the Footwear Committee of the SA Podiatry Association; Clinical Director for Anette Thompson & Associates, Inc., Podiatrists, KZN and accredited with both the CDE and Diabetes SA. Anette is passionate about foot health and footwear and has registered 3 footwear related patents. Both her mother and husband are Type 2 diabetics so she knows how to “walk the talk”!
OPHTHALMOLOGIST:
* Dr. Dale Harrison is an ophthalmologist in private practice in Cape Town, and a sessional consultant at Groote Schuur Hospital. He did his undergraduate training at UCT graduating MBCHB in 1992, and completed his specialist training at Groote Schuur FC Ophth (SA) in 2002. He is married with one child. His motto? Get your eyes checked annually!
PSYCHOLOGIST:
* Ruth Scott is a Cape Town based clinical psychologist in private practice. She gained clinical experience at public hospitals in and around the Western Cape. Ruth has a long standing interest in the intersection between psychology and public health which lead her to co-author ‘A Gauge of HIV Prevention in South Africa, 2009’ along with David Harrison, former CEO of loveLife. She has also worked as a researcher in the NGO sector.
HEALTH COACH:
* Lara Wiese B.Psych, B.Sc, B.Sc(Hons), Dip.LC, Cert.Diab.Ed, Cert.Nutris combines her psychology, life coaching and science background with extensive experience in diabetes. She offers her clients a personalised and fully integrated approach to medical and lifestyle management. She is in private practice in Cape Town and is also a co-owner of the Endocrine Education Group, a company that runs education courses for the community. She is currently studying a Post Graduate Diploma in Diabetes Management, and is married with 2 small children. Says Lara, “Knowledge is so powerful and knowing what to do is always the first step in creating change.”
In between the magazine issues, join us right here on the Sweet Life website, or on our mobi site (for cellphones) to ask and answer questions about daily life with diabetes, start new conversations, check out what to expect in the next issue, and sign up for our monthly newsletter.
From the whole team here at Sweet Life, WELCOME! Don’t forget to sign up so we can stay in touch.
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