Through a powerful hashtag and an informative campaign, the South Africans with Diabetes organisation is proving that diabetes affects all kinds of different people and that there is absolutely no reason to be weird about it or ashamed to be living with it.
South Africa (14 May 2025) – Everyone knows the depressing South African diabetes statistics, it could even seem a little hopeless, but the Sweetlife Diabetes Community, are doing their best to help break down the stigma around diabetes.
They are doing this through their newly launched #DiabetesLooksLikeMe campaign.
“Diabetes stigma might seem like a minor problem – people making bad jokes about getting diabetes or acting weird around injections.
“But the reality is that South Africa has a huge diabetes stigma problem, and it’s contributing to the fact that one in two South Africans with diabetes are undiagnosed. Which contributes directly to the fact that diabetes is the number one killer of women and number 2 killer of men in our country,” Sweetlife shares.
Through #DiabetesLooksLikeMe, Sweetlife from this week will be using the power of social media for good by sharing a video showcasing that diabetes comes to every kind of person, regardless of age, gender, race or socio-economic background.
“Alongside this, we’re inviting people with diabetes to share a selfie on today, 14 May with the hashtag #DiabetesLooksLikeMe so that we can flood social media with images of all different kinds of people with diabetes.”
The organisation has also compiled an easy-to-understand one-page Diabetes fact sheet and informative articles with expert input from psychologist Daniel Sher available on the website to help curb misinformation regarding the disease.
As part of the campaign, people living with diabetes are also invited to share their stories of stigma on Facebook and Instagram, as well as by joining the Sweetlife Diabetes Community in a Facebook Live on their page on Wednesday, 28 May at 7pm.
“It will be a discussion between psychologist Daniel Sher and Sweet Life co-founder Bridget McNulty, both living with diabetes, in which they welcome questions and comments from the broader diabetes community. Everyone is invited!”
There’s never been a better time to help break the diabetes stigma. Join the discussion and movement today!
Sources: Supplied
Don’t ever miss the Good Things. Download the Good Things Guy App now on Apple or Google.
Do you have something to add to this story? Please share it in the comments or follow GoodThingsGuy on Facebook & Twitter to keep up to date with good news as it happens, or share your good news with us by clicking here or click the link below to listen to the Good Things Guy Podcast with Brent Lindeque – South Africa’s very own Good Things Guy. He’s on a mission to change what the world pays attention to, and he truly believes there’s good news around us. In the Good Things Guy podcast, you’ll meet these everyday heroes & hear their incredible stories:
Or watch an episode of Good Things TV below, a show created to offer South Africans balance in a world with what feels like constant bad news. We’re here to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in South Africa & we’ll leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.
by 