<p>The US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr is on a mission to make America healthy again.
 
One of his health-promotion ideas is to reduce chronic illness, specifically diabetes. And has part of his campaign he said that: 
 
"a typical pediatrician would see one case of diabetes in his lifetime, over a 40 or 50 year career. Today, 1 out of every 3 kids who walks through his office door is prediabetic or diabetic. Twenty years ago, there was no diabetes in China, today 50% of the population is diabetic'  
 
Diabetes does carry a huge burden of health, but are his numbers right and how much of a problem is diabetes in the US and around the globe?
 
We speak to diabetes expert and co-author of the Diabetes Atlas, Professor Dianna Magliano to find out more. 
 
Presenter: Tim Harford
Producer: Lizzy McNeill
Series Producer: Tom Colls
Studio Manager: Rod Farquhar
Editor: Richard Vadon</p>

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BBC Radio 4

Is RFK Jr right about China's diabetes rate?

NOV 8, 20258 MIN
More or Less

Is RFK Jr right about China's diabetes rate?

NOV 8, 20258 MIN

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<p>The US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr is on a mission to make America healthy again. One of his health-promotion ideas is to reduce chronic illness, specifically diabetes. And has part of his campaign he said that: "a typical pediatrician would see one case of diabetes in his lifetime, over a 40 or 50 year career. Today, 1 out of every 3 kids who walks through his office door is prediabetic or diabetic. Twenty years ago, there was no diabetes in China, today 50% of the population is diabetic' Diabetes does carry a huge burden of health, but are his numbers right and how much of a problem is diabetes in the US and around the globe? We speak to diabetes expert and co-author of the Diabetes Atlas, Professor Dianna Magliano to find out more. Presenter: Tim Harford Producer: Lizzy McNeill Series Producer: Tom Colls Studio Manager: Rod Farquhar Editor: Richard Vadon</p>