On March 24, the New England Journal of Medicine revealed that Type-2 diabetes afflicts 92.4 million Chinese adults. More than half of Chinese diabetics have not been formally diagnosed. This total is more than double earlier studies’ calculations, which put the figure closer to 43.2 million Chinese sufferers. India is estimated to have 50.8 million diabetics, according to the International Diabetes Federation. (Boston Globe, 3/26/10)
While Indians are known to have a genetic proclivity for diabetes, the incidence of diabetes in China is a wake-up call. If Type 2 is attributed to a high caloric diet and sedentary lifestyle, one has to question the ultimate extent of diabetes in the world. It could be a lot higher than assumed, and with expectations of healthcare coverage rising in emerging economies, the cost of diabetes treatment could skyrocket.
Charles Hess
