Across China: Beijing

Northern disease

A survey of 634 patients in 14 hospitals in seven provinces and two municipalities showed that people living north of the Yangtze River are more likely to suffer diabetes-induced foot ulcers.

It also found that diabetics in the north are more likely to have aggravated local ulcers, a greater risk of coronary heart disease and suffer eye disease. The reason was that northerners eat more sugar, a doctor said.