Diabetes claims a life every 10 seconds

Ishara MUDUGAMUWA

Non-communicable diseases are the leading cause of death in Sri Lanka with the increasing adult population, said Health Ministry Additional Secretary Palitha Maheepala at a press briefing at the Information Department.

Diabetes kills 3.8 million people in the world yearly which is higher than HIV AIDS. Every 10 seconds a person dies due to diabetes-related causes, he said.

Socio-economic development such as urbanization, industrialization, changed food consumption methods, lifestyles, drug addiction and smoking are among the chief reasons for non-communicable diseases, he said.

The main non-communicable diseases are cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancers and chronic respiratory diseases. Among them diabetes is increasing rapidly specially in developing countries. About 50 percent of persons with diabetes die of cardiovascular diseases, heart disease and strokes. Diabetes in the developed world is ranked as the leading cause of blindness, renal failure and lower limb amputations. It has been estimated that between 5-10 percent of the total healthcare expenditure in the world is spent on diabetes related conditions, said Nirogi Lanka Project Chairperson Prof. Chandrika Wijeyaratne.

According to WHO statistics seven million people globally will develop diabetes each year and every 10 seconds two people will develop diabetes. Among them, many young people are at risk. Up to 50 percent of persons with diabetes are unaware of their condition. By 2025 the highest prevalence rate will be in developing countries. Complications of diabetes are loss of vision, impairment of renal function and renal failure, heart diseases, numbness or stroke, etc.

Poor control of diabetes leads to complications. Awareness is essential for good control and prevention of complications, Wijeratne said.

Some symptoms of diabetes are excessive frequency of urination, frequent thirst, excessive hunger, loss of weight, excessive tiredness, lethargy and poor concentration, vomiting, paraeathesia and abnormal sensation, poor vision, frequent infections and poor immunity and delayed wound healing.

Over consumption of artificial food and sweets, sedentary life style and obesity are other major risk factors. Lifestyle modification is of extreme importance in the prevention and control of diabetes.

Maintaining a proper weight for height, sport, entertainment, rest and meditation to reduce mental stress are essential in the management of diabetes.

Sri Lanka Medical Association President Prof. Lamabadusooriya, Dr. Priyankara Jayawardane, Director General of Media Centre for National Development Ariya Rubasinghe, Government Information Department, Information Director Wasantha Priya Ramanayake also attended the press conference.