Number of Americans
with diabetes continues to increase
Diabetes now affects nearly 21 million Americans – or 7
percent of the U.S. population – and more than 6 million of
those people do not know they have diabetes, according to
the latest prevalence data released by the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This number represents
an additional 2.6 million people with diabetes since 2002.
Another 41 million people are estimated to have
pre-diabetes, a condition that increases the risk of
developing type 2 diabetes – the most common form of the
disease – as well as heart disease and stroke.
“Diabetes is a leading cause of adult blindness, lower-limb
amputation, kidney disease and nerve damage. Two-thirds of
people with diabetes die from a heart attack or stroke,”
said Dr. Frank Vinicor, director of CDC’s diabetes program.
Highlights of the fact sheet:
Diabetes continues to be the sixth leading cause of death in
the United States.
In
2005, 1.5 million people aged 20 years or older will be
newly diagnosed with diabetes.
Compared to non-Hispanic whites, diabetes continues to be
more common (1.7 to 2.2 times more common) among American
Indians and Alaska Natives, non-Hispanic blacks,
Hispanic/Latino Americans, and Asian Americans and Pacific
Islanders.
The
risk of diabetes increases with age. About 21 percent of
Americans aged 60 years or older have diabetes. This
compares to approximately 2 percent for people 20 to 39
years old and about 10 percent for those aged 40-59 years.
The
United States spends approximately $132 billion each year on
diabetes – $92 billion in direct medical costs and another
$40 billion each year in indirect costs because of missed
work days or other losses in productivity.
The
2005 National Diabetes Fact Sheet – a report that summarizes
the latest estimates of Americans with both diagnosed and
undiagnosed diabetes – is being issued to coincide with
National Diabetes Month in November. The fact sheet is a
collaborative effort involving CDC and the National Diabetes
Education Program and other organizations in the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services, including the
Agency for Health Research and Quality, the Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Health Resources and
Services Administration, the Indian Health Service, the
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney
Diseases and the Office of Minority Health. The American
Diabetes Association, the American Association of Diabetes
Educators, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
International, and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs are
also partners in the National Diabetes Fact Sheet.
The
data in the updated 2005 National Diabetes Fact Sheet will
help national, state, and local health officials understand
the health and economic burden of diabetes and better direct
efforts to reach populations hardest hit by the disease.
“Recent studies have shown that people with pre-diabetes can
successfully prevent or delay the onset of diabetes by
losing 5 percent to 7 percent of their body weight. This can
be accomplished through 30 minutes or more of physical
activity most days of the week and by following a low
calorie, low fat eating plan, including a diet rich in whole
grains and fruits and vegetables,” Dr. Vinicor said.
The
2005 National Diabetes Fact Sheet is available at
www.cdc.gov/diabetes.