According to the International Diabetes Federations’ Diabetes Atlas (2013), more than three-quarters of deaths in Africa due to diabetes were in people under 60” and “in developing countries, including South Africa, less than half of people with diabetes are diagnosed” with the “black and Asian communities being at greatest risk”.

Whilst type 1 diabetes is related to genetics, the most prevalent form, type 2, is a direct result of an unhealthy lifestyle and poor food choices.

Currently the government covers between 50 and 80% of the treatment cost highlighting that an urgent need for self-management education is required.

Food plays a vital role in reducing the risks of type 2 diabetes, but equally so, what we drink can be a ticking time bomb if not managed correctly.

Popular high sugar drinks such as sodas, iced teas and fruit juices contain an unhealthy amount of sugar, and much debate rages around the “sugar free” variations thereof. 

Water is always the best option as it won’t raise your blood sugar levels and helps the body eliminate excess glucose through urine.  According to studies, women should drink approximately eight glasses of water a day and men up to 10. 

A recent study in the journal of Diabetes Care suggests that: people who drank two cups or less of water a day were 30 percent more likely to have high blood sugar than those who drank more than that daily.  The reason for this is due to a hormone called vasopressin which helps the body regulate hydration.  When a person is dehydrated, vasopressin stimulates the liver to produce more blood sugar.

Eight to 10 glasses of water a day is a tall order, especially if water doesn’t appeal to you, so how can we manage to maintain hydration whist eliminating the bland and avoiding sugars?

- Infuse water with fresh fruit such as lemon, lime or orange or herbs such as mint, basil or ginger.
- Carbonated water such as SodaStream can improve the taste as the bubbles bring to the surface the flavour and aroma of the drink. Scientists have also found an enzyme on the sour receptors of our tongues called Carbonic Anhydrase 4 (CA-IV). The bubbles stimulate the sour buds and the somatosensory system. The dual activation on the buds and the nerves creates a pleasurable sensation.
- Mash berries such as blueberries, raspberries or cranberries and add carbonated water.
- Refrigerate stock from boiling vegetables for a refreshing, vitamin packed drink.
- Flavour with sugar free mixes such as SodaStream Zero range of syrups or Liptons Green Tea.  
- Caffeine-free teas such as Rooibos, Green, Chamomile or peppermint make for drinking pleasure both warm and iced.

Try these recipes:

Cucumber and lime sparkling water 

Ingredients
SodaStream sparkling water
Cucumber
Lime

Instructions
1.    Use your SodaStream to prepare sparkling water (fizz to your liking)
2.    Wash the cucumber and slice wide thin stripes (you can use a vegetable peeler)
3.    Pour the sparkling water to a big jug, add the cucumber slices and add some drops of lime for extra flavour. Serve cold.

Strawberry and mint sparkling water 

Ingredients
SodaStream sparkling water
3 strawberries
A few mint leaves

Instructions
1.    Use your SodaStream to prepare fresh sparkling water and pour it to a tall glass.
2.    Dice the strawberries and add to the glass.
3.    Wash the mint leaves and add a few to the glass with sparkling water and strawberries.
4.    Let it sit for a few minutes to allow the extraction of flavours.

Rooibos iced tea

Ingredients
2x Rooibos tea bags
1x lemon
500ml boiling water
250ml SodaStream sparkling water
2 cups crushed ice or ice cubes
Small handful of fresh mint leaves
1x peach
Coconut nectar to sweeten to taste

Method
1.    Place 2 tea bags in a 1 litre glass jug and add 500ml of boiling water
2.    Allow tea to steep for 15 – 20 minutes, stirring regularly
3.    Slice half of the lemon along the width into thin slices
4.    Squeeze the other half of the lemon
5.    Add the juice to the tea and water, stir and continue allowing it to steep
6.    If necessary, use coconut nectar to sweeten the tea to taste
7.    Remove both tea bags
8.    Add a handful of fresh mint leaves and slices of peach
9.    Add the 250ml of cold sparkling water and stir gently
10.  Add two cups of ice

Submitted by Sam Logan / Meropa
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