VADODRA: Diabetic patients, patients with multiple complications and doctors who conducted various surgeries on them, were felicitated at the Clinical Success Baroda Awards 2004, held at the C C Mehta Auditorium on Sunday.

To prove that controlled diabetes enables patients to survive, Sonaben D Patel (94) was felicitated as the eldest living diabetic at the function. Sonaben, a diabetic for years, suffers from hypertension, heart failure (she has a pacemaker installed in her heart) and goes for her regular OPD consultations. ‘‘I had been a diabetic for years. I just abide by the medications and the regimes set out for me by my physicians’’ she said.

Kalaben Bhandari of Indore recorded the highest fasting blood sugar (FBS) level at 705 mg. After lunch, her blood sugar level would shoot upto 1,000 mg. According to the award committee, hers is the highest recorded FBS level recorded in Vadodara. Incidentally, while undergoing a treatment her FBS level dropped to 81 mg in five days without insulin. The secret, Sonaben says, lies in diet control, as advised by her doctor. ‘‘The will power of an individual is also accountable for such miraculous recovery,’’ a doctor said.

Eighty-five year old, A C Vaidya, was presented the ‘Strong Heart, Brave Mind Award’. Vaidya had a triple artery block of 90, 85 and 95 per cent. He underwent a baloon surgery, angiography with stents in all three vessels and survived. The cardiologist who oversaw the whole procedure, Dr Parvindar Singh, was also given an award.