Vietnam sees alarming surge in diabetes cases, over half undiagnosed

Patients undering dialysis for diabetes complications. Vietnam faces a public health crisis as diabetes cases triple since 2000, with over half undiagnosed. — VNA/VNS

HO CHI MINH CITY: Vietnam is facing a growing public health emergency as diabetes cases have tripled since 2000, with more than half of patients unaware they have the disease, health experts warned at a recent medical conference in HCM City, Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reported.

An estimated seven million Vietnamese are currently living with diabetes, but about 50 per cent remain undiagnosed, a dangerous gap that is fuelling serious, preventable complications and increasing the burden on the healthcare system.