Chandigarh, July 23: Critical complications including diabetic ketoacidosis and severe foot damage have driven 2,300 patients to seek hospital care under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana, with total expenditure touching ₹6,49,99,151.6 as of 21 July 2026. Official records indicate that the condition is no longer confined to older generations, as working-age citizens between 36 and 60 years made up nearly half of all treated cases at 1,123 claims. Seniors accounted for 809 episodes, alongside 243 young adults and 125 pediatric patients.
Patients across the state are reaching healthcare facilities at advanced stages of illness, frequently requiring surgical intervention, intensive care, kidney dialysis, and blood transfusions. The initial symptoms of diabetes, such as relentless thirst, frequent urination, blurred vision, numbness, or slow-healing wounds, often pass unnoticed until emergency care becomes unavoidable.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Balbir Singh noted the severe socio-economic consequences of these hospitalization trends on families and employers. “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,” the Minister stated.
Unhealthy diets, excessive intake of sugary beverages, physical inactivity, and stress continue to drive risk factors across all demographics. Although Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s welfare initiative safeguards families from sudden financial distress, health authorities maintain that routine blood sugar tests and timely lifestyle adjustments are key to preventing permanent bodily damage.
“Preventing diabetes is far easier than treating its consequences. Do not wait for complications to occur. Hospitals can save lives, but they cannot give people back the years lost to neglect,” Dr. Balbir Singh maintained, calling for proactive health checks in every household.
