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Experts Call for Vigilance Against Diabetes in the Young, Middleaged

Posted on: Monday, 15 November 2004, 09:00 CST

Experts call for vigilance against diabetes in the young, middle aged

GUANGZHOU, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- With more young and middle-aged Chinese suffering diabetes than ever before, experts are calling for attention against the younger trend of the fatal disease on Sunday, World Diabetes Day.

More than 100 million people suffer diabetes in the world today, 40 percent in China, said Wang He, deputy head of Guangdong Second Provincial Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital and a diabetes specialist.

More than 95 percent of Chinese patients suffer type 2 diabetes, which leads to many complications, especially in the eyes.

Soaring economy has raised people's quality of life in China since the 1990s, which is reflected on the great changes in the people's diets, Wang noted.

With more high-calorie food on the dining table, said the experts, which, in addition to its positive effects, has also triggered a rapid growth of diabetes cases.

In south China's Guangdong province, 3.8 percent of the people are diabetes suffers. Worse, the growth rate of the young and middle- aged patients is twice as high as elder suffers, Wang acknowledged.

Many young people erroneously think that diabetes is only contracted by the elderly, and thus do not pay due attention to it, said the doctor.

With China's increased obesity and high-fat food, however, the disease is also likely to be caught by young people, Wang said.

He said it is essential for the younger generation to raise their alertness level against diabetes, underscoring the necessity of regular checkups and exercise.

Source: Xinhua News Agency - CEIS

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