Public urged for early detection of diabetes

Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam has responded to World Diabetes Day (November 14) with a ceremony focusing on the importance of the early detection and timely treatment to prevent dangerous complications.

The event was held by the Ministry of Health and the National Hospital of Endocrinology in Hanoi on the same day.

Data from the World Health Organisation (WHO) show that the diabetes incidence is rising rapidly around the world, especially in developing countries. It is predicted to increase by 54 percent in two decades (from 2010 to 2030).

About 138 million adults got diabetes around the world in 2014, and this figure is estimated at 422 million at present and 642 million by 2040.

The WHO warns that diabetes could lead to serious complications such as blindness, amputation, kidney failure, and cerebrovascular accident . Around 5 million people died of diabetes in 2015, much higher than the mortality from HIV/AIDS (1.5 million) and tuberculosis (1.5 million).

In Vietnam, the diabetes incidence rate doubled from 2.7 percent to 5.4 percent between 2002 and 2012, which means the number of diabetes cases in the country is growing at a faster pace than the global average.

Up to 63.6 percent of people with diabetes have not been diagnosed, and they tend to get the disease at younger ages. Aside from genetics and aging, major disease causes include unbalanced diet, lack of physical activities, smoking or alcohol abuse, according to a report delivered at the ceremony.

At the event, Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long called on all-level authorities, sectors and the society to pay attention to diabetes prevention by raising the public awareness and encouraging people to have regular medical examinations for early detection and timely treatment of the disease.-VNA