Doctors from a hospital in Mudanjiang, Heilongjiang province screen children for congenital heart disease on June 27 in Khangmar county, Xizang autonomous region. [Photo by Su Dan for China News Service]

Fifteen years after returning from the Xizang autonomous region, endocrinologist Li Naishi is still devoted to the treatment and prevention of diabetes in the region.

Li helped establish the endocrinology department at the Xizang Autonomous Region People's Hospital in Lhasa, the best medical facility in Xizang, where he trained local doctors to deal with common endocrine diseases. Li also helped spread awareness about diabetes among the public.

He is one of thousands of experts who have brought change to the region over the past three decades, as participants in a national program to aid Xizang.

Li, from Peking Union Medical College Hospital in Beijing, volunteered to work at the hospital in Lhasa from June to September 2009 as a member of a visiting medical team.

At the time, knowledge about diabetes among the local population was low, despite the incidence of the disease rising due to rapid economic development and traditional dietary habits, he said.

"Their diet is unique, with very high-calorie content in food such as highland barley and butter tea. Besides, they went from everyone not eating enough to having enough food thanks to improved transportation due to the Qinghai-Xizang Railway."

There were a lot of overweight people and diabetics. However, many were unaware they had had diabetes for years, and did not seek medical help until they felt sick.

At that time, the hospital didn't have an endocrinology department.

Li was responsible for the hospital's diabetes patients, some of whom were very young.

"Diabetes can lead to severe chronic complications such as retinal detachment and blindness. It affects the kidneys, causing renal failure. Diabetes cannot be cured. Without proper control and a change of lifestyle, complications can arise within a decade," he said.