(World Diabetes Day – November 14)
(by Shanika Sriyananda - Sunday Observer 11-11-2007)
“Eat natural… stay active… be content…” would be the frequently murmured mantra among the youth very soon to escape the agony of being ‘Diabetic’ throughout their lives.
Diabetes is 2,500 years-old and people around know enough about this illness. In most of the countries which knows as diabetes ‘hot spots’, the cases of diabetes have increased by manifold compared to the situation a decade ago.
I can still remember uncle Bernie, my favourite neibour, who was still strong and active to his age, later became lean day by day’ Though he knew about his condition where the glucose tolerance rate has been abnormal due to impaired insulin activity, uncle Bernie never thought he would fall into that segment of patients. However, with the family doctor’s diagnosis that uncle Bernie was compelled to say ‘No’ to most his favourite dishes. Recovering from a diabetes coma, surveying a narrow escape, thanks to uncle Bernie’s wife he has been given extra care now.
Uncle Bernie is not alone in this struggle. The no of diabetics keep on increasing annually and the most important factor now is that it is becoming an illness among the younger generation. And also it not an illness of the riches but an illness among the poor.
Dr. Mahen Wijesuriya, Director of the National Diabetes Centre told a recent media conference that diabetes is not a problem of an individual, not a joke or a problem of the next door person but a problem of each and every one today’ “There is no caste, creed or religion to this illness. All are equally attacked”, he said.
Believe it, the gravity of the illness is becoming worst by every minute with our 4.5 million Sri Lankans suffering from this single illness Diabetes, today’
I have Sugar – is the most common complaint that we hear from many people. And the most important factor that shows the gravity of the illness is that six persons die of diabetes, every minute.
“Diabetes is the leading cause of eye ailments and 10 to 20 percent people around the world die due to kidney failure caused bu diabetes. Over 50 percent of heart attacks and strokes are due to diabetes and this is main cause for one million amputations every year”, he said. Apart from the genetic and foetal origin, two major factors, according to health experts contribute to the alarming rise in diabetes : poor diet and lack of exercise. The stress is also another main factor which aggravates the illness. The attitudes of the present generation who are hooked to fast food than the traditional blanced diet that causes a rapid increase in blood sugar.
The healthy traditional food items with less oil and carbohydrates have been overlooked with sweets, French fries, potato chips and lots of mouth watering fast food items full of oil. According to Dr. Wijesuriya, the illness has spread its wings from the city to rural areas where a lots of poor people are now more prone to diabetes.
(by Shanika Sriyananda - Sunday Observer 11-11-2007)
“Eat natural… stay active… be content…” would be the frequently murmured mantra among the youth very soon to escape the agony of being ‘Diabetic’ throughout their lives.
Diabetes is 2,500 years-old and people around know enough about this illness. In most of the countries which knows as diabetes ‘hot spots’, the cases of diabetes have increased by manifold compared to the situation a decade ago.
I can still remember uncle Bernie, my favourite neibour, who was still strong and active to his age, later became lean day by day’ Though he knew about his condition where the glucose tolerance rate has been abnormal due to impaired insulin activity, uncle Bernie never thought he would fall into that segment of patients. However, with the family doctor’s diagnosis that uncle Bernie was compelled to say ‘No’ to most his favourite dishes. Recovering from a diabetes coma, surveying a narrow escape, thanks to uncle Bernie’s wife he has been given extra care now.
Uncle Bernie is not alone in this struggle. The no of diabetics keep on increasing annually and the most important factor now is that it is becoming an illness among the younger generation. And also it not an illness of the riches but an illness among the poor.
Dr. Mahen Wijesuriya, Director of the National Diabetes Centre told a recent media conference that diabetes is not a problem of an individual, not a joke or a problem of the next door person but a problem of each and every one today’ “There is no caste, creed or religion to this illness. All are equally attacked”, he said.
Believe it, the gravity of the illness is becoming worst by every minute with our 4.5 million Sri Lankans suffering from this single illness Diabetes, today’
I have Sugar – is the most common complaint that we hear from many people. And the most important factor that shows the gravity of the illness is that six persons die of diabetes, every minute.
“Diabetes is the leading cause of eye ailments and 10 to 20 percent people around the world die due to kidney failure caused bu diabetes. Over 50 percent of heart attacks and strokes are due to diabetes and this is main cause for one million amputations every year”, he said. Apart from the genetic and foetal origin, two major factors, according to health experts contribute to the alarming rise in diabetes : poor diet and lack of exercise. The stress is also another main factor which aggravates the illness. The attitudes of the present generation who are hooked to fast food than the traditional blanced diet that causes a rapid increase in blood sugar.
The healthy traditional food items with less oil and carbohydrates have been overlooked with sweets, French fries, potato chips and lots of mouth watering fast food items full of oil. According to Dr. Wijesuriya, the illness has spread its wings from the city to rural areas where a lots of poor people are now more prone to diabetes.
