When the disease was first discovered, his blood sugar level fluctuated between 8 and 12 mmol/L, and his HbA1c index was 8,5%. Doctor Duong Minh Tuan from the Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes stated that despite being overweight, favoring fried foods, and consuming a lot of alcohol, the man resolutely refused medical orders. Instead, the patient chose to self-modify his lifestyle, combining it with the use of unverified, imported dietary supplements.

The absence of fatigue and normal fasting blood sugar test results led him to believe he was on the right track. This overconfidence came at the cost of declining vision and rapid weight loss. In the 4th year, while exercising, he unexpectedly experienced angina, cardiac arrest, and had to be hospitalized for emergency treatment due to silently accumulating atherosclerotic plaque causing coronary artery blockage.

A self-proclaimed "traditional family remedy" for diabetes advertised online. *Screenshot*.

This case highlights a widespread problem. The Lancet journal reported that the global prevalence of diabetes has increased from 7% to 14% over the past three decades, directly affecting more than 800 million people. In Vietnam, data from health authorities and the International Diabetes Federation indicate that about 7 million people are living with this disease. More than half of them have already developed serious cardiovascular, eye, neurological, and kidney complications. The incidence rate in those aged 20 to 79 has tripled since 2000. Most concerning is that about 50% of cases are not diagnosed in time, or patients intentionally ignore medical protocols due to a lack of knowledge.

Doctor Tuan explained that the psychology of denying illness is the core root cause. Many people fall into the "no pain, no fatigue" trap, assuming their bodies are still completely healthy. For example, a 53-year-old male patient once adamantly refused insulin injections, choosing to consume traditional herbal remedies passed down orally. When his blood sugar decreased by half, he freely drank alcohol and then fell into a coma with blood sugar levels skyrocketing to 50 mmol/L. Similarly, a 23-year-old pregnant woman ignored a gestational diabetes diagnosis because her self-tested blood results appeared normal. This stubbornness led to fetal cardiac arrest, while the mother was hospitalized in a state of severe ketoacidosis.

Besides subjective attitudes, patients also misunderstand the pathogenesis of diabetes. The disease does not solely depend on external physique but on internal metabolic quality. Asians have specific genetic factors and fat distribution structures, which can easily lead to insulin resistance even with a low body mass index. Blind faith in folk remedies also pushes patients to the brink of risk. A study by the Institute of Health Policy and Management showed that 73% of Vietnamese people have used traditional medicine, with 68% mistakenly believing that herbal remedies cause no side effects at all.

Delaying proper medical intervention will severely damage the body, especially in younger age groups. The longer the disease persists, the larger the window of exposure to high blood sugar, leading to earlier complications such as blindness or stroke. Those who arbitrarily use unregulated dietary supplements face risks of respiratory failure, hypotension, and rapid death. Doctor Ha Hai Nam from K Hospital warned that when the disease flares up again, patients often face extremely expensive new treatment protocols or reach a medical dead end.

To control this disease, experts require patients to maintain a scientific diet combined with regular exercise, and strictly adhere to prescribed medication. Regulatory agencies also need to tighten supervision to eliminate the rampant network of counterfeit diabetes medication sales.

Thuy An