Self-treatment mistakes risk permanent knee damage as patients miss timely treatment for underlying conditions.

Patients who rely on broad symptom descriptions and trust social media may mislabel themselves with a disease and self-medicate, which can mask underlying conditions and delay effective treatment—raising the risk of long-term harm and higher costs.

Gout patient’s delayed care leads to severe knee damage

For years, Mr. Ha Xuan Hieu, 39, lived with gout without proper treatment and developed severe damage to his knee joint, nearly losing the ability to walk. During periods of pain, instead of seeking specialist care, he used traditional remedies. His condition did not improve and worsened.

At the Hanoi University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, doctors found complex damage to the left knee joint: the joint was deformed and nearly immobile in flexion and extension. MRI showed long-standing urate crystal deposits in the joint, with inflammation of the synovial membrane and joint locking.

Doctors warned that without timely intervention, the patient risked permanent cartilage destruction, potentially leading to disability or the need for artificial joint replacement at a young age. The treatment team recommended arthroscopic knee surgery to address internal joint damage.

The team said intervention can address existing damage and reduce the risk of needing a joint replacement prematurely. Long-term effectiveness depends on adherence to treatment, regulating blood uric acid levels, and changing lifestyle.

Diabetes patient’s medication changes linked to uncontrolled complications

Mr. D.M., 73, from Hanoi, has nearly 20 years of diabetes and previously had a coronary stent. He was recently found to have multiple serious complications affecting the eyes, kidneys, and peripheral nerves. Despite insulin administered as four injections per day and about 10 other medications, his condition remained poorly controlled.

Dr. Nguyen Quang Bay, Head of Endocrinology and Diabetes at Bach Mai Hospital (Hanoi), said the patient’s history suggests he stopped lipid-lowering medication for more than a month to switch to herbal remedies marketed for lipid disorders.

Critical case highlights risks of stopping treatment

A 59-year-old man was admitted in critical condition with altered consciousness, severe abdominal pain, nausea, ketoacidosis, and acute kidney failure. He had a five-year history of type 2 diabetes. Family members reported that about two months before admission he stopped medications to switch to traditional herbal remedies.

Professional guidance: statins remain foundational in type 2 diabetes

The 2026 updates from major professional associations emphasize the foundational role of statins in treating dyslipidemia in type 2 diabetes. Most patients aged 40–75 are prescribed statins at an intensity appropriate to their cardiovascular risk. For patients with established cardiovascular disease, such as coronary artery disease, high-intensity statin therapy is recommended to significantly reduce LDL-C to very low targets.

Impact and medical advice

Across these cases, doctors emphasized that modern treatment regimens and medications can help control blood glucose and lipids, prevent cardiovascular, renal, and ocular complications, and that managing coexisting diseases is a long process requiring strict adherence. They also stressed that medication changes should be made under medical supervision and not based on scientifically unsupported choices.

Online information can help, but communication is key

Doctors noted that one earlier patient in Hanoi sought information from online sources and tried various home remedies, believing local guidance was sufficient, before eventually seeking hospital care. They said online health information can be useful but is a double-edged sword, and credible advice from qualified professionals remains essential.

They added that the medical profession should improve patient communication—ensuring explanations cover medication use, injections, surgery, and rehabilitation—to better reassure patients.

Role of vaccines in preventive health

Other sections also discuss vaccine roles and broader health topics as part of ongoing public education.