To address the relationship between the proportions of carbohydrates and fat and hyperglycaemia in the Chinese population.

A cross-section research involving data from the China Health and Nutrition Survey in 2009, and nutritional status and health indicators were mainly focused.

China.

8197 Chinese individuals aged over 16 years, including 1345 subjects who had a low-carbohydrate and high-fat diet, 3951 individuals who had a medium proportion of carbohydrate and fat diet, 2660 participants who had a high-carbohydrate and low-fat diet and 241 people who had a very-high-carbohydrate and low-fat diet.

Subjects with the high-carbohydrate and low-fat diet were significantly associated with an increased risk of hyperglycaemia (OR: 1·142; 95 % CI: 1·022, 1·276) when compared with the individuals with the medium proportion of carbohydrate and fat diet. Meanwhile, people with a very-high-carbohydrate and low-fat diet had a higher risk of hyperglycaemia (OR: 1·829; 95 % CI: 1·377, 2·429). In contrast, the association between participants with a low-carbohydrate and high-fat diet and hyperglycaemia was NS (OR: 1·082; 95 % CI: 0·942, 1·243) with adjusting a series of confounding factors. Furthermore, people with a very-high-carbohydrate and low-fat diet were significantly associated with a higher risk of hyperglycaemia in the major energy levels and social characteristics subgroup.

We found the high-carbohydrate and low-fat and very-high-carbohydrate and low-fat diets were significantly associated with a high risk of hyperglycaemia. And, the association between low-carbohydrate and high-fat diets and the risk of hyperglycaemia was NS.