About diabetes
Diabetes is a long-term condition in which blood sugar is too high. Type 2 diabetes, linked to insulin resistance, is by far the most common; type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition that requires insulin. Rarer forms include genetic (monogenic) diabetes and diabetes caused by other hormone disorders.
Symptoms
Thirst, frequent urination, tiredness, blurred vision, slow-healing wounds and weight loss. Many people with type 2 diabetes have no symptoms for years, so testing is important for those at risk.
Diagnosis
Fasting glucose, HbA1c or an oral glucose tolerance test confirm diabetes. Specialists may add antibody tests, C-peptide and genetic tests to clarify the type, and screen the eyes, kidneys, nerves and heart for complications.
Treatment in China
- Modern medicines, including metformin, SGLT2 inhibitors, GLP-1 receptor agonists and insulin, with continuous glucose monitoring.
- Assessment of unusual diabetes, including genetic testing and evaluation for other endocrine disorders.
- Complication care with ophthalmology, nephrology, cardiology and diabetic foot teams.
- Metabolic surgery for selected patients with obesity.
- Integrated traditional Chinese medicine for symptom support, as an addition to standard care.
Why patients choose China
Ruijin Hospital’s endocrinology program, led by academician Ning Guang, has run some of the largest population studies of diabetes in China. At Guang’anmen Hospital, academician Tong Xiaolin is known for integrating traditional Chinese medicine into the management of diabetes and its complications.
Top hospitals in China for Endocrinology
Fudan 2023 reputation score · bars are relative to the leader in this specialty.
- 1 Ruijin Hospital Shanghai 10.5
- 2 Peking Union Medical College Hospital Beijing 10.1
- 3 Chinese PLA General Hospital (301 Hospital) Beijing 6.3
- 4 Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University Changsha 4.6
- 5 First Hospital of China Medical University Shenyang 4.0
- 6 Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Shanghai 3.9
- 7 West China Hospital, Sichuan University Chengdu 3.8
- 8 Shandong Provincial Hospital Jinan 3.7
- 9 First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University Guangzhou 2.3
- 10 Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University Shanghai 1.8
Nominated hospitals (22)
- Beijing Hospital (National Center of Gerontology)Beijing
- Nanjing Drum Tower HospitalNanjing
- Xinqiao Hospital, Army Medical UniversityChongqing
- Xiangya Hospital, Central South UniversityChangsha
- Peking University First HospitalBeijing
- Qilu Hospital of Shandong UniversityJinan
- Peking University Third HospitalBeijing
- Peking University People’s HospitalBeijing
- Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical CollegeWuhan
- Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao UniversityQingdao
- Tianjin Medical University General HospitalTianjin
- Jiangsu Province Hospital (First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University)Nanjing
- Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen UniversityGuangzhou
- Huashan Hospital, Fudan UniversityShanghai
- Wuhan Union Hospital, Tongji Medical CollegeWuhan
- First Hospital of Jilin UniversityChangchun
- Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhou
- First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou UniversityZhengzhou
- First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical UniversityChongqing
- Chu Hsien-I Memorial Hospital (Metabolic Diseases Hospital), Tianjin Medical UniversityTianjin
- Shanghai General Hospital (Shanghai First People’s Hospital)Shanghai
- First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong UniversityXi’an
Hospitals to consider
Peking Union Medical College Hospital
- Fudan 2023
- #1 Allergy
- #1 Critical care medicine
Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital
- Fudan 2023
- #2 Orthopedics
Specialists
- Endocrine and metabolic diseases
- Diabetes
- Large population studies of diabetes and its risk factors
- Endocrine disorders
- Metabolic diseases
Frequently asked questions
Why would someone with diabetes travel to China?
Most diabetes care is best done close to home. Travel can make sense for a comprehensive assessment when diabetes is hard to control, when the type is unclear (for example a suspected genetic form), or for specialist review of complications.
Is traditional Chinese medicine used for diabetes?
At hospitals such as Guang’anmen Hospital, traditional Chinese medicine is used alongside standard treatment to manage symptoms and complications. It does not replace insulin or other prescribed diabetes medicines.