Diabetes Mellitus is a long term condition that affects the body’s ability to process glucose. How many Americans have diabetes and prediabetes ? Read some of the facts about diabetes.

Diabetes in USA key facts

  • The medical name for any form of diabetes that causes high blood sugar levels is Diabetes Mellitus
  • There are 3 main types of diabetes: type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes
  • 90% of people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes
  • Type 1 diabetes is sometimes called juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes
  • People with type 2 diabetes can remain undiagnosed for many years
  • Poorly managed diabetes leads to serious complications and early death

Diabetes in the USA according to the ADA (as of 2013):

  • Almost 26 million people in the USA have been diagnosed with diabetes
  • Approximately 7.9 million people in the USA have undiagnosed type 2 diabetes
  • The economic cost of diabetes in the USA is estimated at $245 billion per year
  • 1/3 of American adults are predicted to have diabetes by 2050, according to present trends

Diabetes worldwide:

  • Diabetes affects around 370 million adults worldwide
  • The global diabetes rate is expected to grow to 552 million by 2030, or 9.9% of the adult population
  • Diabetes is rapidly increasing in low- and middle-income countries
  • China has the largest diabetes population, with 90 million diabetes sufferers, followed by India (61.3m) and the USA (23.7m)
  • Africa is projected to see the largest growth in diabetes prevalence between now and 2030, with rates forecast to rise from 14.7 million to 28 million (90% increase)

Diabetes history

  • Diabetes was given its name by the Greek Physician Aretaeus (30-90CE), but the history of the disease can be dated back to ancient Egypt!
  • World Diabetes Day is on November 14th every year

For more information please see – A Leading Cause of Death in the U.S.