About 13.9 percent of mothers in Sri Lanka develop diabetes during pregnancy, according to Dr. Manilka Sumanathilaka, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Medical Association and Consultant Specialist in Diabetes and Endocrinology.

Speaking at a media briefing, Dr. Sumanathilaka explained that gestational diabetes is primarily caused by being overweight or obese prior to pregnancy, along with unhealthy dietary habits.

He warned that children born to mothers who experience diabetes during pregnancy are at a higher risk of developing non-communicable diseases, including diabetes, later in life.

Dr. Sumanathilaka emphasized that this risk can be significantly reduced if overweight or obese women manage to lower their excess body weight by about 7 to 10 percent before pregnancy, through adopting healthy eating habits and engaging in regular physical activity.