"Diabetes is increasing too rapidly in Vietnam"

Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Xuyen gave the above warning information at the Ministry of Health's press conference on the afternoon of November 4 about activities on the occasion of World Diabetes Day 2014 (November 14).

People have their blood tested and blood sugar levels checked by medical staff at the 2013 Diabetes Prevention Festival in Hanoi. Photo: VNA

According to Deputy Minister Nguyen Thi Xuyen, in fact, diabetes is increasing rapidly in every country in the world. The causes of the disease are very complex, but are mostly due to being overweight, obese and physically inactive.

In Vietnam, the disease rate in adults is now 5.4%, double the rate in 1990. Notably, nearly 64% of patients have not been diagnosed.

Mr. Phan Huong Duong, Deputy Director of the Central Endocrinology Hospital, also emphasized that diabetes is increasing too rapidly in Vietnam. In the past 10 years, the rate of this disease in Vietnam increased by 200% while the World Health Organization predicted that in the world it would only increase by 54% in 20 years.

Mr. Duong also emphasized that type 2 diabetes is known as a “silent killer” because the disease progresses silently in the human body. Therefore, a large number of people can only discover that they have the disease when they have complications such as reduced vision due to cataracts, retinal disease, kidney complications, cardiovascular complications, etc. Therefore, late detection of the disease will cause additional costs for treatment as well as significantly affect the quality of life.

Experts recommend that to prevent the disease, it is important to achieve and maintain a body weight appropriate to the stage of development; physical activity 30 minutes/day, people who need to control their weight should exercise more; should eat more vegetables, reduce sugar, reduce fat and do not use tobacco.

On the occasion of World Diabetes Day, on November 14-15, the event “Diabetes Day 2014” will be held at the Central Endocrinology Hospital - Tu Hiep facility with free screening and consultation activities for people about diabetes.

The above event was organized by the Central Endocrinology Hospital in coordination with the Diabetes Endocrinology Association and Novonordisk Company.

People attending “Diabetes Day 2014” will receive free screening for diabetes and pre-diabetes from doctors at the Central Endocrinology Hospital, as well as advice on lifestyle changes, nutrition and exercise to prevent the disease.

Previously, on November 12-13, the Central Endocrinology Hospital will coordinate with 4 other medical units to organize early diabetes detection examinations in 4 areas of Hanoi city according to the plan approved by the Ministry of Health.

Also within the framework of activities in response to World Diabetes Day, the Diabetes Change Village Program will take place from November 8-16 in 4 major cities: Hanoi, Da Nang, Can Tho, Ho Chi Minh City. The purpose of the program is to provide knowledge about the disease, encourage a healthy lifestyle and a reasonable diet, screen people with risk factors, and advise patients.

According to Vietnam+