Indore district saw a six-fold increase in new diabetes cases, reaching 14,905 cases from April 2022 to March 2023, surpassing pre-pandemic levels.

The figures consider only diagnosed patients, excluding cases from private clinics and undiagnosed individuals with diabetes. The district saw a 158% surge in diabetes cases in 2020, compared to the pre-pandemic year 2019, according to records.

Dr. Omesh Nandanwar, who oversees the Non-Communicable Disease Control Program in Indore, explained that the rise in reported cases is partly because of improved data collection and reporting. He mentioned that more people were screened during the last fiscal year compared to earlier years. The number of screenings conducted on individuals above 30 years of age at government facilities increased significantly, from 44,197 in 2019–20 to over 1.34 lakh, according to the records.

Dr. Nandanwar stated -

“This number doesn’t portray the real picture, as a major chunk of the 15-lakh population aged above 30 years is not even screened.”

Diabetes is a condition in the body’s metabolism that leads to high levels of sugar in the blood. Insulin insufficient production or improper use can cause health issues like heart problems, vision loss, and kidney disease if not managed well.