Free glucose tests today at Auxilio Mutuo: 2 in 10 Island adults have diabetes

Today, Thursday, November 5, the main entrance of Hospital Auxilio Mutuo in Hato Rey becomes a free screening site until midday: glucose tests, blood pressure checks and guidance from specialists, with no prior diabetes diagnosis required ¹. It is a concrete opportunity in a country where, according to the Department of Health's latest figures, about 2 out of every 10 adults live with the condition ².

Background

November is Diabetes Awareness Month, and today's event opens the conversation ahead of World Diabetes Day on Saturday, November 14. The Health Department's most recent surveillance report (PR-BRFSS 2024) estimates that 17.8% of adults aged 18 and older had diabetes, roughly 480,952 people ². For scale: the U.S. median prevalence for that age group was 11.5% in 2023 ². In other words, the Island exceeds the U.S. median by more than six percentage points.

The 2024 figure is slightly lower than the prior year, when Health estimated 19.7% of adults ³. Still, the report itself cautions that prevalence stayed essentially flat from 2011 to 2024, with a slight dip in the latest year, and that monitoring must continue to confirm whether the improvement is sustained or just short-term variation ². There is no reason to let your guard down.

The numbers that matter

• 17.8% of adults had diabetes in 2024, about 480,952 people ².
• Third leading cause of death: in 2023 diabetes accounted for 8.9% of deaths in Puerto Rico, or 3,069 deaths ².
• 2023 surveillance data show who carries the most risk: 41.0% among retired or disabled people, 41.7% among widowed people and 39.9% among those 65 and older; by region, Arecibo had the highest prevalence at 22.8% ³.
• Conditions that often accompany diabetes also weigh heavily: 73.9% of people with diabetes reported hypertension, 65.9% high cholesterol, 72.3% overweight or obesity and 61.1% physical inactivity ³.
• The cost is considerable. A claims-based study cited by Health estimated about $388.5 million in health-care spending for diabetes patients in Puerto Rico in 2013, and found that people with public insurance were more likely to use hospitals and emergency rooms, which may point to limits on access and continuity of primary care ².

What today's fair offers

The event runs from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. There will be glucose and blood pressure tests, plus information tables with health professionals, the Puerto Rican Society of Endocrinology and Diabetology, the Puerto Rican Diabetes Association and other groups, covering risk factors, type 2 prevention and disease management ¹. At 10:00 a.m. there is a salsa class on the terrace with instructors from the Department of Recreation and Sports, and at 6:30 p.m. the hospital will light its facade blue in solidarity with people with diabetes and their families ¹.

The speakers were direct. Brenda Padilla Pérez, executive director of the Puerto Rican Diabetes Association, urged people to know their indicators: glucose, cholesterol and blood pressure ¹. Dr. Melba Feliciano Emmanuelli, president of the endocrinology society, stressed early detection ¹. And Maribel González Ortiz, the hospital's nutrition manager, insisted that better eating and staying active help prevent and manage the condition ¹.

What it means for you

If you are 45 or older, have a family history, are overweight, have high blood pressure or live a sedentary life, a quick glucose test may be the first step toward catching in time something that advances silently while ignored. Health notes that common symptoms include excessive thirst, frequent urination, extreme hunger, unexplained weight loss, blurred vision and slow-healing wounds ⁴. If you recognize several, do not wait for a fair: book an appointment with your primary care doctor.

For those caring for older relatives, one figure stands out: about 4 in 10 people aged 65 or older had diabetes in the 2023 measurement ³.

How to / Checklist

1. If you can, go today, Thursday, November 5, between 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., to the main entrance of Hospital Auxilio Mutuo in Hato Rey. It is free and open to the public ¹.
2. Write down your numbers: glucose, blood pressure and, when possible, cholesterol. Bring them to your next medical visit ¹.
3. If you cannot attend, ask your primary care doctor for a glucose test; your health plan, Vital or Medicare coverage will determine how it is paid, so confirm with your insurer first.
4. Move at least 30 minutes a day and watch portions; Health promotes a balanced diet, physical activity and a healthy weight as the base of prevention ⁴.
5. Visit www.salud.pr.gov/diabetes for educational materials from the Department of Health ⁴.
6. Set aside Saturday, November 14, World Diabetes Day, to talk about it with your family.

What's next

World Diabetes Day on November 14 usually brings more screening and education activities; Health has used it before to update figures and urge prevention ⁴. The next benchmark will be the following surveillance report, which will show whether the slight 2024 dip was the start of a trend or a passing breather ².

Sources

1. Primera Hora, "Pruebas gratis de glucosa, presión y hasta una bailadita contra la diabetes" (November 4, 2026).
2. Puerto Rico Department of Health, "Informe sobre la diabetes en Puerto Rico, 2024" (PR-BRFSS).
3. Puerto Rico Department of Health, fact sheet "Diabetes, Puerto Rico, 2023".
4. Puerto Rico Department of Health, press release "Salud promueve estilos de vida saludables para combatir la Diabetes" (November 14, 2024).