In March, I was commissioned by Panos Pictures and World Health Organization to create a library of images on the topic of Diabetes in Vietnam.
Over the past 10 years, the number of cases, especially those of children, have doubled in the country, making Vietnam one of the most affected countries in the world. Historically being a disease of the more affluent sectors of society, today it affects people from all incomes, and is being linked to the rise of westernization and urbanization here.
I won’t go into a full medical explanation of the disease here, but in short, there are two common types of diabetes. Type 1, previously known as juvenile diabetes occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin, which it needs to extract glucose and energy from the bloodstream. Type 2, the more common variety, takes shape when the body becomes insulin resistant, not properly breaking down the sugar in the blood and causing levels to rise. It can be caused by unhealthy eating habits, thus often affects those with obesity issues or those with other bad habits or lacking physical lifestyles.
Over a few days, we met patients, doctors and preventionists in Hanoi, rural Ha Nam Province and Ho Chi Minh City dealing with the disease on both sides of the court.
I wanted to share a few images, stories and facts that I collected and learned while working on this assignment, in hopes of spreading awareness and knowledge. It was an educational experience to be sure, and has prompted me to be a bit more careful about what goes into my body.
