**”It is concerning that diabetes is increasingly impacting younger people.”** The tragic case of 36-year-old teacher Ms. Luong highlights how this silent illness can strike unexpectedly—even in those who seem health-conscious.

Ms. Luong began experiencing fatigue, stomach pain, and a rapid heartbeat in late 2020 but avoided the hospital due to her busy schedule. One day, she collapsed in class. **”The hospital diagnosed her with severe diabetes”** after discovering her dangerously high blood sugar. Despite treatment, she fell into a coma and **”di:ed after receiving medical care for eight hours.”**

Her husband was devastated: **“She rarely ate sweets,”** he told doctors. But further investigation showed that her preferred meals—though seemingly healthy—were heavily seasoned and oil-rich. Eggplant cooked in oil and cauliflower fried in lard raised her blood sugar levels and worsened her metabolism. Weighing 65 kg at 1.5 meters tall also placed her at risk.

Doctors warned that other everyday foods can also raise blood sugar: **white bread, French fries, canned soups and sauces, and white rice**. These items are high in refined carbs, sugar, or fat—factors that silently contribute to diabetes.

There’s no cure for diabetes yet—just management. And sadly, in cases like Ms. Luong’s, that management comes too late.