Union Assurance has entered into a strategic partnership with the Diabetes Association of Sri Lanka (DASL) to address the alarming prevalence and incidence of diabetes in the country.
According to the International Diabetes Federation, Sri Lanka faces a notably high diabetes prevalence, placing it at heightened risk within the South Asian region. Understanding the gravity of this national health crisis, Union Assurance has committed to providing extensive nationwide support to prevent diabetes by increasing public awareness, providing tools and platforms to improve individual well-being, and fostering community engagement.
Partnering with the DASL, Union Assurance will implement targeted evidence-based preventive strategies to achieve sustainable solutions, aiming to reduce diabetes incidence rates and enrich the well-being of all Sri Lankans.
The DASL has been a member of the International Diabetes Federation based in Brussels for several decades and is an NGO registered in the Parliament by Act 1 1992.
The DASL is headquartered at the National Diabetes Centre, Rajagiriya. It provides clinical and preventive services with its accredited laboratory facilities, supports economically challenged youth living with type 1 diabetes, conducts research, and promotes advocacy to reduce the prevalence and incidence of prediabetes and diabetes.
In accordance with the STEPS Survey conducted in 2021, the percentage of Impaired Fasting Glycaemia (IGT) in adults aged 18-69 years was 13% (both sexes), while the percentage with raised Fasting Blood Glucose (FBS) in the same age group was 14.6% (in both sexes). Moreover, when comparing the results of STEPS surveys conducted in 2015 and 2021, the percentage of IGT hadincreased from 3.8% to 13.0%, while the percentage of people with raised FBS or who are currently on medication for high blood glucose levels had also risen from 7.4% to 14.6%.
Empowering the public at all stages and ages is vital to protect them from this silent killer, as the age of onset is rapidly decreasing. The increase in prevalence can be mainly attributed to modern lifestyles, which are sedentary, devoid of exercise, with increased stress which leads to obesity and diabetes.
General morbidity rates have also increased with related complications such as cardiovascular disease, blindness, kidney failure and amputations.
Senath Jayatilake, Chief Executive Officer at Union Assurance said, “We believe that, by taking proactive action to improve individual well-being, we will be able to contribute to the collective progress of ournation. In line with this focus and recognising the pervasive challenges many face with the disease, our collaboration with the DASL allows us to deliver comprehensive solutions to support the public. Our commitment is long-term, aimed at fostering lasting improvements in public health and well-being across Sri Lanka.”
Dr. Mahen Wijesuriya, Honorary Director and Secretary of the Diabetes Association of Sri Lanka said, “Together, DASL and Union Assurance can combine resources and are confident that effective and sustainable measures can be used to empower our people through increased education, awareness and screening as prediabetes can be reversed only by healthy lifestyles.”
