Report: Diabetes and Prediabetes Up, Awareness Down

Now close to 10% of Americans have this serious disease, according to the CDC, but many don’t even know they have it.

More than 29 million persons in the United States (9.3% of the population) have diabetes mellitus (DM), up from the 2010 estimate of 26 million, according to the National Diabetes Statistics Report, 2014, released yesterday by the CDC. Of note, 1 of every 4 persons with the disease is unaware of having it.

In addition, more than 1 in 3 adults have prediabetes. Without weight loss and moderate physical activity, 15% to 30% of persons with prediabetes will have type 2 DM within 5 years, it was noted.

Other key findings from the report (based on health data from 2012), include the following:

• 1.7 million persons aged 20 years or older were newly diagnosed with DM in 2012.

• Non-Hispanic black, Hispanic, and American Indian/Alaska Native adults are about twice as likely to have diagnosed DM as non-Hispanic white adults.

• 208,000 persons younger than 20 years have have received a diagnosis of DM (type 1 or type 2).

• 86 million adults aged 20 years and older have prediabetes.

The percentage of US adults with prediabetes is similar for non-Hispanic whites (35%), non-Hispanic blacks (39%), and Hispanics (38%).

Persons with DM are at increased risk for serious health complications, including vision loss; heart disease; stroke; kidney failure; amputation of toes, feet or legs; and premature death, it was noted.

In addition to its health consequences, DM and its related complications accounted for $245 billion in total medical costs and lost work and wages in 2012, up from $174 billion in 2007.

“These new numbers are alarming and underscore the need for an increased focus on reducing the burden of diabetes in our country,” said Ann Albright, PhD, RD, director of the CDC’s Division of Diabetes Translation. “Diabetes is costly in both human and economic terms. It’s urgent that we take swift action to effectively treat and prevent this serious disease.”

For more information about DM and the CDC’s DM prevention efforts, including evidence-based and cost-effective interventions like the CDC’s National Diabetes Prevention Program, visit www.cdc.gov/diabetes.