James Earl Jones battled serious illness that struck him 'like a thunderbolt' for many years before death
DUTCHESS COUNTY, NEW YORK: Actor James Earl Jones, known for being the voice of the character Darth Vader in the Star Wars franchise and Mufasa in 'The Lion King', revealed in 2016 how the "shock" of being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes changed his life.
The legendary actor passed away at the age of 93 on Monday, September 9 morning, at his home in Dutchess County, New York, his agent confirmed, per The People.
James Earl Jones secretly battled type 2 Diabetes that struck him 'like a thunderbolt'
During an appearance on 'The Rachael Ray Show', James Earl Jones said, "I was lucky that it was discovered as it was quite by accident. I was in a centre for weight control and diet, trying to lose some weight and I fell asleep on the bench in the middle of the gymnasium one day."
He went on to say, "The Doctor who was there said 'that's not normal', and he encouraged me to go and get checked out. Then I got a test and there it was, type 2 diabetes. It hit me like a thunderbolt."
Notably, type 2 Diabetes causes the sugar level in the blood to go dangerously high. People with type 2 diabetes are advised to make lifestyle changes, such as diet, in addition to routine medical check-ups to manage the condition, stated Radar Online.
Jones added that his diagnosis made him re-evaluate his lifestyle habits and focus on his health, as he grew older. He said, "I had to retrain myself to be aware of when my body is telling me something."
He further stated, "Usually with low blood sugar, it's easy to notice. With high blood sugar, it's not as easy, and that can be the most dangerous aspect of type 2 diabetes."
James Earl Jones confessed his mother was also diagnosed with type 2 Diabetes
The actor went on to confess that his mother was also diagnosed with the disease due to which, he should have been "alerted" to the possibility that one day he could be diagnosed too.
He said, "Older people are at risk, my mother had it. So I should've been alerted, but no. One thing I thought was, 'It's never gonna happen to me'. So when it was discovered, it was by accident. I feel lucky."
Jones managed to alter his diet and manage his symptoms with the help of a supportive crew that included his manager, his son, and his late wife, Cecilia Hart, who passed away from ovarian cancer in 2016.
He further mentioned, "My wife, my manager, and my assistant — who's also my son — are always there to support me and make sure I'm eating the healthiest I can. I don't leave home without my son."
He went on to say, "I love working, and at my age I still love being able to put in eight shows a week on a play or handle a long schedule if I'm doing film or television. I didn't want that to stop, so I had to take responsibility for my condition. It’s more important that I address diabetes, because I will always be a diabetic."
