Diabetes rarely begins with a medical emergency. It often starts without a warning, with constant thirst, frequent urination, blurred vision, unexplained tiredness, numbness in the feet or a wound that refuses to heal. These warning signs are frequently ignored until serious complications require hospitalisation, intensive care, surgery or dialysis.
Punjab’s latest health data under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana reveals that diabetes is no longer confined to old age. Increasingly, it is affecting people in the middle of their working lives, placing a growing burden on families, employers and the healthcare system.
According to the World Health Organization, diabetes cases continue to rise globally due to unhealthy diets, increasing consumption of processed foods and sugary drinks, physical inactivity, obesity, tobacco use and harmful alcohol consumption. Long working hours, inadequate sleep and chronic stress have further increased the risk of developing the disease.
Data shared by the State Health Agency (SHA), Punjab, under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana, a universal healthcare scheme led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, as on 21 July 2026,records 2,300 diabetes-related treatment-episodes worth nearly ₹6.5 crore (₹6,49,99,151.6). Adults between 36 and 60 years accounted for the highest number of cases (1,123), followed by senior citizens above 60 years (809), youth aged 17–35 years (243) and children aged 0–16 years (125). The data indicates that diabetes is increasingly affecting Punjab’s economically productive population while also impacting younger age groups.
The treatment data also highlights the severity of cases reaching hospitals. Diabetic ketoacidosis, a life-threatening complication caused by dangerously uncontrolled blood sugar, accounted for the highest number of treatment claims.
Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Balbir Singh said the figures should serve as a warning for every household. “These are not people who have reached the twilight of life. They are the state’s workforce, the people raising families, running businesses, paying loans and supporting ageing parents. When diabetes pushes this age group into hospital, the impact stretches far beyond the patient,” he added.