Epidemiology and trends in diabetes in China

Diabetes is a global public health problem, and the epidemic situation of diabetes in China is especially serious. The prevalence of diabetes has been increasing in recent years in China, with the number of cases being the highest in the world. After cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and tumors, diabetes has become an important chronic noncommunicable disease that seriously endangers the health of people. Based on several large-scale epidemiological studies on diabetes in China, a rapidly increasing trend of diabetes is a foregone conclusion, although the diagnostic criteria have changed in the process. Currently, the prevalence of diabetes among adults in China is about 11%, with the estimated number of patients with diabetes being 114 million, and the prevalence of prediabetes is as high as 35% (2010 ADA criteria). Diabetes and its complications seriously affect the patient’s quality of life and life expectancy and lead to significant medical and economic burden to both patients and society. The prevention and control of diabetes in China encompasses significant challenges. This article summarizes the prevalence and trend of diabetes in China and discusses the related risk factors.