Health
What You Need To Know About James Earl Jones‘ Courageous Fight with Diabetes
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James Earl Jones, the legendary actor best known for his iconic roles in “The Lion King,” “Field of Dreams,” and as the voice of Darth Vader in the “Star Wars” franchise, has passed away at the age of 93. Although the cause of death has not been immediately released, Jones had been battling type 2 diabetes for many years.
Jones was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in the mid-1990s while attending a diet and exercise center. He was in his 60s at the time, an age when many older adults are commonly diagnosed with this condition.
“Diabetes and other age-related diseases like obesity and abnormal cholesterol are more prevalent as we get older,” said Noa Tal, MD, an endocrinologist at the Pituitary Disorders Center at Pacific Neuroscience Institute in Santa Monica, Calif.
In a 2016 interview on the Rachael Ray Show, Jones recounted how his diagnosis came about.
“I fell asleep on a bench in the middle of the gymnasium one day,” Jones explained. “And a doctor who was there said, ‘That’s not normal,’ and he encouraged me to go get checked out.”
“Unfortunately, [type 2 diabetes] does go under the radar sometimes,” added Tal.
According to 2021 data, 38.1 million American adults had diabetes. Alarmingly, more than one-fifth of these individuals had undiagnosed diabetes.
The rate of diagnosed diabetes is highest among American Indian or Alaska Native adults, followed by Black adults, Hispanic adults, and Asian adults, according to CDC data. White adults have the lowest rate of diabetes.
Dr. Tal recommends that everyone ask their primary care physician to screen them for diabetes starting at age 40, or at age 35 if they have other health conditions such as high blood pressure.
“Depending on a person’s ethnicity or any [other health conditions] a patient has, screening can be either yearly or every three years,” Tal advised.
James Earl Jones’s passing is a somber reminder of the importance of regular health screenings and awareness of conditions like type 2 diabetes, which can often go unnoticed until they present more severe symptoms.
Let us know what you think, please share your thoughts in the comments below.
BRUCE EY
September 16, 2024 at 11:20 am
Every child should receive a 4-hour course in 4th, 8th, and 12fh grade – mandatory to move forward. People are unaware of causes and food contents!
Kat Thomas
September 16, 2024 at 11:41 am
James Earl’s passing is NOT a somber reminder of the importance of regular health screenings! What a disrespectful thing to say!
He had diabetes, yes, how do you know the cause of his death? It has not been revealed, and he was 93, for goodness’ sake! Don’t try to make a story where there is none!