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Mysteries of type 2 diabetes: the Indian Elephant meets the Chinese Dragon

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 71, pages 805–811 (2017)Cite this article

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China and India offer a compelling country comparison to explore drivers and solutions to the type 2 diabetes epidemic. They are the world’s most populated countries and fastest growing major economies.1, 2, 3 Both countries are also confronting a growing burden of type 2 diabetes.

The prevalence of diabetes has tripled in China and nearly doubled in India in less than two decades.1 China now leads the world in terms of the number of people with diabetes (109.6 million adults (11%)), and India is second with ~69.2 million adults (9%) with diabetes.1 By 2040, the number of people with diabetes in China and India is projected to reach 150.7 million and 123.5 million, respectively.1 Diabetes is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, and given the high health-care expenditures and lost work productivity associated with the disease, it poses a great threat to future economic development.1, 2

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nutrition and Health Sciences Program, Laney Graduate School, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA

    E C Rhodes

  2. Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA

    U P Gujral & K M Narayan

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Rhodes, E., Gujral, U. & Narayan, K. Mysteries of type 2 diabetes: the Indian Elephant meets the Chinese Dragon. Eur J Clin Nutr 71, 805–811 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2017.93

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