China, the country with the most diabetics in the world, has launched a project to train 1,000 community-based diabetes experts in three years.

The project, launched by the Society of Diabetes under the China Medical Association, will be carried out in 20 cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin and Chengdu.

China has 92 million diabetics and 148 million prediabetics. Among the diabetics, only 25 percent have their blood sugar under control and many who don't die from diabetes-related complications.

Ji Linong, president of the Society of Diabetes under the China Medical Association, said the training project would teach community doctors about diabetes, including management of blood glucose and prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes.

It is expected that the community-based experts will help improve the health of diabetics as well as lower the financial burden for them and the government.

(Xinhua News Agency October 5, 2010)