Diabetic feet …

So what a hugely ignored region of the body feet are. The very base of us. The very instrument of motion. Disregarded at large by most. Diabetic and non-diabetic.

Why do some diabetics have problems ? The long and the short is that largely this area can be protected, well taken care of as well as preserved.

Diabetes is a systemic disease that affects the whole body, including the feet. The blood vessels and nerves going to the feet are tiny calibre vessels, easily damaged. Think of coke rushing through your arteries and veins and what stickiness that would cause?

An ulcer on a foot is a serious thing. In fact any break in the skin is something that has to be dealt with asap. The thing with diabetic feet is that often the nerves are damaged first and there is no proper feeling and damage occurs much more easily and worse damage due to no feeling.

The human body is an amazing thing and can do spectacular processes of healing.

There are so many awesome wound treatments these days, no amputations should be taking place if the correct care at the correct time takes place.

If in doubt ask a caring practitioner to take a look.

Don’t leave a foot injury even for one day.

0832898351

2 Quarry road

Eva Mackenzie : Prins Alfred street and in hilton

MOVE – Dr Lee THE GP …0832898351

Dr Lee is moving to The Ellenbird in hilton – 2 Quarry road, New phone number : 0832898351, we are relinquishing telkom. We have to pay them 30k to go away. And trust me this is the “cheap” option. IN a nutshell, don’t sign a contract with telkom.

NUFF said!

Fran Steart, Michele Albets, Fiona McRimmon and Elze Scheepers will join us at the Ellen Bird. Fran and Michele are dieticians specialising in diabetes and eating disorders. Fiona is a life coach and Elze is a laser and PRP practitioner.

Pop in – coffee at the coffee shop, gifts and the gift shop and medical help including speech therapy etc all available.

AN idea of the feeling you get at our new practice :

Born in the wrong country

So sometimes I feel that really deep deep down in my soul I am actually a mixture of spanish, italian and a few kinds of south american.

I love to dance. Even in the light. Even in the night when no-one else is. Even in the sun shining day. Even in the hay. I just love it. I love the beat. I love music with a beat. I love music with a soul, and I love a community that embraces that as do the afore-mentioned.

As south africans and (I am told as men) dancing is something learnt whilst drunk and can only be performed in such a state and the window is quite narrow as once too many drinks are on board the physical act of standing is even hard.

So I am native to another country and my soul beats that drum.

It would be so great though if as south africans (at least) we could embrace the person who is dancing instead of rejecting, dissing and naming and shaming them.

Just a thought.

Different is not bad and it should not be intimidating. It certainly should not ever invoke nastiness.

As a nation (at least the privileged part thereof) we tend to be quite critical as well as sharp with our words. We tend to be a little arrogant and set in certain ways we call our own. There is nothing wrong with our own ways but by the same token there is also nothing wrong with another way ?

Diabetes still on the rise

Whilst the world (rightly so) is horrified at the current state of zuma/zupta/corruption in south africa to the absolutely insane attacks in the UK but ALSO the ongoing terrible and unacceptable carnage in syria, iraq, afghanistan (this list is way longer and way worse than most of what the “west” has seen).

I would like to bring all of your attention to something that is “silently” killing way more people. Diabetes. Don’t believe me – look at the horrendous stats. They do speak for themselves. In both the west as well as the east as well as the poorest of the poor.

Diabetes is a scurge that is on the surge. And with no even small little sign of stopping.

What is type 2 ? A disease of wealth but also of abnormal eating. There is no reason to get type 2 diabetes unless you have actually “abused” your body OR if you have had cancer or a tumour of your pancreas.

It is a disease of too much sugar into the body. Too many simple carbs stuffed into a single body and the pancreas says ok well enough is enough and all of a sudden once you have lost 50% of them pancreas cells you find yourself diabetic.

Type 1 however is a different story. This is a case of severely unfair dishing out of disease. Mostly children and young adults who out of the blue have total pancreas failure. And become dependant (i.e. you die without it) on insulin.

Type 1 is NOT avoidable by anything you do or do not do.

Type 1’s rely on insulin, without it they die.

Diabetes is killing and causing loss of quality of life for many many people.

Educate yourself and be aware of what you say. Prevent yourself from getting type 2 and help others understand the difference.

Josef Pilates – unconventional response

I do just love the story of this man, born in Germany to a father of greek descent. He had “healthy” parents who got the flame kindled for what was to come. He was a sickly child with many obstacles to overcome and born into the world at a challenging time. He was a circus performer who toured England and somehow also got involved in training the scotland yard police in physical training.

