The average incidence rate of juvenile diabetes in Wuhan (People's Republic of China) between 1971 and 1985 was 0.6/10(5) in children less than 14 years of age. This incidence rate is close to that observed in Japan but seven times lower than the French rate and much lower than the incidence rate in other occidental countries. This is the second study to show a lower incidence rate of juvenile diabetes among Asian populations as opposed to occidental populations. However, interpretation of the results must be cautious with regard to the method of data collection.