At just 15 in 2016, Hubert Biramahire began noticing unusual changes in his body. He was constantly thirsty, unusually hungry, and persistently tired. Within days, he started losing weight rapidly. “At first, I thought it was malaria,” he recalls. But the symptoms—frequent urination, fatigue, and unrelenting thirst—persisted, prompting him to seek medical care. Tests revealed high blood sugar levels. Soon after, doctors confirmed he had diabetes. ALSO READ: Diabetes and the risks of high blood glucose The diagnosis came as a shock. “I thought I would take medicine and get better,” he says. Instead, he learned it was a lifelong condition requiring daily management, including medication, diet control, and regular monitoring. For a secondary school student, the adjustment was difficult. “I was told to stop eating foods I loved like rice and potatoes. It was hard,” he says. Clarity came later through a diabetes support group, where he learned that managing the condition is about balance rather than total restriction. ALSO READ: Diabetes in my family: Lessons I wish everyone knew Encouraged by peers and teachers, he gradually adapted. Nearly a decade on, Biramahire has completed a bachelor’s degree in a health-related field and now supports others living with diabetes. His story reflects a broader trend. When Prime Minister Justin Nsengiyumva addressed Parliament under the “citizen at the centre” approach in late March, he highlighted a growing concern: diabetes cases in Rwanda have nearly doubled, rising from 11,891 in 2019 to 21,164 in 2025. Health experts say the increase partly reflects improved detection, even as treatment becomes more effective. ALSO READ: How diabetes impacts digestive health According to Etienne Uwingabire, Director of the Rwanda Diabetes Association, efforts to strengthen care have expanded in recent years. Through partnerships, including with the World Diabetes Foundation, healthcare workers have received additional training, while community-based camps bring together people living with diabetes to share experiences and reduce isolation. A national diabetes registry is also helping track patients and identify those needing closer follow-up, particularly vulnerable groups such as children in low-income households. Short training programmes have equipped some patients with practical skills and startup kits to support their livelihoods. However, challenges remain. Uwingabire pointed to gaps in continuous training, especially as some trained health professionals leave their posts, and the persistence of misconceptions about the disease. “Some people still think they have been poisoned when they experience symptoms, which delays care,” he said. Dr Gad Nshimiyimana, Acting Director of the Lung, Renal, Diabetes and Other Metabolic Diseases Unit at the Rwanda Biomedical Center, said the rise in cases is partly due to progress in detection. “Increased awareness and screening, supported by community health workers, are identifying more people earlier,” he said. He added that as more people seek early diagnosis, reported cases are likely to continue rising. “At the same time, broader factors are driving the trend, including longer life expectancy and lifestyle changes linked to urbanisation,” he said. Shifts in diet and reduced physical activity are contributing to the growing burden of non-communicable diseases. “People are adopting eating habits without maintaining the level of physical activity needed to balance them,” he noted. Efforts to decentralise diabetes care are ongoing, with more health workers receiving specialised training through partnerships such as those with the World Diabetes Foundation. Nshimiyimana stressed the importance of prevention, including regular exercise and tackling obesity. Even those with physically demanding jobs need to build consistent exercise habits, he said, noting that lifestyles can change over time. “What is being done is to continue decentralising services to make them accessible at the grassroots level, while also strengthening prevention. Early detection is essential,” he added.
