Study: Diabetes on rise in China

Prevalence of diabetes increased significantly in China from 2013 to 2018 and will likely continue to expand in years ahead, as more people engage in unhealthy lifestyles driven by social changes and COVID-19.

In 2013, 10.9 percent of adults in China had diabetes, while in 2018 the number had increased to 12.4 percent, according to a study published on Tuesday in JAMA, a top international biomedical journal.

The high prevalence of overweight and obesity, combined with unhealthy lifestyles, exacerbate diabetes and its complications in China, the study said. But rates of awareness, treatment and management of the disease remained low: In 2018, only one-third of patients were aware of their condition and less than one-third received treatment.

The study also found that Chinese adults' self-reported behavioral risk factors that lead to diabetes did not improve substantially, while some became worse during the period. 

For example, the excess intake of red meat increased from 32.6 percent to 42.3 percent, while those reporting insufficient physical activity increased from 16 percent to 22 percent. 

Obesity and overweight rates also increased. Based on the body mass index, obesity in China grew from 14.1 percent to 16.5 percent in the 2013-18 period, the study found. In 2018, more than 50 percent of Chinese adults were overweight or obese.

The study analyzed nationally representative data collected from about 344,000 subjects. The findings have significant implications for the clinical and public health sectors.

"The prevalence of diabetes will continue to go up, and may even go up faster in the next a few years, given the shift in lifestyles and the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on people's lives," said Wang Youfa, professor and dean of the Global Health Institute at Xi'an Jiaotong University, who was an author of the study.

"For instance, people have less outdoor activity and physical activity, eat a more unhealthy diet and may receive fewer medical services including health screenings, because of the pandemic," Wang said.

Experts suggest offering more health examination services and public education to improve awareness and treatment of diabetes as good solutions.

According to the study, about half the people who received treatment for diabetes had their blood sugar level controlled adequately. Men had significantly lower awareness and treatment rates than women. Among rural residents, the awareness, treatment and management rates have improved but remained low.

The management of diabetes patients should be strengthened, especially for people with chronic conditions in rural health service institutions. Specific focus should be given to high-risk groups, such as men and the elderly, to achieve the goals of the country's Healthy China 2030 development strategy, the study said.

The study was conducted by researchers from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Qinghai University and Qatar University.