Diabetes is having a serious impact on young and middle-aged people in China where the average age of diabetics is less than that of developed countries, according to a Chinese diabetes expert.

 

"Diabetes patients aged between 40 and 59 are increasing in China while diabetics are mostly aged between 60 to 69 in developed countries," said Guo Xiaohui, head of the Endocrinology Department in Beijing University People's Hospital.

 

"Although no exact statistics are available we’re seeing younger diabetes patients and even some children with acquired diabetes," said Guo, who is also a member of the Diabetes Branch under the Chinese Medical Association in Beijing.

 

"One of my diabetes patients is only 11-years-old," said Xing Xiaoyan, an endocrinology professor with the China-Japan Friendship Hospital in Beijing.

 

China had 23.8 million diabetics aged between 20-79 in 2003 and is expected to have 46.1 million by 2025, according to a report by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF).

 

Over 18.8 billion yuan (US$ 2.4 billion) is spent on treatment of diabetes in China every year, according to Xing.

 

An unhealthy diet and lack of exercise are to blame, said Ji Linong, deputy director of the Diabetes Branch.

 

The disease currently affects about 200 million people worldwide and the number is expected to reach 350 million by 2025 with the majority of the cases occurring in developing countries, according to the IDF.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 14, 2006)