Today marks World Diabetes Day Type 2 diabetes can be prevented by healthy lifestyles: Dr.Prasad Katulanda

A study carried out in 2018 has indicated that in Colombo district over 24% of adults have diabetes. This is a major increase compared to 18% which was seen in 2006, Senior Lecturer in Medicine, University of Colombo Consultant Endocrinologist and Diabetologist, National Hospital of Sri Lanka Dr.Prasad Katulanda said.  

Addressing a press conference at the Center for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Cardio Metabolism’ (CDEM), Colombo, recently Dr. Katulanda said that diabetes which was mainly seen in the older adults is increasingly seen among the younger generations including children.   

He also said that the main risk factors for diabetes are obesity, unhealthy rich diet (diet in refine sugar, starch and fats) and physical inactivity. “As we know the strongest risk factors, we can prevent diabetes by avoiding these risk factors. In fact, 50% of the type 2 diabetes can be prevented by healthy lifestyle.”  

According to Dr. Katulanda, uncontrolled diabetes can lead to dreaded complications. These include kidney failure, blindness, amputations and heart attacks. Issues like sexual problems have become social problems.  

At main CDEM centre at Norris Canal Road, Colombo 10 a special education programme  will be launched by conducting free blood glucose testing today which marks “World 
Diabetes Day”.