Vietnam: the burden of diabetes

Report highlights lifestyle-change threat to health systems

Due to the increase in ‘western’ lifestyles, the prevalence of type 2 diabetes is becoming a major public health concern globally. This transition in lifestyle is apparent in Vietnam, where non-communicable diseases are emerging as a challenge to the country’s health system. The increasingly important issue of diabetes in Vietnam is discussed in a report prepared by the International Insulin Foundation. Economic and agricultural development in Vietnam has meant that, from the 1980s to the 1990s, the country experienced a significant change in food availability. From being a recipient of food aid, Vietnam became a net importer with surplus food, and shifted from staple-based diets to more ‘western’ diets. According to a study by H.V. Minh et al., from 1990 to 2000, consumption of both meat and fat doubled. This has led to an increase in risk factors for many non-communicable diseases even in rural areas.

There is a large and increasing rate of NCDs in both adults and children, which makes NCDs a challenge to Vietnam’s health system. Vietnam faces a double burden – both communicable and non-communicable diseases, and the problem of malnutrition and over-nutrition. The latter is contributing to worrying increases in obesity, which is a crucial risk factor for type 2 diabetes. In Vietnam, during 1992 to 2002, in the 18-65 year age group overweight and obesity rates increased from 2.0% to 5.2%. A programme was approved to control NCDs for the period 2002-2010 and, based on this a preliminary National Plan for Diabetes which was prepared for 2006-2010. Prevention and education were key features of the policy. This focus on prevention is particularly significant considering that according to a study by Binh and Hoan 76.5% of the general population knew nothing about prevention methods of diabetes.

One of the findings from the report prepared by the International Insulin Foundation was that there were no programmes for primary prevention. The recommendation made was for the development of socially and culturally appropriate information campaigns to address the risk factors of diabetes with the hope of preventing or delaying the onset of the disease.

The full report can be found at:  http://www.access2insulin.org/html/vietnam.html

Source: David Beran et al., Report on the Rapid Assessment Protocol for Insulin Access in Vietnam (2009).

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