Hong Kong urges diabetes screening as survey finds 8.5% of adults affected
On World Diabetes Day, Hong Kong's health authorities urged regular screening and healthy lifestyles, citing a survey showing 8.5% of residents aged 15–84 have diabetes or elevated blood glucose. The Centre for Health Protection noted that many cases go undiagnosed, delaying treatment.
The Centre for Health Protection of Hong Kong's Department of Health marked World Diabetes Day on 14 November by reminding the public that diabetes is a leading cause of illness and death in the city. According to the Population Health Survey 2020–2022, 8.5 per cent of non‑hospitalised residents aged 15–84 had diabetes or elevated blood glucose, with type 2 diabetes accounting for 95 per cent of cases.
Risk factors for type 2 diabetes include overweight and obesity, high blood pressure, abnormal blood lipids, a family history of diabetes or a history of gestational diabetes. The centre's director, Dr Edwin Tsui, said: “Diabetes is a common chronic disease characterised by high blood glucose. Many patients have no obvious symptoms in the early stage. As the disease progresses, symptoms such as thirst, frequent urination, increased appetite, weight loss, fatigue and slow‑healing wounds may appear. If not controlled, it can lead to serious consequences including heart disease, stroke, kidney failure and blindness. The risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases is two to four times higher in diabetic patients.”
Dr Tsui added that many residents are unaware they have diabetes, missing the optimal window for treatment. The district health centres and stations, which serve as hubs for primary healthcare, offer screening, management, family doctor matching, health promotion, risk assessment and community rehabilitation for chronic diseases including diabetes.
Dr Pang Fei‑chau, the Commissioner for Primary Healthcare, noted that residents aged 45 or older who have not been diagnosed with diabetes or high blood pressure can join the primary healthcare common governance network through district health centres. Under the Chronic Disease Co‑Care Pilot Scheme, they receive cardiovascular risk screening and management in the private sector on a co‑payment basis. Preliminary analysis by a local university team estimates that participants' health has generally improved, with average glycated haemoglobin falling from 7.8 per cent to 6.7 per cent after 12 months.
The government launched the Weight Management Action Plan in March 2026 to raise public awareness and promote the “10,000 Steps a Day” challenge. The plan, led by an interdepartmental working group, sets out five strategies and 15 targets to be implemented systematically over three years. It adopts a life‑course approach, strengthens the gatekeeper role of primary care, promotes Chinese‑Western medicine collaboration and uses the eHealth platform to integrate health data.
To encourage healthy eating, the Department of Health runs the EatSmart School Programme and the Star EatSmart Restaurant Campaign. Adults are advised to do at least 150–300 minutes of moderate‑intensity aerobic activity or 75–150 minutes of vigorous‑intensity aerobic activity per week. Research shows that each unit increase in body mass index raises the relative risk of type 2 diabetes by 23 per cent.