Diabetes Journals

China is officially known as “People's Republic of China” is a world’s most populous country with over 1.381 billion population. China is the world's second largest state by land area and either the third or fourth-largest by total area. The iconic Great Wall of China fortification runs east-west across the country's north.

China is bordered in the east by the East China Sea, Korea Bay, Yellow Sea, Bohai Sea, Taiwan Strait, and South China Sea, and shares land borders with a total of 14 countries in the north, south and west. By area with a landmass of 9.63 million square kilometres and its coastline along the Pacific Ocean is about 14,500 kilometres long, and is bounded by the Bohai, Yellow, East and South China Seas. The territory of China lies between latitudes 18° and 54° N, and longitudes 73° and 135° E. The territory of China lies between latitudes 18° and 54° N, and longitudes 73° and 135° E.

China's economy is the largest in the world, with a 2014 PPP GDP of US$17.617 trillion. In 2013, its PPP GDP per capita was US$12,880, while its nominal GDP per capita was US$7,589. China has become of the world's biggest sources for research and development personnel. In recent decades science and technology have developed rapidly in China. Between 2000 and 2008, the number of engineers and scientists more than doubled to 1.59 million. In 2009 alone, China produced over 10,000 Ph.D. engineering graduates, and as many as 500,000 BSc graduates in engineering, mathematics, information technology, and computer science – more than any other country.

Diabetes has become a major public health crisis in China, with an annual projected cost of 360 billion RMB (almost 60 billion USD) by 2030. Recent health system reforms have resulted in remarkable successes in other areas of medicine in China. In addition to affecting the growing elderly population, type 2 diabetes increasingly affects young people, with the combined effect being enormous tolls on productivity and health-care systems. This Series in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology examines the unique aspects of the diabetes epidemic in China and outlines potential public health strategies such as targeted screening, improved prevention and access to care, and community support that could help to manage diabetes in China as the health system continues to evolve.