One fourth of Lanka are diabetics

14 November 2013 01:27 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 6 Bookmark

CHATURANGA PRADEEP SAMARAWICKRAMA Follow

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Latest statistics reveal that 25% of the population in Sri Lanka is suffering from Diabetes and the figure is estimated to be doubled by 2050, the Health Ministry said yesterday.

Releasing a statement to coincide with World Diabetes Day which falls today on the theme of ‘Diabetes: protect our future’ the ministry said 10% of school children were suffering from diabetes while another 15% were at risk of being affected by the disease.

According to the Ministry, legs of about 500 to 600 people had to be amputated annually due to the disease.

The Ministry also revealed that 40% of the urban population and 19% of the rural population were suffering from Diabetes. It said the disease could lead to some other illnesses linked to the heart, kidney, liver, eyesight and skin.

The Ministry pointed out that irregular food habits, food with too much sugar and carbohydrate, sitting at a television or the computer for a longer period of the day, lack of exercises, smoking and drinking may lead to the increase in the disease.

The Ministry said that eating plenty of fruit and vegetables, cutting down on oily and starchy food, engaging in exercises for at least 20 minutes a day would help prevent the disease.

The Health Ministry said that considering the danger of the disease, islandwide awareness programmes on Diabetes had been launched in Hospitals and Suwadivi Channeling Centres.

Comments - 6

ANTON Thursday, 14 November 2013 01:50 AM

I THINK UNREST AND HIGH MENTAL STRESS RETARD THE SYNTHESIS OF INSULIN WHICH CONTROLS THE BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVEL. MOST OF THE DIABETIC PATIENTS ARE NON SMOKERS AND NON DRINKERS.

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Prof. Calculas Thursday, 14 November 2013 02:06 AM

The rest are Sleep Walking or Sleep Talking or Sleep Voting.

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Selva Thursday, 14 November 2013 05:53 AM

The sugar level in our local manufactured Biscuits / Bakery Products / candy items / Ice creams / drinks is very higher.. Health ministry must consider about this.. Even Indian made sweet Items (not from our local Bombay Sweet Shops) contain moderate sugar level.. Also most of our Sri Lankan elders never do daily exercises. This could be also raise the percentage level of diabetic patients.

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G.M. Jayawardena Thursday, 14 November 2013 11:26 AM

The majority of the people who got Diabetes are those who had certain life styles and those who did not do any physical exercise for many years. Some got from heredity. The recent developments in Colombo by constructing pavements and walking paths beside the lakes and paddy fields and constructing walking paths in sub urban area play grounds by the present government appeared to be prompting Sri Lankans indulging with physical exercises, may reduce the risk factor in getting this disease to the 1st category mentioned above. So we can expect incidence of diabetes to be lower in the coming years. Thanks to the Urban development and state security department of the government for their efforts in building these important constructions those are beneficial to the public.

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james bond Thursday, 14 November 2013 11:39 AM

25% have diabetic,another 25% are mentaly ill.

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ranjit demel Thursday, 14 November 2013 11:48 AM

oh a big pundit.

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