Care for Diabetics in South Africa

china

Member
Messages
18
I live in the UK but spend a lot of time in Mpumalanga Province in South Africa (the Lowveld). I am considering moving out there sometime in the future and was wondering if there are any South African residents on the Forums who can tell me what to expect in terms of Diabetes Care.

I have not yet met a South African (don't mention the song!) diabetic and am curious as to the number of diabetics in the population/diabetes awareness and all sorts of other things. Can anyone help?
 

nats12

Member
Messages
8
I am a type 1 who lived in SA and my care was very good but then again I had very good expensive medical insurance. Things might have changed since I lived there - 5 years ago- if you get MI with your work , they contribute towards it and you don't pay an exobertant amount extra for a pre-existing condition. With a good insurance I would say the care is better than the UK but if you do not have private insurance your care will be basically non-existent. I spent 6 months without insurance between leaving University and getting a job and the only care I got was cheap insulin, which I had to queue up for at the government hospital ( I had to queue for a bout 3 hours).
 

china

Member
Messages
18
Hi nats12

Many thanks for your post and the info!
I would definately be getting MI anyway, and not just because of the diabetes. Did you get your diabetes care from your doctor (GP) or were you under a consultant/specialist? I'm a T2 on oral meds so we are different anyway. Is there much awareness in the general population about diabetes?
Thanks