Dr. Phan Huong Duong, deputy director of the Hanoi-based National Hospital of Endocrinology, consults with a patient with diabetes. Photo: Supplied
The hospital released the figures on Saturday at a rally marking World Diabetes Day, which falls on November 14.
Diabetes prevalence rises
Phan Hoang Hiep, director of the hospital, said the trend was alarming in both Vietnam and worldwide.
In Vietnam, the prevalence of diabetes among people aged 30-69 rose from 5.4 percent in 2012 to 7.3 percent in 2020, while the rate of prediabetes increased from 13.7 percent to 17.8 percent, according to surveys conducted by the hospital.
About 60 percent of diabetes cases in Vietnam remain undiagnosed, a rate considered high by international standards.
Hiep stressed that half of adults in Vietnam have never undergone testing to determine whether they have the disease.
The hospital receives more than 2,000 patient visits each day, most involving people with diabetes, Hiep said.
Many patients referred from lower-level medical facilities already have cardiovascular and eye complications, as well as foot ulcers.
These conditions increase treatment costs and prolong hospital stays, he noted.
Diabetes poses growing health risks
The hospital cited Ministry of Health figures showing that 55 percent of diabetes patients in Vietnam have developed complications, including cardiovascular complications in 34 percent, eye complications in 39.5 percent and kidney complications in 24 percent.
The same ministry data show that 23.7 percent of pregnant women in Vietnam have gestational diabetes, with the rate reaching 29 percent in urban areas.
A doctor examines a patient with diabetes at a hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, southern Vietnam. Photo: Huu Khoa / Tuoi Tre
The condition poses risks to the health of women of childbearing age and the physical development of newborns.
Worldwide, 589 million people aged 20-79 are living with diabetes, accounting for 11 percent of the population in this age group, or roughly one in nine adults, Hiep said.
About half of them are unaware that they have the disease and therefore remain at risk of health complications without receiving appropriate care.
Hiep linked the rise in diabetes cases in recent years to factors including urbanization, being overweight or obese, and sedentary lifestyles.
Lifestyle changes key to prevention
To curb the continued increase in diabetes cases, Hiep stressed the importance of adopting healthier lifestyles, detecting the disease early and following treatment plans to prevent complications.
He recommended maintaining a balanced diet with more vegetables and fewer foods high in sugar, fat and calories, while ensuring that meals meet individual nutritional needs.
Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight are also important, he said.
People, particularly those who are overweight or obese, have high blood pressure or abnormal blood lipid levels, or have a family history of diabetes, should undergo regular health checkups and blood glucose tests.
Early identification and management of risk factors, including blood glucose, blood pressure, blood lipid levels and excess weight, are also essential to reducing the risk of diabetes and its complications.
Those diagnosed with the disease should follow medical advice, attend regular checkups and keep their blood glucose levels under control, Hiep said.
Global diabetes projection
The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) forecasts that the number of people living with diabetes worldwide will continue to rise, reaching 852 million by 2050.
Around 80.6 percent of adults with diabetes worldwide are expected to live in low- and middle-income countries.
