On the morning of September 27, at Quyết Thắng Primary School in District 11, Ky Hoa Medical Center launched the program “Diabetes Seminar — Care and Prevention”. This is one of the events in the “For the Community” (Vì cộng đồng) series of activities organized by Ky Hoa Medical Center. Through the seminar, Ky Hoa Medical Center hopes to help the community better understand this chronic disease and to advise people on how to care for and protect themselves against diabetes.
The seminar featured Level II Specialist doctors of Ky Hoa Medical Center, who have spent many years treating diabetes. The doctors shared a wealth of practical knowledge about the disease so that attendees could easily understand it and apply it in their daily lives. They also patiently answered questions from the audience about detecting the disease in people without symptoms - including pregnant women - as well as its complications and treatment options. At the seminar, participants also received free blood and urine tests along with health counselling and advice on prevention.
Diabetes is one of the three leading causes of death worldwide, ranking just behind HIV and cancer. According to statistics from the National Hospital of Endocrinology, the number of people living with the disease rose from 53,000 in 2003 to 220,000 in 2007. Of these, 65% of patients were unaware that they had the disease, and 85% of those diagnosed with diabetes were showing signs of developing complications. Patients typically discover the disease only once clear symptoms have appeared, or by chance during a health check-up. These figures are truly worrying and signal a gradual decline in the health of the Vietnamese population. Many people are neglecting their own health and skipping the habit of a check-up every six months, which helps detect disease early so that appropriate treatment can begin.
Beyond bringing accurate knowledge about the disease to the community, the seminar also guided people on the changes needed to build a healthy lifestyle and reduce their risk of developing diabetes. Following the September seminar, Ky Hoa Medical Center went on to hold further diabetes seminars in District 3 and District 11 in October and November before the series officially came to a close.
Are you currently concerned or unsure about your blood sugar levels? You are welcome to visit the Department of Endocrinology at Ky Hoa Medical Center or call (08) 38681097 for advice.
Ky Hoa Medical Center