Diabetes is on the rise in Vietnam, with the number of diabetic patients nationwide rising by 211% compared to that in 2003, the Ho Chi Minh City Nutrition Center said at a recent conference. The center issued the warning at the conference in HCM City that discussed ways to implement the 2013 plan for diabetes prevention and control co-held by the center and the municipal Health Department. Up to 5.7% of the national population is contracted with diabetes, but 60% remain undiagnosed. Meanwhile, the rate of people with pre-diabetes and glucose tolerance disorder is 12.8%. The number of people with glucose tolerance disorder has nearly doubled, the center said, adding that the rates are very high in the world. Diabetes now ranks fourth among diseases causing the highest death rate in Vietnam. It often results in serious complications such as blindness and kidney failures. Vietnam is among countries worldwide with the highest growth rate of diabetes patients with five million affected people. The figure will likely reach 7 million to 8 million by 2025. (Tuoi Tre May 23)
