Diabetes-related fatalities in China

Reports from China have highlighted fatal complications arising from diabetes and obesity in two separate cases.

In Zhengzhou, a 15-year-old boy died following rapid onset of diabetic ketoacidosis and multi-organ failure. Medical records indicated his blood glucose levels exceeded 33.3 mmol/L. The teenager, who weighed 107 kg at age 14, was categorized as having severe obesity. While his family attempted to manage his weight by increasing vegetable consumption, medical experts noted that certain vegetables may contain high levels of starch, sugar, or energy depending on preparation.

In a separate incident, a 30-year-old man identified as Mr. Wang died from hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state after collapsing at his workplace. His blood glucose was recorded at 35 mmol/L, more than five times the normal limit. Doctors determined the cause of death was a hyperosmolar coma, a complication involving severe dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and brain damage that carries a mortality rate of 20% to 30%.

Medical professionals linked Mr. Wang’s condition to a decade of severe obesity, weighing over 100 kg, which led to insulin resistance. Family members noted that Mr. Wang had been thin ten years prior but experienced uncontrolled weight gain following an emotional shock. His lifestyle involved a long-term dietary pattern of daily breakfasts consisting of soft drinks, fried foods, and burgers. Dr. Wang Xiaoli from the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University warned that high consumption of unhealthy fats and chemical sugars is a direct path to diabetes and fatal complications.