‘Even schoolchildren are detected with diabetes today’

A senior doctor of the Kurunegala Teaching Hospital said yesterday a high number of schoolchildren in the North Western Province are suffering from diabetes.

He said that those who eat artificial food items are overweight. These foods have no considerable nutritional value. He said principals should tell parents to prevent their children from having pre-packed snacks and drinks. “A right diet is important for schoolchildren. I know some children bring pre-packed food. The parents must encourage their children to drink freshwater,” he said. Today children prefer eating junk food items to having healthy meals, he said.