Some 3.53 million Vietnamese people are living with diabetes and almost 29,000 die of this disease annually, or 80 deaths each day, VnExpress reported, citing a health official.Of the diabetes patients, 63% have not been diagnosed and 70% are estimated to carry type 2 diabetes but without treatment, said Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Truong Son at an event on the disease on Tuesday.
A diabetes patient with severe feet ulcers is being examined by a doctor at the National Hospital for Endocrinology in Hanoi. Photo: Quinn Ryan Mattingly/WHO
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About 70% of the patients are not aware of being diabetic and 85% only find out when they suffer from dangerous complications such as stroke, kidney failure, neuropathy, among others.
Unhealthy diet, sedentarism and genetic factor are the main causes of diabetes.
In 2017, Vietnamese people spent approximately US$756.6 million on diabetes treatment.
Diabetes is the third deadliest non-communicable disease in Vietnam, after cardio and cancer, said Deputy Minister Son.
To help prevent and treat this disease, the Health Ministry has initiated a training program to improve the diagnosis and treatment capacity for medical professionals in taking care of diabetic patients in Vietnam in 2019-2020.
Accordingly, 10 experts in endocrinology will join a training course in the Park Nicollet Hospital in the US, other 200 endocrinologists will attend two advanced courses in optimizing disease control and insulin treatment in 5 health centers. In addition, online courses in diabetic management and treatment will be held for more than 2,000 physicians.
International Diabetes Federation (IDF) reported 425 million people ranging from 20 to 79 years old in the world were found to get diabetic in 2017 and the number is expected to rise 48% to 629 million by 2045.
