According to a new study published in the The New England Journal of Medicine, 92.4 million Chinese adults age 20 or older (9.7 percent of the population) have diabetes and 148.2 million more (15.5 percent) have prediabetes. Researchers from Tulane University administered an oral glucose tolerance test to 46,239 adults aged 20 or older from 14 provinces and municipalities throughout China in order to identify cases of previously undiagnosed diabetes.
The researchers found prevalence of diabetes increased with increasing age and with increasing weight. The prevalence of diabetes was higher amongurban residents than among rural residents (11.4% vs. 8.2%).
The researchers conclude that diabetes has becomea major public health problem in China and that strategies aimedat the prevention and treatment of diabetes are needed.
