Eye surgeon Dr. Mangala Dhanapala reveals alarming statistics, stating that 3 million Sri Lankans are undergoing diabetes treatment, with 300,000 experiencing blindness due to diabetes. The majority affected fall within the age group of 25-74 years.
Colombo district reports a high diabetes prevalence of 27 percent, contrasting with the 8 percent in rural areas.
Globally, 531 million people were diagnosed with diabetes in 2021, leading to 35 percent, or 145 million, facing visual impairment, and 45 million experiencing blindness. Dr. Dhanapala estimates these numbers to rise to 643 million by 2030 and 783 million by 2040.
These concerning figures were highlighted at a conference at the National Eye Hospital in honor of World Diabetes Day that falls on tomorrow (14).
