The risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease in the HIV positive South African by Dr Bronwyn Bosch & Dr Ncomeka Manentsa
Antiretroviral therapy has evolved dramatically over the last decade, encompassing both combined therapies in fixed dose combinations and more effective treatments for HIV-infection. This has resulted in a significant shift from the weight loss and wasting that previously characterised late stage HIV, to people living with HIV (PLWH) now commonly experiencing healthy weights, or more commonly overweight and obesity at rates reflective of those seen in the general population. Considering that obesity continues to rapidly increase in South Africa’s general population, and is associated with an increased morbidity and mortality, this raises new concerns around caring for PLWH.
Dieting and diabetes by Abby Courtenay
Diabetes mellitus (more commonly referred to as diabetes) is not a single disease, but rather a group of diseases characterised by abnormally high blood glucose concentrations. It stems from a defect in the amount of insulin a person secretes, how well the insulin performs its job, or both. For the purpose of this article, we will be specifically discussing dieting in people with type 2 diabetes (T2DM).
The management of painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy by Dr Angela Murphy
As many as 50% of people living with diabetes suffer from painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy (PDPN). This occurs due to hyperglycaemic damage to nerves in the peripheral nervous system. The subsequent abnormal nerve function results in conditions ranging from acute nociceptive pain to hyperalgesia and analgesia. Patients most common complaints are of burning pain, pins and needles and numbness.
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