Diabetes is even more dangerous than HIV.

According to the latest statistics, the average life expectancy of people infected with HIV is not much lower than that of the general population. However, people with type 2 diabetes experience a 10-year reduction in life expectancy.

This information was provided by Professor Dr. Thai Hong Quang, President of the Vietnam Society of Endocrinology and Diabetes, at the opening ceremony of the Vietnam Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders Science Festival 2018 held at Hue Central Hospital on the morning of March 31st.

According to Mr. Quang, diabetes is called a "global health tsunami" by the World Health Organization (WHO) because the incidence and complications of the disease are increasing rapidly.

Mr. Quang stated that, without effective preventive measures, it is predicted that by 2040, 642 million people worldwide will have diabetes.

In Vietnam, according to recent research, the prevalence of diabetes among adults is 5.42%.

People with diabetes have a higher mortality rate than people with HIV. Photo: Nhat Linh

Sixty-three percent of people are unaware they have diabetes and therefore do not seek treatment, leading to the disease developing silently in their bodies.

These figures are alarming because diabetes is a dangerous disease, and its treatment and care are very expensive and complex from an economic standpoint.

According to Professor Tran Huu Dang, Vice President of the Vietnam Association of Endocrinology and Diabetes, people with diabetes have twice the risk of stroke compared to the general population, along with four times the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Diabetes can also cause blindness, kidney failure, and ulcers on the hands and feet, leading to amputation of limbs.

However, according to Mr. Dang, the good news is that up to 70% of type 2 diabetes cases can be prevented or have their onset slowed by adhering to a healthy lifestyle, proper nutrition, and increased physical activity and exercise.

"Many people turn pale with fear at the mention of HIV, but they don't realize that the number of deaths from diabetes each year is higher than the number of deaths from HIV. In particular, the incidence of diabetes is trending towards younger ages. So, young people, put down your beer and cigarettes and get up to exercise, jog, and play sports...", said Professor Thai Hong Quang.