Diabetes and heart diseases: Common cause of death among Buddhist monks

By Dr. Upali Illangasekera
Former Professor in Medicine,Peradeniya
Founder President, Diabetes Association of Sri Lanka (Kandy Branch)
Managing Director, Kandy Diabetes Centre

Two significant events took place in the Month of November. Sri Lanka lost one of her most erudite and respected Buddhist priests, Ven. Madulawae Sobitha Nayaka Thera at the beginning of the month. He passed away due to complications of diabetes. Then nearly a century ago in the month of November, Sir Fredrick Banting, the discoverer the life saving drug insulin used in the treatment of diabetes was born in Canada. November 14th is the birth day of Sir Banting and the authorities have named it the World Diabetes Day. All over the world including Sri Lanka, this day is used mainly to highlight and create awareness on all aspects of diabetes. Some of these activities include Diabetes Day Walks, exhibitions, lectures and screening programmes to identify those with diabetes and its complications.

Ven. Sobitha led a very active and a productive life which may have contributed to the complications he had culminating in a heart attack and death. He had once told one of a relative of mine who was very close to him that a Buddhist priest is not private but public property. In fact, priests are highly vulnerable to heart disease mainly because of adverse lifestyle factors such as diet and lack of exercise.

At most alms-givings several desserts consisting of a very high content of sugar is served which the priests whether they are diabetic or not are ‘forced’ to consume so as not to hurt the feelings of those who offer the alms. In fact, in a study conducted by the author in Kandy several years ago revealed that among the urban Buddhist priests in Kandy the prevalence of diabetes was as high as 30%.

The Kandy Branch of the Diabetes Association of Sri Lanka distributed a menu card among the laymen indicating as to how alms should be provided to the clergy. The Buddha Sasana ministry also has distributed a menu for them but it is not known how many priests as well as laymen adhere to it.