From type 1 moms to type 2 warriors, these South African women are sharing their heartfelt advice to help women living with diabetes.
South Africa (12 August 2025) – August is Women’s Month in South Africa, a time to reflect on our journeys, celebrate our victories, and have the conversations that matter. And when it comes to health and wellbeing, sometimes the most powerful insights don’t come from medical textbooks, but from women who’ve walked the road themselves.
The Sweet Life Diabetes Community has brought together the voices of more than 30 South African women living with diabetes, women who are not just managing their condition, but thriving in their own ways. They are young and older, living with both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, some newly diagnosed, others with decades of lived experience; one for an incredible 57 years. Their stories remind us that diabetes does not discriminate, and it doesn’t have to define you.
What shines through most is the advice they offer other women who may be on this path, words filled with courage, compassion, and lived wisdom.
Montsheng Botlhoko, who has been living with Type 2 diabetes for 14 years, puts it plainly:
“Diabetes is like running a marathon and not reaching the finish line. Every day you have to show up for yourself and be proactive.”
For Lyn Sewell, 35 years with Type 1 diabetes inspired her to start her own diabetes accessories company. Her perspective is equally practical:
“Don’t let diabetes get you down. Don’t let it upset or depress you, because that affects your sugar levels and causes more stress. Don’t change your entire life by listening to social media or trying to copy what other people say or do because each person is different.”
Then there’s Rukhsana Hoosain, 57 years living with diabetes and still sharing hope:
“Like every other illness out there, one has to take good care of themselves, maintain a healthy lifestyle, find different routines that work best for you and always be calm. It definitely is easier said than done, I agree, but with time things literally get better!”
For Sweet Life Project Manager Shiara Pillay, living with Type 1 for 20 years has been a lesson in balance:
“Allow your diabetes to take up the space it needs (and deserves) for you to find acceptance, to figure it out, or to improve your lived experience. It takes one step at a time on the uphills to get you to the top!”
And finally, multi-award-winning singer and advocate Holly Rey shares wisdom that feels just as relevant to life as it does to diabetes:
“Remember to be kind to yourself; there is a big difference between being depleted and being defeated. You will never be defeated if you have boundaries, allow yourself time to rest, and take care of your physical and mental well-being. However, if you allow yourself to become completely depleted, then you are at risk of being defeated.”
This Women’s Month, may these words be a reminder, to check in on your health, to give yourself grace, and to know that you’re not walking alone. Our stories, shared openly, can be the bridges that carry others through.
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