Diabetes Song Brings Music to Mozambique Peer Groups
A peer group for type 1 diabetes at the PEN-Plus clinic in Nhamatanda, Mozambique, uses music such as the “Diabetes” song to build a sense of community. (Photo: Ivanilson Abilio/NCDI Poverty Network)
When the keyboard notes float in, the melody begins to bop, the beat drops and the voice starts to soar, the first feeling that comes to mind might be driving on a summer day with the windows down.
It's that kind of song, uplifting and bouncy. It evokes happy moods, spontaneous dancing, and lighthearted fun. If you don’t know Portuguese, you might never realize the lyrics are about a serious topic.
But the song’s subject and title—“Diabetes,” by a Mozambican artist known as Mr. Nfumo—show the power behind the pop. In corners of southern and central Mozambique, the track is making waves in health clinic peer groups and poised for local radio play in 2026, providing new support and empowerment for people living with severe, chronic noncommunicable diseases such as type 1 diabetes.
Dr. Yolanda Marcelino, clinical mentor at the PEN-Plus clinic in Nhamatanda, Mozambique, and director of the Family Medicine Residency Program at Universidade Eduardo Mondlane in Maputo, said the song was first played publicly in July, at the International Conference on PEN-Plus in Africa in Abuja, Nigeria.
It immediately drew raves.
“People really liked it,” Dr. Marcelino said. “They were dancing in the aisles!”
The Network supports the PEN-Plus model of care for NCDs at more than 100 health facilities in nearly 30 countries across sub-Saharan Africa and southern Asia. PEN-Plus strengthens health systems by decentralizing resources and training care providers in rural clinics, bringing NCD care closer to home for people living with type 1 diabetes, sickle cell disease, and childhood-onset heart disease. Dr. Marcelino said the song provided a joyful ending to her presentation about innovations in patient care at the PEN-Plus clinic in Nhamatanda, Mozambique.
She hopes the song will have much more airtime in coming months.
“Our strategy is to put the song on community radio in Nhamatanda next year,” she said.
The artist behind “Diabetes” is Jacob Machacue Fernando, a data technician at the Nhamatanda clinic. Outside of work, Fernando is a hip-hop artist who goes by “Mr. Nfumo.” Creation of the song—which opens with a shoutout to the NCDI Poverty Network and PEN-Plus—spanned more than a year and started with Dr. Colin Pfaff, the Network’s associate director of programs.
“Diabetes”
(English translation)
Diabetes is a chronic disease, yeah, it arises
from excessive consumption of sweet things.
Many people are losing their lives to diabetes
Many families are losing their lives to diabetes
When the body cannot control blood sugar levels,
when the body has high blood sugar levels;
It's diabetes, dad, be careful, mom, children
can also be born with diabetes
Chorus:
Diabetes is a chronic disease, yeah, there is still no
cure, but it can be controlled;
Diabetes is a chronic disease, yeh, there is still no
cure, but it can be controlled;
(Full lyrics below. Pictured is Jacob Machacue Fernando, aka Mr. Nfumo)
Dr. Pfaff’s original inspiration was a 2024 conference about sickle cell disease in Zambia. Conference organizers launched a song competition and asked participants to work with artists in their home countries to create music about NCDs. The idea stuck with Dr. Pfaff. When he learned later that Fernando was a musician, he suggested writing a song about type 1 diabetes, and Fernando agreed.
They eventually got the song recorded at a studio in Beira, a coastal city more than 100 kilometers from rural Nhamatanda.
“Diabetes” has since had an impact at the rural clinic, which Dr. Marcelino said has more than 190 patients across three groups: type 1 diabetes, sickle cell disease, and cardiac conditions. Many of those patients participate in peer groups, which consist of 10 to 15 people who are living with the same NCD. Dr. Marcelino said Nhamatanda hosts four peer groups for type 1 diabetes, three for sickle cell disease, and three for cardiac conditions, plus a special peer group for children and adolescents who have had heart surgeries.
Over the past year, Dr. Marcelino said, some of the groups have started meeting outside of the hospital, in community locations that foster togetherness and inclusivity.
Music like “Diabetes” can be instrumental, she added, in setting a fun tone for meetings, conversations, and health education.
“It’s an outlet for people,” Dr. Marcelino said, “and it brings them together.”
Dr. Pfaff said he hopes that in the coming year, PEN-Plus clinics in other countries will take up the idea of creating music to share and raise awareness of NCDs.
“We should incorporate the song even more into our peer support programming and community outreach,” he said, “and encourage other clinics and implementing partners to do the same.”
“Diabetes,” by Mr. Nfumo
(English translation)
Diabetes is a chronic disease, yeah, it arises
from excessive consumption of sweet things.
Many people are losing their lives to diabetes
Many families are losing their lives to diabetes
When the body cannot control blood sugar levels,
when the body has high blood sugar levels;
It's diabetes, dad, be careful, mom, children
can also be born with diabetes
Chorus:
Diabetes is a chronic disease, yeah, there is still no
cure, but it can be controlled;
Diabetes is a chronic disease, yeh, there is still no
cure, but it can be controlled;
The signs and symptoms are easy to understand, hey
Dry mouth;
Extreme weakness;
Headache;
Extreme hunger and thirst;
Altered consciousness;
Weight loss;
Frequent tiredness;
Frequent urination;
Rapid breathing;
Unexplained sleepiness
To avoid diabetes, it is best to exercise;
It is best to avoid tobacco;
It is best to avoid alcohol;
Chorus
Hey, diabetes is not contagious
Chorus
“Diabetes,” pelo Sr. Nfumo
(Português original / Original Portuguese)
Diabete é uma doença crónica yeah, ela surge
através do consumo excessivo de coisas doces,
Muita gente está a perder a vida com diabete
Muitas famílias estão a perder a vida com diabete
Quando o corpo não consegue controlar nível de
açúcar no sangue; quando o corpo tem
um nível de açúcar elevado no sangue;
É diabete papa, toma cuidado mamã, a criança
também pode nascer com diabete
Coro:
Diabete é uma doença crónica yeh, ainda não tem
cura, mais tem como controlar;
Diabete é uma doença crónica yeh, ainda não tem
cura, mais tem como controlar;
Os sinais e sintomas é fácil de entender
Boca seca;
Muita fraqueza;
Dor de cabeça;
Muita fome e sede;
Alteração da consciência;
Emagrecimento;
Cansaço frequente;
Urinar frequente;
Respiração rápida;
Sono injustificável
Para evitar a diabete é melhor praticar
ginástica;
É melhor evitar o tabaco;
É melhor evitar o álcool;
Coro
Hee diabete não é transmissível
Coro