P R E S S   R E L E A S E

         CUHK has pioneered a series of diabetes research projects since 1989. Based on a study of 1,500 subjects of working age (30-65), the prevalence of diabetes was 4.5 %, increasing from 1.5% amongst subjects aged less than 40 to 10% in those aged 60 or more.  Less than 30% have been previously diagnosed.  Usually, diabetes mellitus is regarded as an aging and lifestyle disease, closely related to obesity and physical inactivity.  The CUHK study reveals that it has a strong genetic background, particularly amongst patients with young onset ( before 40 years of age).  More worrying, there is a trend showing increasing number of young onset.  Amongst 3,427 diabetic patients attending the Prince of Wales Hospital, 28% have diabetes diagnosed before the age of 40.  The mean age of newly diagnosed patients is 50 years (compared with 57 years in 1990). The study also found genetic factors are closely related to young onset diabetes. 56% of patients with young onset have positive family history ( affecting at least one core family member such as sibling, child, parent) compared with 40% in the older onset group.

         Amongst 1,803 subjects with risk factors for diabetes including family history, gestational diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure and high blood fat levels, the relative risk is 6 times higher in subjects with one risk factor than those with no risk factor.  The risk increases to 50 times in those with all 5 risk factors.

         14% of young patients with a positive family history have genetic defects.  Of the 41 families
of young diabetic patients, 37 families have at least one other affected member.  Amongst these 145 family members who have been screened, over a half have either diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance.  39% have diabetes, of these, only 29% have been previously diagnosed.  12% have impaired glucose tolerance (10% will progress to develop diabetes each year).

          For diabetes, high blood glucose and duration of disease are the main factors for diabetic complications.  High blood glucose on a long term basis (e.g. >5 years) will destroy blood vessels and lead to widespread organ failure.  Young patients face long duration of disease (usually over 20 years) and can have severe complications in their late middle age.  It is found that 40% of hospital admissions are related to diabetes; diabetes is also associated with many other illnesses: 30% of patients on dialysis programs, 30% of patients with heart disease, 30% of patients with stroke, 90% of patients with non traumatic leg amputation have diabetes.  30% of diabetic patients attending hospital clinics have eye complications, 50% have high blood pressure, high blood fat and/or increased albumin in the urine.

         "Diabetes is an epidemic and growing massive public health problem.  Dedicated health care and research personnel are needed to contain this health care time bomb.  Screening for diabetes in high risk individuals and optimal control of blood glucose and other cardiovascular risk factors in diabetic patients will definitely prevent the onset and progression of many diabetic complications," said Dr Juliana Chan Chung-ngor, Associate Professor of the Department of Medicine & Therapeutics, CUHK.

         Since genetic factors play a critical role in the development of the disease, especially in young patients, finding the genes will help to identify the exact cause of diabetes and its potential cure.  CUHK is using the state-of-the-art genome search technique to search for the genetic causes of diabetes.