Health
Diabetes surging in U.S.
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted July 21, 2008
Diabetes now affects nearly 24 million people in the United States, an increase of more than 3 million in approximately two years, according to the new 2007 prevalence data estimates released June 24 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
This means that nearly 8% of the U.S. population has diabetes.
In addition to the 24 million with diabetes, another 57 million people are estimated to have pre-diabetes, a condition that puts them at increased risk for the disease.
As has been the case in previous years, disparities exist among ethnic groups and minority populations, with the rate of diagnosed diabetes highest among Native Americans and Alaska Natives, at 16.5%. This was followed by blacks, at 11.8%, then Hispanics, at 10.4%.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/07/21/hlbf0721.htm.