When the war broke out he was “interned” on the isle of man due to being german (first world war). It was during this time that he helped prisoners of war who were bedridden to “exercise” by “creating” novel equipment so that they could exercise in bed.

He was a war hero and asked by the kaiser to train german troops but declined the offer and rather went across to America to start a new life (and not partake in world war 2).

In Manhatten he started a “contrology” studio in the same building as some dance studios and the rest is largely history.

I find it fascinating that someone dealt a fairly difficult hand of cards came up so trumps with this “new” form of exercise that now helps millions of people across the globe.

If you have not tried pilates do it today : mind body soul invigoration!

don’t just sit there – phone around, google and go

Diabetes -wish it would trend like Trump- in an ideal world (sigh)

Diabetes is a scourge of modern day living. Why are we not winning ?

This is a simple disease – type 2 that is perfectly PREVENTABLE and perfectly treatable and yet we are losing this battle left right and centre.

Dialysis, amputations, blindness abound and really should not.

WE have the tools but we do not have political will or the will of the people.

We live in an age where as humans we choose easy street time and time again. Easy street in eating, easy street in not exercising, easy street in unhealthy choices.

One hundred years ago we were skinny and ate half of what we do currently and guess what we had a almost nil type 2 problem. Fast forward to 2016 and the numbers are staggering (like a drunkard) – out of control.

For a disease that is preventable and treatable.

A sugar above 10 has an effect much like coke on the floor – everything becomes one sticky stuck together mess – that’s a poorly controlled diabetic’s body.

Keep your sugar below 10 and voila – no problems in fact, keep your sugar at target and you live longer than a non-diabetic !

Easy peasy lemon squeezy – but we are not doing it ?

I urge you to look after your body – the only one you have – check your sugar regularly -pick up diabetes early and treat it. Better still eat healthily and exercise and skip it. It is possible. It is really possible – however if you would rather just be fat and still – have some diabetes.

 

How the heck?

Oh my shattered nerves how on earth has 2016 happened and unfolded this way? Is democracy the way forward ?

I am pretty sure that New Yorkers did not vote for Trump, as Londoners did not vote for brexit. Is it just me or are there way too many stupid people out there. Well if Donald Trump can say the things he has and get voted as the president, I think we should take a leaf out of his book and be less pc going forward.

Perhaps honesty may get us somewhere.

And why the heck did the media lull us into a sense of all is ok with the world by saying Hilary would win?

What does this mean? For the world at large??

Where do we stand and is the world at large a safe place ?

Donald strikes me as quite selfish, is he simply going to forget about the rest of the world?

Today, for once I am glad to live in south africa with our version of stupid as president.

Dubai Diabetes

I was extremely privileged to attend the META (middle-east Turkey Africa) collaborative diabetes conference in Dubai at the weekend. Wow!

I was treated like an absolute princess, divine food! International speakers were out of this world and I thank Boeringher-Ingelheim for a superbly organised time in this wonderful place. I am a big fan of Dubai! (now).

I met 2 new friends and such a rare sparkling gem to have spent this time together. Thank you!

The talks focused on a new class of diabetes drug not yet available in south africa (maybe next year) for type 2 diabetes – SGLT sodium glucose transport inhibitor drug which causes you to pee out the glucose (sugar). This new drug not only has great sugar control BUT prevents heart attacks as well as has a positive effect on kidney disease.

There has been so! much research in the last few years and it is really so exciting to be a part of being able to treat diabetes more efficiently effectively and with fewer

side-effects.

Holistic chronic disease management

Chronic diseases are really common place in 2016. They respond much better to holistic treatment than to simply relying on your medicine to “treat” you.

We believe that a combination of exercise, mindfulness, whole body treatment will get you both longevity as well as quality of life.

Diabetes can cause amputations, need for dialysis, blindness as well as severe and debilitating nerve damage – pins and needles/nerve pain in the hands and feet.

If you visit “the team” regularly this will NOT happen to you.

Your medical aid pays for all of the members of the team – so no excuse.

Don’t do it for me or the next person – do it for YOU and your family.

Nourish and flourish

A lovely home cooked meal that is diabetic friendly and low in carbs.

Chicken moussaka : divine tender chicken and bacon with aubergine smothered in a cheesy herbed sauce

Thai chicken curry : mild thai curry with julienne veggies in a coconut sauce

Melanzane Parmigiana : roast aubergine with a slow-cooked delicious tomato parmesan and mozzarella cheese sauce

Cottage Pie : savoury mince with creamy sweet potato and butternut mash

singles, doubles and 4 portions available in store : 26 hilton avenue

Eat healthy live long and well!