Endocrinol Metab.  2025 Feb;40(1):57-63. 10.3803/EnM.2024.2193.

Evolving Characteristics of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in East Asia

• Lee J
• Yoon KH

• KMID: 2565251
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3803/EnM.2024.2193

Abstract

In East Asians, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is primarily characterized by significant defects in insulin secretion and comparatively low insulin resistance. Recently, the prevalence of T2DM has rapidly increased in East Asian countries, including Korea, occurring concurrently with rising obesity rates. This trend has led to an increase in the average body mass index among East Asian T2DM patients, highlighting the influence of insulin resistance in the development of T2DM within this group. Currently, the incidence of T2DM in Korea is declining, which may indicate potential adaptive changes in insulin secretory capacity. This review focuses on the changing epidemiology of T2DM in East Asia, with a particular emphasis on the characteristics of peak functional β-cell mass.

Keyword

Diabetes mellitus, type 2; Insulin secretion; Insulin resistance; Asia, eastern; Prevalence; Incidence

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Evolving characteristics of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in East Asia. East Asian patients with T2DM have traditionally been characterized by low functional β-cell mass. However, over the past few decades, environmental changes early in life may have mitigated the rising incidence of T2DM in this population, likely by increasing their peak β-cell mass. In addition to these early-life environmental changes, the growing proportion of foreign residents is expected to reshape the epidemiological landscape of T2DM in East Asia.

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