This was revealed by Dr.Uditha Bulugahapitiya,President of the Endocrine Society of Sri Lanka (ESSL ) at a media confeence held at the Government Information Department today. (12). Ministers, Parliamentarians and a large crowd is expected to participate in the walk which will proceed up to the BMICH premises.

Dr.Bulugahapitiya further said that the Ministry of Health has taken steps to organize Health walks and diagnosis clinics, parallel to the World Diabetes Day in Kandy, Kurunegala and Batticaloa districts to bring awareness on diabetes related problems and the need for timely management of diabetes to prevent complications and live a healthy active life,

“Diabetes is a widely seen disease in Sri Lanka. Over 20,000 individuals die owing to diabetes and diabetes-related conditions annually. Diabetes is caused mainly due to our wrong food habits and the lack of exercise. We consume a lot of food and we do not exercise. When we do not work the food we eat does not get used. When this happens the level of sugar in the blood increases. This condition is known as Diabetes. But this is not a condition that is only in the blood – diabetes affects the whole body.” he said

The Health Walks are being organized by the Diabetes and Endocrine Units of the General Hospitals in the relevant districts together with Diabetes Sri Lanka Organization.