Celebrated local actress Sophie Ndaba suffers from diabetes and knows only too well the frightening effects of this chronic disease if not diagnosed early enough. She has been living with diabetes for over a decade.
In recognition of World Diabetes Day, observed every year on the 14 November, Ndaba has taken to social media to spread the word about the importance of knowing what the early warning signs of the disease are.
Ndaba's post reads: "DID YOU KNOW *Diabetes is the NO1 Killer of women in South Africa * Second Leading cause of death in Men *One in every two South Africans are living with Diabetes UNDIAGNOSED
TOGETHER LET'S SAVE LIVES Prevention is better than cure!"
View this post on Instagram
Ndaba also posted the top five warning signs to look out for on a regular basis.
View this post on Instagram
Fifty-year-old Ndaba gained fame in Mzansi after playing the role of Queen Moroka in the popular soapie Generations.
According to the International Diabetes Federation, South Africa has the highest prevalence of diabetes in Africa – a number that is predicted to rise steadily in the years to come.
According to the World Health Organisation diabetes is a chronic, metabolic disease characterized by elevated levels of blood glucose (or blood sugar), which leads over time to serious damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, and nerves. The most common is type 2 diabetes, usually in adults, which occurs when the body becomes resistant to insulin or doesn't make enough insulin. In the past 3 decades, the prevalence of type 2 diabetes has risen dramatically in countries of all income levels. Type 1 diabetes, once known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, is a chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin by itself. For people living with diabetes, access to affordable treatment, including insulin, is critical to their survival. There is a globally agreed target to halt the rise in diabetes and obesity by 2025.
