About 13.9% of mothers in Sri Lanka develop gestational diabetes

By Mangala Pavithrani

Colombo, Jan. 16 (Daily Mirror) - About 13.9 per cent of mothers in Sri Lanka develop diabetes during pregnancy, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Medical Association and Consultant Specialist in Diabetes and Endocrinology, Dr. Manilka Sumanathilaka, said.

Speaking at a media briefing, Dr. Sumanathilaka noted that gestational diabetes is largely caused by being overweight or obese before pregnancy, as well as unhealthy dietary habits.

He warned that children born to mothers who develop diabetes during pregnancy face a higher risk of developing non-communicable diseases, including diabetes, later in life.

Dr. Sumanathilaka further emphasized that the risk could be significantly reduced if overweight or obese women lower their excess body weight by about 7 to 10 per cent before pregnancy through healthy eating habits and regular physical activity.