Johannesburg – Wednesday, 29 March 2023: South African diabetes technology company Guidepost has developed an innovative chatbot that is already transforming the lives of thousands of South Africans with diabetes. By connecting them to a personal diabetes nurse educator, Guidepost’s advanced technology is bridging the gap in diabetes care and enabling individuals to manage their chronic disease significantly more effectively.

The chatbot has already attracted accolades from prestigious global programs like WhatsApp-sponsored Chat for Impact and International Finance Corporation’s Global Innovation Showcase. The pioneering chatbot is set to redefine diabetes management in South Africa and beyond.

With one in nine adults affected, South Africa has the highest prevalence of diabetes in Africa, according to the International Diabetes Federation. In this country, it is the number one killer of women and the second highest cause of death. Those with uncontrolled diabetes have significantly higher rates of medical complications.

Personalised consultations

Guidepost’s new WhatsApp chatbot connects people with diabetes to their own personal educator free of charge for those whose medical aid offers this benefit. Currently medical aids offering this benefit include Discovery Health, Bankmed and over a dozen other schemes.

This initiative closes the gap in diabetes care for people living with diabetes. They can access an expert educator to help them manage their chronic disease through self-management education and support. The consultation is paid from prescribed minimum benefits, meaning the medical scheme foots the bill for qualifying patients.

Diabetes educators critical for diabetes management

Prof. David Segal, Chief Medical Officer of Guidepost, explains, “A diabetes educator is integral to the diabetes care team. To curb the devastating consequences, daily self-management is critical for those with diabetes. Yet many South Africans still struggle daily to cope with their illness.”

One of the Guidepost educators, Sr. Nontsikelelo Nkomo said, “I am very happy to be part of this wonderful program. The patients are keen to learn, they speak freely about their condition and they engage with me and ask me a lot of questions which I am happy to answer.”

Angela Reddy commented on her recent nurse session saying: “The educator was very good, and was helpful and friendly too. She educated me on my insulin and medication. She advised me on food, what to eat and what to avoid, and also taught me about my blood sugar readings.”

Professional recognition for diabetes nurse educators

Guidepost CEO Graham Rowe explains that diabetes nursing is a specialised skill that until now has not had adequate recognition. “This network means that nurses can develop themselves professionally while dedicating themselves to diabetes care. Having a benefit such as the Diabetes Educator Consultation made available can make the world of difference if the patient understands their type of diabetes and how to manage the risks, progression of disease and possible complications.”

“The complexity of diabetes makes it difficult to manage, even with access to the best drugs, devices and advice. We have shown that with personalised coaching that uses a relationship approach to inspire the person with diabetes to improve their self-management in sustainable ways, their quality of life improves. Nurse by nurse and patient by patient: this is how we win the diabetes battle.”

Accessing new diabetes education benefits

Many doctors and patients don’t yet know how to access these diabetes education benefits. Guidepost has made it easy and free to connect via WhatsApp chatbot in a few minutes.

If you have diabetes, join Guidepost’s free Education to Protect Tomorrow (EPTO) programme. You will be guided through the process. Guidepost engages via WhatsApp chatbot and telephonically to check eligibility, assign an educator and set up a free nursing consultation. Sign up free of charge via WhatsApp by sending Join on Whatsapp to 087 551 7928 or clicking this link

Winning the diabetes battle, one patient at a time

Prof Segal concludes, “In partnership with thousands of doctors in our network, we continue to build a network of professional nurses trained as diabetes educators to give patients the tools and information they need to manage their diabetes daily. We are empowering those with diabetes to make sure they get the help and support that they deserve.”

World-class improvement in clinical outcomes achieved

14 November 2022 – Cape Town, Guidepost, a South African diabetes telemedicine, clinical analytics and risk management company, and Discovery Life, have partnered to deliver a world-first, innovative tech-enabled diabetes management programme, which, in its pilot phase, has delivered significant results for those living with diabetes.

The pilot programme, launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, involved using data analytics to identify Discovery Life insurance clients at risk of being diagnosed or already living with Type 2 diabetes, so that they could participate in the specialised diabetes coaching programme offered by Guidepost. The programme is an extension of a long-standing existing relationship between Guidepost and Discovery Health, which has yielded impressive results in improving the health outcomes of people living with diabetes.

Diabetes was identified as a significant risk factor for COVID-19 patients and poor management of the disease had serious negative consequences. The success of the pilot programme has led to Discovery Life now extending access to the programme to more of its policyholders living with diabetes.

The 2021 report on mortality and causes of death by Statistics South Africa, identified diabetes as the second deadliest disease in the country. According to statistics from the International Diabetes Federation over 4.5 million South Africans have diabetes. A study published in the Lancet in 2018 predicts that diabetes would be the leading cause of death in South Africa in 2040. 

Diabetes is a complex, chronic disease requiring continuous medical care. Ongoing patient self-management, education and support are critical factors in preventing the risk of long-term complications. Global evidence shows that lifestyle interventions can significantly help to improve the health outcomes of those living with diabetes. Type 2 diabetes accounts for 90% of all diabetes cases and is known as the ‘lifestyle disease.”

“Our experience shows that undiagnosed, untreated, and uncontrolled diabetes can lead to serious complications for those living with diabetes. Diabetes can negatively impact the quality of life of those living with diabetes as well as their family and caregivers,” says Gareth Friedlander, Deputy CEO, Discovery Life. “In addition, the burden on the healthcare sector is immense as it requires continual medical care, with patients requiring hospitalisation during acute issues. Our actuarial and clinical analysis identified the business case for providing Guidepost diabetes coaching to our members and highlighted the significant health benefit to our clients.”

The Discovery Life and Guidepost programme involved the identification of Discovery Life high-risk policyholders or those living with diabetes and inviting them to be part of the programme. Through a series of individualised tele-consultations, clients with diabetes, and their dedicated coach, embarked on a journey of progressive improvement. Using Guidepost’s sophisticated tools and data analytics, a dedicated coach provided the patient with support around diet, lifestyle, medication training and self-monitoring of diabetes. The patient’s doctor was informed of the process and where necessary involved.

“Overwhelming evidence is stacking up that proves that lifestyle interventions, which promote healthy diets, physical activity and weight reduction, play a huge role in preventing complications and death from diabetes amongst high-risk populations,” says Graham Rowe, Chief Executive Officer, Guidepost. “Our own data, gathered for more than 10 years, points to personalised coaching helping to significantly improve diabetes outcomes for those committed to the programme. We know that the Discovery Group is a global leader in innovative behaviour change that results in people making healthier choices and were excited to partner with Discovery Life on this programme. The data from our earlier pilot with Discovery Health clearly demonstrated excellent clinical impact and high levels of member satisfaction. This partnership with Discovery Life is helping us achieve our goal of helping more people living with diabetes to live longer and healthier lives.”

“Discovery is truly an organisation driven by its core purpose ‘to make people healthier and to enhance and protect their lives’. Therefore, we will continuously keep this focus for our clients in our product and services, which has been evident in the outstanding results of the Guidepost Diabetes coaching pilot. The coaching programme has improved health outcomes of our clients living with Type 2 diabetes and contributed positively to their families and lifestyle. In creating this unique benefit for our clients, we can expect claims from diabetes related illnesses to reduce as clients become healthier and better equipped in managing the illness.,” concludes Friedlander.