Cited by 5,697Diabetes, Cardiovascular Risks, and LipoproteinsDiabetes Treatment and ManagementDiabetes Management and Research

Global aetiology and epidemiology of type 2 diabetes mellitus and its complications

Zheng, Yan, Ley, Sylvia H., Hu, Frank B.·2018·Nature Reviews Endocrinology

Abstract

Globally, the number of people with diabetes mellitus has quadrupled in the past three decades, and diabetes mellitus is the ninth major cause of death. About 1 in 11 adults worldwide now have diabetes mellitus, 90% of whom have type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Asia is a major area of the rapidly emerging T2DM global epidemic, with China and India the top two epicentres. Although genetic predisposition partly determines individual susceptibility to T2DM, an unhealthy diet and a sedentary lifestyle are important drivers of the current global epidemic; early developmental factors (such as intrauterine exposures) also have a role in susceptibility to T2DM later in life. Many cases of T2DM could be prevented with lifestyle changes, including maintaining a healthy body weight, consuming a healthy diet, staying physically active, not smoking and drinking alcohol in moderation. Most patients with T2DM have at least one complication, and cardiovascular complications are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in these patients. This Review provides an updated view of the global epidemiology of T2DM, as well as dietary, lifestyle and other risk factors for T2DM and its complications.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1038/nrendo.2017.151

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156 of 156 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • Type 2 diabetes mellitus accounts for approximately 90-95% of diabetes mellitus cases worldwide.

    “T2DM accounts for approximately 90–95% of diabetes mellitus cases worldwide26.”

    From The epidemiology of type 1 diabetes mellitus in older adults (2025) · cites this paper as [26]

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Authors
Zheng, Y., Ley, S. H., & Hu, F. B.
Affiliations
  • Harvard University (US)
  • Brigham and Women's Hospital (US)
Corresponding author
Hu, Frank B.
Venue
Nature Reviews Endocrinology
Published
2017-12-08
Volume
14
Issue
2
Pages
88-98
ISSN
  • 1759-5029 (ISSN-L)
  • 1759-5037
OpenAlex
W2774743973
Cited by
5,697
References
156
Citations by year
2026: 476 · 2025: 771 · 2024: 926 · 2023: 899 · 2022: 858 · 2021: 781 · 2020: 596 · 2019: 302 · 2018: 79 · 2013: 1
FWCI
38.95
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Nature Reviews Endocrinology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
American Diabetes Association
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes, Cardiovascular Risks, and Lipoproteins
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes Treatment and Management
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes Management and Research
Keywords
type 2 diabetes, global epidemiology, diabetes complications, cardiovascular complications, risk factors, dietary risk factors, lifestyle risk factors, sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy diet, genetic susceptibility, prenatal exposure, diabetes prevention, body weight, physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, diabetes mortality, Asia
MeSH terms
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2, Diet, Humans, Life Style, Morbidity, Risk Factors, Global Health, Disease Management, Diabetes Complications

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