At the 75th anniversary of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), the IDF 2025 World Diabetes Congress was held in Bangkok, Thailand, from April 7 to 10. Under the theme "Shape the Future of Diabetes", the conference brought together top multidisciplinary scholars from around the world for in-depth discussions focused on diabetes.
During the conference, Academician Ning Guang, President of Ruijin Hospital affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, was invited to deliver a keynote presentation. He and his team unveiled their latest research findings on the international stage, drawing widespread attention.
Part 01: The BPROAD Study
Intensive Blood Pressure Control Significantly Reduces Risk of Heart Failure in Diabetic Patients
In his presentation titled “Hypertension and Its Role in Heart Failure Appearance in Diabetes”, Academician Ning Guang systematically elaborated on the mechanisms linking diabetes and heart failure, and the importance of blood pressure management. He noted that heart failure has become a common complication in diabetic patients, and that diabetes and hypertension are closely related due to shared risk factors.
Although the American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends stage-specific screening and diagnosis strategies for heart failure, there remains ongoing debate over the optimal systolic blood pressure (SBP) target for patients with type 2 diabetes. To address this gap, Ning Guang’s team led a nationwide, multicenter, outcome-assessor-blinded randomized controlled trial. The study enrolled 12,821 patients with type 2 diabetes from mainland China who had elevated SBP and increased cardiovascular risk. Participants were randomly assigned to either an intensive treatment group (SBP target <120 mmHg) or a standard treatment group (SBP target <140 mmHg), and followed for up to five years.
The results showed a significantly lower incidence of major endpoint events (a composite of non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke, heart failure treatment or hospitalization, and cardiovascular death) in the intensive group compared to the standard group (1.65 vs. 2.09 events per 100 person-years; hazard ratio 0.79; 95% CI: 0.69–0.90; P<0.001). This study provides important evidence to guide blood pressure management in diabetic patients.
Part 02: The MMC Model
An Innovative Paradigm for Metabolic Disease Management in China
Academician Ning also introduced the practices of the National Standardized Metabolic Disease Management Center (MMC). Since its pilot launch in 2016, 1,452 MMCs have been established nationwide, collectively managing around 2.5 million diabetes patients. Through standardized and digitalized management, the rate of patients achieving target HbA1c levels (<7%) improved from 22.7% to 53.2%, significantly enhancing the prevention and control of metabolic diseases.
Academician Ning Guang with Prof. Shambo Samrat Samajdar
Academician Ning Guang with Prof. Luc Van Gaal from Belgium
Part 03: International Collaboration
Jointly Shaping a New Blueprint for Diabetes Prevention in the Asia-Pacific
During the conference, Academician Ning led a delegation to visit Mahidol University’s Ramathibodi Hospital in Thailand. He held in-depth discussions with Dean Prof. Rrtit Ungkanont on topics such as metabolic disease research, talent cultivation, and community health management. Both sides explored the potential for jointly developing a digital health collaboration network under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, with the goal of promoting the standardization and technological innovation of diabetes care in the Asia-Pacific region. They agreed that strengthening international collaboration and fostering multidisciplinary cooperation are key to addressing global health challenges such as diabetes.
Academician Ning Guang’s presentations and international exchanges not only showcased China’s innovative achievements in the field of diabetes and heart failure, but also contributed Chinese wisdom to the global management of metabolic diseases. Experts at the conference remarked, “The BPROAD study fills an important evidence gap regarding intensive blood pressure targets in Asian populations, while the MMC model sets a benchmark for managing chronic diseases in regions with uneven resources.”
