Health
Diabetes prevalence increases
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Nov. 14, 2005
Diabetes now affects nearly 21 million people in the United States -- or 7% of the population -- and more than 6 million of them don't know they have diabetes, according to the latest prevalence data released Oct. 26 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
This number represents an additional 2.6 million people with diabetes since 2002, according to the CDC.
Another 41 million people are estimated to have pre-diabetes, a condition that increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes as well as heart disease and stroke.
Also among the data released by the CDC: diabetes continues to be the sixth leading cause of death in the United States; 1.5 million people age 20 or older will be newly diagnosed with diabetes in 2005; compared to non-Hispanic whites, diabetes continues to be more common among American Indians and Alaska Natives, non-Hispanic blacks, Hispanic/Latino Americans, and Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2005/11/14/hlbf1114.htm.
