Description

Welcome to Episode 39 of 'not ARTIFICIALLY Sweetened', now with listeners in 29 countries!

This Episode is brought to you in support of diabetes awareness and care by the CDE Online Pharmacy (https://cdeonline.co.za/), the online store of choice for people living with diabetes.

If you're living with diabetes or a health professional that facilitates diabetes care, you're in the right place!

Join our journey, as we grow together in understanding, insight, and self-awareness to change lives for the better. Our deliberations are always honest, challenging and thought provoking. Nothing is off the table as we meet real people, discuss their real issues and stories, and together discover real answers to many vexing practical issues in diabetes and its care.

Stan comments on the many surgeries he is seeing at the moment – in this context he pleads with colleagues to explain why insulin may need to be commenced in a hospital setting and why a simple ‘prescription’ is not enough. Michael reflects on the ‘damp squib’ of World Diabetes Day in terms of media coverage, and Stan laments the lack of advance in the education narrative.

Our studio guest this week is a ‘national treasure’, who has a great passion for diabetes, and who bravely ‘speaks truth to power’'. Dr Patrick Ngassa Piotie is a medical doctor with a PhD in public health. Patrick currently is a senior programme manager at the University of Pretoria Diabetes Research Centre, where he focusses on non-communicable diseases. Patrick is a strong advocate for access to quality diabetes care in developing countries, and a leading advocacy light in South Africa – he uses this talent as the Chairperson of the SA Diabetes Alliance.

“Old ways won’t open new doors” - Patrick Ngassa Piotie

We reflect on the just-past Diabetes Summit for 2023 in the context of the diabetes crisis in South Africa, what went well and what was learned from the day. Also on the ‘moonshot’ 90-60-50 diabetes targets in the National Strategic Plan, which unfortunately is plagued by chasms between policy and delivery.

In a wonderful story of grit, tenacity and insight, Patrick also shares his

• Early life in Cameroon, Central Africa and the genesis of his interest in medicine
• Studying medicine in Mali, and working in Cameroon, and his boredom and frustrations dealing with infectious diseases and a lack of resources
• Decision tomove to South Africa and study public health
• Immense struggles and eventual success in entering and completing his Master’s degree
• Struggles to enter the workplace and his progress to a PhD degree and employment in a research setting – “I found my way into what I was supposed to do”
• ‘Real’ thoughts on why diabetes care isn't where it should be (“the political leadership is the issue”), comparisons between the HIV/AIDS and diabetes stories in South Africa, the ‘low-hanging fruits’ in diabetes care (education, diabetes nurse educator training and recognition, a diabetes registry, use of new drugs and community health workers) and his ‘plan B’ strategy to continue the fight…
• Commitment to fight for people with diabetes

SA Diabetes Advocacy is taking a break until next year...

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We want to hear from you! If you have any questions, suggestions, comments or contributions for future episodes, or if you'd like to advertise on this podcast, email us @ Podcast@CDEDiabetes.co.za

For health professionals working in diabetes

The CDE Academy Foundation Course in Diabetes Care for Health Professionals is a real-world-applicable online learning experience at one’s own pace. Access it 24/7/365 & earn 30 CPD points: https://academy.cdeonline.co.za/

Learna/University of South Wales offer a one-year, online, part-time, distance learning Postgraduate Diploma in Diabetes Care. Sign up for a second year to earn an MSc in Diabetes. Gain a competitive edge and enhance your client care! Register @ ⁠https://www.diploma-msc.com/p/diploma-in-diabetes⁠