Minh Anh, a spa employee in Ho Chi Minh City, loved milk tea, fried chicken, and other sugary, fatty snacks. Her daily routine included a large milk tea with tapioca pearls, pudding, and a pastry. Weekends meant gatherings with friends over fried chicken and barbeque. "I thought I was young and healthy, so indulging a little wouldn't hurt," she said.

This habit, however, led to a weight gain from 52 kg to 68 kg in a year. She experienced constant fatigue, thirst, frequent urination, and occasional blurred vision. Initially, she attributed these symptoms to work stress. But during a checkup at Ho Chi Minh City Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital in March, doctors found her blood sugar level at 11 mmol/L (normal range: 4-6 mmol/L) and diagnosed her with type 2 diabetes.

"I was devastated. I was only 25. How could I have a disease that only older people get?", Minh Anh recounted, adding that she was terrified of living with the condition for the rest of her life.

In another case, 22-year-old Tuan, obese since childhood, struggled with weight loss. Experiencing fatigue, thirst, and frequent urination, he sought medical attention at the National Endocrinology Hospital and received a type 2 diabetes diagnosis. Doctors attributed his condition to obesity, a high-carbohydrate, high-fat diet, and a lack of physical activity.

Minh Anh and Tuan are just two of many young adults diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

Long-term unstable blood sugar levels are the leading cause of end-stage renal disease, requiring lifelong dialysis or kidney transplants. Photo: Phung Tien

Long-term unstable blood sugar levels are the leading cause of end-stage renal disease, requiring lifelong dialysis or kidney transplants. Photo: Phung Tien

In the 1990s, medical professionals believed diabetes did not affect children or adolescents. In 2002, a report from the UK identified 4 obese white children with type 2 diabetes. Similar cases were subsequently reported in Canada, Australia, Libya, Japan, and Bangladesh.

Between mid-2002 and 2003, the US reported a 6-76% prevalence of type 2 diabetes among adolescents aged 10-19. Another study from 2001 to 2009 showed a 30.5% increase in both types of diabetes, particularly type 2.

Recent reports from most countries indicate a rising prevalence of type 2 diabetes among young people, including children. The disease now appears in individuals under 35, an age previously considered the threshold for type 2 diabetes.

Vietnam currently has about 7 million people with diabetes, with a prediabetes rate of 17.8%. The incidence rate among those aged 20-79 has tripled since 2000. Alarmingly, around 50% of cases go undiagnosed due to lack of awareness or complacency.

According to Associate Professor Doctor Tran Ngoc Luong, former Director of the National Endocrinology Hospital, the consumption of fast food and milk tea, a sedentary lifestyle, and environmental pollution contribute to fat accumulation and obesity among young people. Some also engage in substance use, have irregular eating habits, or skip meals due to gaming or watching television, leading to insulin resistance, metabolic disorders, and ultimately, diabetes.

In the early stages of obesity, increased hormonal resistance reduces the effectiveness of endocrine hormones. To compensate, the pancreas works overtime, eventually impairing its hormone secretion function. This leads to insufficient hormone levels for maintaining blood sugar metabolism, causing type 2 diabetes in young adults.

A study published in the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) showed that overweight individuals have a 2.4 times higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to those with a normal weight.

Diabetes, characterized by elevated blood glucose, is a chronic, incurable condition. Symptoms include increased thirst, hunger, and urination; weight loss; itching or numbness in the extremities; susceptibility to infections; slow wound healing; blurred vision; and darkened skin, often in the armpits and neck.

"The most concerning aspect is not the rapid global increase in diabetes, but its dangerous complications," said Associate Professor Doctor Nguyen Thi Bich Dao, President of the Ho Chi Minh City Diabetes and Endocrinology Association.

Uncontrolled high blood sugar is a leading cause of end-stage renal disease, stroke, heart failure, myocardial infarction, and angina. It also contributes to blindness due to retinal complications and peripheral neuropathy.

One study found that the average time from diabetes diagnosis to the onset of complications is 3-5.2 years. Chronic kidney disease is often the earliest complication.

Over 55% of Vietnamese people with diabetes experience complications, including 34% with cardiovascular complications, 39% with eye and nerve complications, and 24% with kidney complications, leading to increased medical costs and reduced quality of life.

Doctor Tran Thi Kim Thanh, Head of Cardiology IV – Department of Cardiology – Metabolism, Tam Duc Heart Hospital, advises that diabetes can be managed without medication through a healthy diet, daily exercise including walking, jogging, or swimming for at least 150 minutes per week, and weight loss. Doctors may also prescribe oral hypoglycemic medications or insulin injections.

The most crucial aspect of diabetes management is controlling blood sugar levels within a safe range. Many individuals diagnosed with diabetes between the ages of 24 and 25 have maintained good health and continued working normally for 3-5 years after diagnosis by adopting a healthy diet, losing weight, and taking medication to control blood sugar.

People checking their blood sugar at the Endocrinology Hospital. Photo: Thuy Quynh

People checking their blood sugar at the Endocrinology Hospital. Photo: Thuy Quynh

After the initial shock, Minh Anh decided to learn about her condition and change her lifestyle. She realized her unhealthy diet, high in sugar and fat, was the primary cause of her insulin resistance. With support from her doctor and a nutritionist, she embarked on a journey to regain her health through a balanced diet and regular exercise.

Weight loss is crucial for reversing type 2 diabetes. According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), losing 5% of body fat through lifestyle changes can help reverse the disease.

Minh Anh not only managed her condition but also inspired her friends and colleagues. "I no longer see diabetes as a sentence but as a reminder to live better and appreciate my health," she said.

Tuan's doctor also advised him to combine medication with weight loss through exercise and dietary adjustments, reducing starch, sugar, and sweets, and managing stress. The weight loss not only helped control his diabetes but also improved his overall well-being. He became healthier, more confident, and more proactive in managing his health.

My Y

*Names have been changed