Diabetes: A Leading Cause of Death in America

In the last 15 years, the number of people in the United States with diagnosed diabetes has more than doubled, reaching 14.6 million in 2005. Although more than 20.8 million Americans have diabetes, 6.2 million do not know they have the disease.

People with diabetes have a shortage of insulin or a decreased ability to use insulin, a hormone that allows glucose (sugar) to enter cells and be converted to energy. When diabetes is not controlled, glucose and fats remain in the blood and, over time, damage vital organs. Diabetes can cause heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney failure, pregnancy complications, lower-extremity amputations, and deaths related to flu and pneumonia. Heart disease is the leading cause of diabetes related deaths, and death rates are about 2–4 times higher for adults with diabetes than for those without the disease. There are two main types of diabetes. Type 1 most often appears during childhood or adolescence. Type 2 diabetes, which is linked to obesity and physical inactivity, accounts for 90%–95% of diabetes cases and most often appears in people older than 40. However, it is now being found in younger people and is even being diagnosed among children and teens.

Diabetes has its greatest effects on older adults, women, and certain racial and ethnic groups. One in five adults over age 65 has diabetes. African American, Hispanic, American Indian, and Alaska Native adults are twice as likely as white adults to have diabetes.

* In addition to the millions of Americans with diabetes, an estimated 41 million U.S. adults aged 40–74 years have prediabetes—that is, their blood sugar level is elevated but is not high enough to be classified as diabetes. People with prediabetes are at high risk for developing diabetes.