Shanghai, China, Has the Lowest Confirmed Incidence of Childhood Diabetes in the World

To determine the incidence of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in 0- to 14-year-old children in Shanghai, China, from 1980 to 1991.

Data were collected from hospitals with pediatric departments. The secondary source of validation was primary and middle schools.

The average crude annual incidence rate was 0.61/100,000 (95% confidence interval, 0.48–0.77). The ascertainment-corrected incidence rates were 0.72/100,000 (0.57–0.91).

The incidence of childhood diabetes in Shanghai, China, was one of the lowest, if not the lowest, in the world.