Welcome to Episode 73 of 'not ARTIFICIALLY Sweetened', THE podcast packed with unfiltered reflections on all thing’s diabetes!

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This Episode is brought to you in support of diabetes awareness & care by the CDE Online Pharmacy (⁠https://cdeonline.co.za/⁠), the online store of choice for people living with diabetes. #MiWell #AnytimeCT3CGM

If you’re touched by diabetes in any way, whether personally or professionally, you're in the right place! Join us on this social learning journey as we grow together in understanding, insight, & self-awareness to change lives for the better. Our deliberations are always honest, challenging & thought provoking. Nothing is off the table as we meet real people, discuss their real issues and stories, & together discover real answers to many vexing practical issues in diabetes & its care.

'To transplant, or not...' with Irene Habermann

This week we talk about going beyond just treating type 1 diabetes with insulin replacement therapy. What about a cure? How could this be achieved? And what are the potential roadblocks and dangers we should consider along the way?

Stan and Michael start by reflecting on the past century of our ability to treat type 1 diabetes with insulin, the pathophysiology of the condition and why the prospect of a cure seems to be like a receding mirage of what looks like refreshing water in a scorching desert.

In keeping with our theme for this Episode, and on the back of recent research news of a new method of stem-cell derived β-cell replacement to possibly ‘cure’ type 1 diabetes, our studio guest is Irene Habermann. Irene recently retired as a docent at Hogeschool van Amsterdam, University of Applied Sciences, and she is also a Transformational & Success Life Coach.

In an incredible reflective journey, Irene recounts:

• Her life and her early experiences of feeling different both externally as a Dutch person living in the USA, and internally from age 5 as a person living with diabetes
• Being warned of her early demise from diabetes and that she should never have children – she proved all that was wrong!
• Her experiences living with diabetes in the USA, Holland & South Africa and how the care approaches differed
• Struggling with heart disease and the range of surgeries and treatments needed to survive this
• Receiving a whole pancreas transplant at the age of 47, the long recovery, the resultant need for immunosuppressant therapy, and how things changed for the better, and for the worse…
• Losing her pancreas transplant in a cycling accident & how she feels about this now…
• The differences between her diabetes self-care and attitudes now and as a young person
• The transformative power of continuous glucose monitoring in her life
• The importance of developing self-care responsibility in children with diabetes.

Advocacy message

Neo Moffat shares her growth as a diabetes advocate #BreakingStigma

We want to hear from you!

Email your questions, suggestions, comments or contributions for future episodes to @ ⁠Podcast@CDEDiabetes.co.za⁠

For health professionals working in diabetes

The 6-Module, 23 CPD point CDE Academy Very Low-Calorie Diet Course for Healthcare Professionals can help you assist your clients with excess adiposity & type 2 diabetes to improve their cardiometabolic risk profile, reduce their chronic medication burden, doses & costs & possibly achieve remission of their diabetes. More information & registration @ ⁠https://academy.cdeonline.co.za/vlcd-course/⁠

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 & enhance your client care! Register @ ⁠https://my.learna.ac.uk/l/diabetes-ambassador-cde