- City-wide free screening sees alarmingly high rates of undiagnosed diabetes and hypertension
- Experts cite India’s rising diabetes burden amid national and regional data
NE HEALTH BUREAU
AHMEDABAD, NOV 15
On World Diabetes Day (November 14, 2025), the Ahmedabad Medical Association (AMA), together with the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC), International Diabetes Federation–South East Asia (IDF-SEA) and the Ahmedabad Family Physicians Association (AFPA), executed a large-scale public screening drive across 103 centres citywide.
From early morning, hundreds of citizens gathered at more than 50 public gardens, AMC health facilities, and family physician clinics. Free blood sugar and blood pressure checks were offered, reflecting a strong wave of public awareness and commitment toward proactive health management.
Symbols of Unity, Hope and Movement
The central event at Parimal Garden was graced by Ahmedabad dignitaries, including Mayor Pratibhaben Jain, MLA Dr. Hasmukh Patel, and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Bhavin Solanki alongside other senior municipal health and administration officials. Highlights included a ceremonial lamp lighting, a release of blue balloons to symbolize unity in diabetes awareness, and an energetic Zumba session, adding colour, energy and community engagement to the day.
AMA expressed its gratitude to key partners:
- IDF-SEA, for strategic guidance
- AMC’s health department, under Dr. Solanki, Dr. Sanket Patel, and in-field teams
- AFPA, led by Dr. Pritesh Shah and Dr. Mehul Shelat
- Cure Sight Laser (Dr. Parimal Desai, Dr. Adit Desai) for their support in the flagship event
- All participating hospitals, clinicians, NGOs, pharmaceutical partners, volunteers, and community stakeholders
Preliminary Screenings Reveal Growing Public Health Challenge
Data from all 103 screening centres is being collated. Early reports are sobering:
- 29% of screened individuals showed hyperglycaemia (high blood sugar)
- 35% recorded high blood pressure, a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease
AMA President Dr. Jignesh Shah explained that many of these individuals were unaware of their conditions and have been advised to pursue diagnostic follow-up and modify lifestyle habits. “Hypertension often shows no symptoms but substantially raises the risk of heart disease, stroke, and kidney problems,” he warned. The association emphasized the urgent need for broader screening — especially among individuals over 30 — to catch diabetes early and curb its long-term impact.
Diabetes: A Sharp Local Reality Against a Global Backdrop
- In Gujarat, around 50% of diabetics remain undiagnosed, with urban Ahmedabad prevalence estimated between 15–18%, significantly above India’s national average of 11.4%.
- According to the latest IDF Diabetes Atlas (11th Edition, 2025), India has 89.8 million adults (ages 20–79) living with diabetes, and diagnosis rates lag behind.
- Across the South-East Asia region, 42.7% of adults with diabetes are undiagnosed, a trend that contributes heavily to regional morbidity.
Health experts say that such awareness drives are more than symbolic — they are crucial action points in the fight against a disease that is silently growing in India and across the region.
