Online Reporter
Michelle Musandinyoze and Tanaka Nkala, Zimpapers Writers
FOR Nokuthula Ndlovu, life changed in an instant. The 52-year-old from Nkulumane, Bulawayo, still remembers the day the doctor uttered the words that froze her world: “You have diabetes.”
She was sitting on the edge of the examination bed at Mpilo Central Hospital, having gone in for a routine blood pressure check. What she got instead was a diagnosis that felt like a death sentence.
“I was diagnosed with diabetes in 2019 after I had gone to Mpilo Central Hospital to check my BP and that is when they discovered that I had diabetes. I thought it was a death sentence. I didn’t know much about diabetes except the fear that comes with it,” she recalls.
That night, fear consumed her. She cried until dawn, convinced her life was over. Then came a voice of reassurance — a nurse who told her something that would become her anchor.
“A nurse who was attending to me comforted me and said diabetes is not a death sentence.”
Those words planted hope. But reality hit hard the next morning when her children brought her food, unaware that her diet had changed forever.
“Later, my children brought me food and left and when the doctors came, they told me that my diet had changed and advised me to follow the new diet for me to live longer. I have been religiously following the diet and I am still living, and it’s also advisable to keep yourself busy,” she says.
Six years later, Nokuthula is proof that chronic illness does not have to steal joy, dignity or the future. Through discipline, routine medical care and sheer willpower, she has turned her diagnosis into a story of resilience.
Her journey began with symptoms she brushed aside — persistent thirst, unexplained fatigue and dizzy spells. A family friend urged her to seek medical attention, a decision she now believes saved her life. Doctors confirmed Type 2 diabetes, a condition that demands lifelong monitoring and lifestyle changes.
“At first, I was scared to even think about injections and diet changes, but my doctor told me something I will never forget: ‘Diabetes is not a death sentence. It is something you can control.’ From that day, I made up my mind to follow every instruction,” she said.
She swapped sugary snacks for balanced meals, started daily walks and never missed medication or check-ups. Today, her routine is a rhythm of discipline.
“I used to love sweet things, but I realised that loving myself is more important,” she admits.
Nokuthula was among scores of Bulawayo residents who joined this year’s World Diabetes Day march, part of a nationwide campaign to raise awareness about the condition. Zimbabwe marked the day yesterday under the theme “Diabetes and Well-being”, joining the global community in highlighting prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
At Mpilo Central Hospital, commemorations were held in partnership with Bulawayo Retired Nurses, Lions Club of Bulawayo and Gluco Buddies. Residents benefitted from free blood sugar and blood pressure testing.
Retired nurses said they felt compelled to continue serving by sharing knowledge with those unaware of diabetes risks. They urged optimism and healthy exercise for those living with the condition.
Mpilo Central Hospital physician and diabetologist Dr Rudo Gwini reinforced the message that diabetes is not the end of life.
“You can do anything and become whoever you want to be while living with diabetes, all you need to know is that there are different types of diabetes and also know the treatment that is for you,” she said.
She explained the two main treatment paths.
“There is sugar that requires one to inject themselves, then there is another type where one is required to take oral medication, where in most cases you will be required to stop taking the medication when your glucose levels have improved.”
Dr Gwini also stressed the importance of screening during pregnancy, warning that diabetes can affect expectant mothers and requires urgent medical attention for safe delivery.
Retired nurse Maureen Mpofu said their commitment to health did not end with retirement.
“We usually work together with Zimbabwe Nurses Association to complement their efforts and sharing our expertise in the nursing field, particularly when it comes to treat patients with conditions such as diabetes,” she said.
Lions Club of Bulawayo president Busisiwe Mzyece added that they held a diabetes screening outside Hyper Pick n Pay Supermarket, offering tests and referrals.
Valentine Malaba, an elderly participant, called for expanded access to free testing.
“Some of us are pensioners and cannot afford to pay for screening services hence we urge the Government through the Ministry of Health and Child Care to consider setting up centres where we can be screened for free outside public hospitals,” he said.
For Nokuthula, the journey continues — but with hope, not fear. Her story is a reminder that diabetes is not a death sentence. It is a challenge, yes, but one that can be met with knowledge, discipline and support.
As Zimbabwe commemorates World Diabetes Day, her voice echoes the nurse’s words that changed everything: “Diabetes is not a death sentence.”
