"I don't eat right" is the first reason why China has become a major diabetes country.

       The incidence of type 2 diabetes in China has exploded in the past few decades, and China has become the world's first major diabetes country, with one in 10 people suffering from diabetes.

      Why is China a big country in diabetes? The researchers answered this question using a study of Chinese health and nutrition data from 1991-2011. The study was published in the October 18, 2017 issue of Diabetes care.

      "Is not eating right" is the leading cause of increased diabetes in China

       The study found that “the wrong food” is the leading cause of the increase in diabetes in China. The main reason is that the intake of whole grains is too small, and there are too many refined foods. In 2011, 37.8 million and 21.8 million diabetic patients were attributed to these two reasons, adding up to 59.6 million.

       In terms of diet, there are 15.8 million, 11.3 million, 9.9 million, 6 million, 3.6 million, and 2.6 million diabetes attributable to dairy products, nuts, fruits, vegetables, fish, and seafood.

       2.8 million, 1.8 million, and 500,000 cases of diabetes can be attributed to increased intake of processed meat, red meat, and sugary drinks.

       The average daily intake of refined grains for residents aged 20 years or older in China has dropped from 442 g per day in 1997 to 348 per day in 2011; the average intake of whole grains has risen from 4 g to 4.6 g per day, which has a good trend.

       Obese country

       Obesity is a big problem. It is estimated that there are 43.8 million diabetic patients in China related to obesity and overweight, accounting for 46.8% of the onset of diabetes.

       From 1991 to 2011, the average BMI of adults aged 20 or older in China rose from 21.7 to 23.5, and it is estimated that it will reach 25.2 by 2031.

       Over the past 30 years, China’s obesity rate has risen sharply, causing 46 million adults to be “obese” and 300 million to be “overweight”. China has now become the world's second largest obese country.

      Physical activity has fallen by 50% in 20 years.

       The average physical activity level of our residents has dropped by almost 50% from 1991 to 2011, from 379 MET-h/week to 190.3 MET-h/week in 2011.

       In 1991 and 2011, the number of diabetic patients attributed to insufficient physical activity was 16.4 million and 29.5 million, an increase of nearly 80%; by 2031, this number will reach 42.4 million.

       High blood pressure and smoking also contribute

       The average systolic blood pressure of Chinese residents increased from 119 mmHg in 1991 to 123 mmHg in 2011. The number of diabetic patients attributed to high systolic blood pressure in 1991 and 2011 was 16.8 million and 21.6 million, respectively, and will reach 30.4 million in 2031.

       In addition, the study also found that in 1991-2011, despite the decline in smoking rates, the number of diabetic patients attributed to current smoking in 2011 still reached 9.8 million.