1.5 million Lankans have diabetes

Chesmal SIRIWARDHANA

RAJAGIRIYA: A total of 1.5 million Sri Lankans have diabetes. Out of this 14.2 per cent are males and 13.5 per cent females. Sri Lanka also detects 48,000 new cases every year, Dr. Mahen Wijesuriya, President of the Diabetes Association of Sri Lanka said.

He was speaking a seminar at the National Diabetes Centre, Rajagiriya yesterday.

The seminar held to mark 'Diabetes Awareness Day' was jointly organised by the Y's Men's Club of Colombo and the Diabetes Association of Sri Lanka to make the public aware about diabetes.

Dr. Wijesuriya said worldwide, diabetes affects 200 million people and was the cause of death of 3.2 million people last year, overtaking the death toll caused by AIDS.

"An estimated 330 million will be affected by the diabetes by 2025 and it is predicted that the majority of this increase (70 per cent) would be from the South Asian region. India currently leads in the region with the largest number patients of around 40 million, he said.

Emphasising on several key areas as causes, risk factors and preventive measures he told the audience that the Third World was affected more by the condition than developed countries.

"The wrong diet, wrong fitness regimes and excessive stress caused by various psychosocial issues were the main cause for diabetes," Dr. Wijesuriya said.

He said more children and young adults were getting affected and mismanagement of time and pressure to succeed exerted by parents are reasons for this. Dr. Wijesuriya said natural food habits, active physical life and stress free living will prevent people from getting affected by the disease.

Dr. Anomi Weeratunga of the National Diabetes Centre, made reference to the symptoms and signs of diabetes and disease complications. She informed those present about the needed tests to diagnose diabetes.

"Any person with or without a referral from a doctor can come to the National Diabetes Centre at Rajagiriya to undergo tests and consultations by doctors to find out whether one is affected.

If affected, the doctors will instruct them on how to proceed further. Patients with financial difficulties will be helped on managing their treatment regimes" she added.

Dr. Renuka Jayatissa, a nutrition specialist, spoke about the dieting pattern a diabetic should adhere to ensure complete nourishment and maintenance of ideal body weight through the appropriate adjustment of quality, quantity and timing of meals.

Although diabetes is a silent killer that leads to various systemic disease including heart, kidney, liver, eye and brain disease, it could be prevented and managed through proper diet, monitoring and medication, she said.