In Europe, diabetes often comes with obesity, but many Vietnamese people with a normal BMI still develop it. Endocrine experts say this needs closer study.
This was one of the issues raised at a scientific conference on endocrinology and metabolism held in Ho Chi Minh City at the end of August 2026. According to the experts, well-designed studies are needed to know exactly how many people have diabetes or are at the prediabetes stage.
Vietnamese people get diabetes without being obese
One difference highlighted was the profile of patients in Vietnam. While in Europe diabetes often appears together with being overweight or obese, in Vietnam many people develop the disease even when their body mass index (BMI) is not high. The experts said it is necessary to understand clearly which risk factors Vietnamese people have and how the disease progresses, including how fat builds up in the bodies of Asian people and the metabolic risks that come with it.
For you and your family, this is also a reminder that a normal weight alone is not enough to be sure you are not at risk of diabetes.
Endocrine diseases are rising but often detected late
According to assessments at the conference, endocrine and metabolic diseases, including diabetes, are on the rise in Vietnam, and many people only learn they are ill when it is already late. Risk factors are not controlled evenly, and access to specialists and new technologies differs between regions.
The experts proposed a more comprehensive assessment of how well blood sugar, blood pressure and blood lipids are controlled; the rate and severity of complications; how closely patients follow their treatment; the burden of disease; and the real-world effectiveness of new medicines and medical devices.
The thyroid and pituitary gland also need attention
Thyroid disease is considered common, but nationwide data are still limited. The experts recommended clarifying the rates of thyroid cancer, goiter, thyroid nodules, autoimmune thyroid disease and thyroid dysfunction in each region, by sex and age group, and standardizing how laboratory tests, ultrasound and fine-needle aspiration are done, as well as how risk levels are classified. The aim is to identify the people who truly need treatment, without missing disease but also avoiding overdiagnosis and unnecessary intervention.
Pituitary diseases and rare endocrine disorders, such as Cushing's disease, pituitary tumors, pituitary insufficiency, high blood prolactin or acromegaly, often progress silently and are easily detected late.
Obesity is a chronic disease, not just a matter of willpower
Overweight, obesity and metabolic disorders are seen as major challenges. The experts stressed that obesity should be regarded as a chronic disease driven by many factors acting together: biological, behavioral, environmental and social, rather than simply a lack of willpower on the patient's part. Obesity is linked to sleep apnea, reproductive disorders, fatty liver, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Care for people with obesity therefore has to be comprehensive and sustained, with the goal of better health, not simply weight loss.
Toward data specific to Vietnamese people
The experts also proposed building a nationwide endocrine research network with a shared approach to data management, standardized procedures for diagnosis and patient follow-up, multidisciplinary teams and training for young researchers. Artificial intelligence is gradually being used in screening, diagnosis and patient management, but it is only truly useful if it helps doctors make more accurate decisions and gives patients fairer care wherever they live. What matters most, according to the experts, is change in practice: one more person diagnosed early, one more complication prevented.
Trusted clinic for diabetes in Ho Chi Minh City
Ky Hoa Medical Center has nearly 20 years of experience in medical care in Ho Chi Minh City, with a team of highly qualified doctors and a careful, transparent way of working. For diabetes, our Internal Medicine doctors take time to listen, examine carefully and explain clearly so that you fully understand your condition, then agree together on a treatment and follow-up plan.
Laboratory tests is performed on site, so you can complete check-ups in one place, which makes follow-up visits easier.
The center operates under Operating License No. 00449/HCM-GPHĐ, with a list of medical techniques approved by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health (Decision 471/QĐ-SYT), and is a primary care facility contracted with Ho Chi Minh City Social Security, accepting health insurance (BHYT) visits on Saturdays as well. The practising certificates of our 24 doctors are published on our Doctors page.
Even if your weight is normal, regular health checkups help detect diabetes and other metabolic disorders early. You can come to Ky Hoa Medical Center for an Internal Medicine consultation or a general checkup: simply walk in during opening hours and take a queue number. The doctor will order suitable laboratory tests.
Ky Hoa Medical Center
Address: 266A - 268 3 Thang 2 Street, Hoa Hung Ward, Ho Chi Minh City
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, 6:30 - 11:30 and 13:00 - 17:00 (closed on Sunday)
Hotline: 028.3868.1097
Source: Suc Khoe & Doi Song (Health & Life) newspaper