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Patient Education
Clear, evidence-based health information from Dr Tevin Naidu, written to help you understand your health and have better conversations with your own doctor. This content is for general education only and is not medical advice.
Metabolic health.
Blood sugar, insulin, liver health and the numbers behind them.
What is metabolic health, and how is it measured?
What metabolic health means, the five markers doctors look at, the numbers used in South Africa, and simple ways to improve them. Educational guide.
ReadInsulin resistance: signs, causes and which tests help
What insulin resistance is, why it often has no symptoms, the signs and risk factors, how doctors check for it, and what helps. Educational guide.
ReadPrediabetes: what your blood sugar numbers mean
Normal, prediabetes and diabetes ranges for HbA1c and fasting glucose explained in mmol/L, who should be tested, and whether prediabetes is reversible.
ReadFatty liver (MASLD): what it means and what helps
Fatty liver, now called MASLD, explained: the new name, who is at risk, how it is checked, and how much weight loss improves the liver. Educational guide.
ReadThyroid and weight: what an underactive thyroid can and can't explain
Can an underactive thyroid cause weight gain? Symptoms of hypothyroidism, which thyroid tests matter, and what treatment does and does not do.
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Prevention and screening.
Blood pressure, cholesterol, screening and warning signs.
High blood pressure: what the numbers mean and how to measure at home
What counts as high blood pressure in South Africa, how to measure it correctly at home, why it's called a silent condition, and what lowers it.
ReadUnderstanding your cholesterol results
What LDL, HDL, triglycerides and total cholesterol mean, when South Africans should get tested, and why inherited high cholesterol is common here.
ReadWhich health checks do you need at each age? A guide for South African adults
Which screening tests South African adults may need and when: blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, cervical, breast and bowel screening. Educational.
ReadHeart attack and stroke: warning signs and what to do
How to recognise a heart attack or stroke, the FAST test, symptoms that are easy to miss, what to do while waiting for help, and how to lower your risk.
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Weight and nutrition.
Obesity, weight medicines and what the evidence says about eating.
Obesity as a medical condition: why it isn't about willpower
Why obesity is a chronic medical condition, why weight is hard to keep off, how much weight loss helps your health, and the main treatment options.
ReadGLP-1 medicines for weight: what to know and questions to ask
How GLP-1 medicines for weight work, who they may suit, common side effects, what happens when you stop, and questions to ask your doctor.
ReadIntermittent fasting: what the evidence says
Does intermittent fasting work better than a regular diet? What a large 2025 review found, the main types, who should avoid it, and how to do it safely.
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Lifestyle.
Sleep, muscle and the everyday habits that shape health.
How much sleep do you need, and how does it affect your weight and blood sugar?
Why adults need 7 or more hours of sleep, how poor sleep affects weight, blood sugar and blood pressure, signs of sleep apnoea, and practical sleep tips.
ReadProtein, muscle and healthy ageing: why strength matters more as you get older
What sarcopenia is, why muscle and strength matter for healthy ageing, how much protein older adults may need, and how to start strength training safely.
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Mental wellbeing.
Stress, anxiety, burnout and low mood.
Burnout or depression? How to tell the difference and when to get help
How burnout and depression differ, the signs of each, why they can overlap, practical first steps, and when to speak to a doctor. Educational guide.
ReadStress or anxiety disorder? Signs, what helps and when to get support
The difference between everyday stress and an anxiety disorder, common symptoms and types, what helps, and when to speak to a doctor. Educational guide.
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Women's health.
Screening, hormones and metabolic health across life.
Breast cancer screening in South Africa: mammograms, ultrasound and breast awareness
When South African women should start mammograms, how ultrasound fits in, signs to look out for, and who may need earlier screening. Educational guide.
ReadCervical screening: HPV tests, Pap smears and how often you need them
How cervical screening works in South Africa, HPV testing versus Pap smears, how often to test, self-sampling, and what a positive HPV result means.
ReadPCOS is now PMOS: what the new name means, and what helps
Polycystic ovary syndrome has been renamed polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS). Why, what it means for you, symptoms, diagnosis and what helps.
ReadMenopause and metabolism: weight, sleep, heart health and treatment options
How menopause affects weight, belly fat, cholesterol, bones and sleep, what perimenopause is, and an up-to-date overview of treatment options.
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In an emergency, call 10177 or 112, or go to your nearest emergency room. Read the full disclaimer.