Month of diabetes support at Woolworths

"The International Diabetes Foundation estimates that there are currently nearly 850 000 South Africans with diabetes and that number is expected to grow. It is estimated that one in five people over the age of 35 has type 2 diabetes and many of them do not know it. There are also still a lot of misconceptions about the role of nutrition in diabetes. We'd like to help dispel some of these myths by helping our customers learn more about it," explains Zyda Rylands, MD of foods at Woolworths.

Many inquiries

"We receive a lot of enquiries from diabetics about what Woolies foods they should or shouldn't eat, and as part of our on-going efforts to help our customers understand the importance of good nutrition in diabetes, World Diabetes Day provides an ideal opportunity for us to really focus our attention on diabetes education."

Among the myths that Woolworths plans to address are that diabetics should eat special diabetic food, that diabetics can't eat any sugar or sugar foods, that there are certain fruits diabetics shouldn't eat, and that eating too much sugar causes diabetes. Despite the fact that these are widely believed, none of these statements is true. According to Woolworths' dietician, Maryke van Zyl, diabetics should avoid few foods entirely. The key to nutrition for diabetics, she says, is to eat a wide variety of foods and focus on balanced meals.

Throughout November, more than 50 stores will be assisting diabetic customers in making better food choices through various activities including dietician-led shopping tours and product displays in selected stores as well as by providing online information and assistance via the 'ask the dietician' link on www.woolworths.co.za.