Health experts have raised serious concerns over the growing burden of diabetic ulcers in Sri Lanka, with the Sri Lanka Medical Association (SLMA) reporting that around 100,000 patients currently suffer from these serious wounds.
Speaking at a press conference on October 29, Professor Rezni Cassim, a vascular surgeon at the Colombo National Hospital, warned that even minor wounds on the feet of diabetic patients can escalate quickly, often resulting in amputation.
He stressed that if one leg is lost due to diabetes, there is a 30% chance of losing the remaining leg within three years.
Professor Cassim highlighted that the incidence of diabetic wounds is approximately 20%, meaning that one in five affected patients could develop severe complications.
With two million diabetic patients in the country, roughly 40,000 new wounds form each year, contributing to the current 100,000 patients with active ulcers.
The surgeon drew stark comparisons between diabetic wounds and cancer, noting that both conditions develop gradually, worsen over time, and can lead to death.
He revealed that in his hospital ward, only 35% of patients who underwent leg amputations due to diabetic ulcers survived four years post-surgery, highlighting the high mortality risk.
“Eighty-five to ninety percent of all amputations begin with a small wound in the foot. Blood circulation and nerve function are impaired in diabetic patients, and calcium buildup further complicates healing. The situation is dire and demands urgent public awareness and medical intervention.”
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