In the U.S. in 2005, 20.8 million people of all ages or 7 percent of the population had diabetes. Of those, 14.6 million were diagnosed and 6.2 million
Thursday, March 1, 2007
- In the U.S. in 2005, 20.8 million people of all ages — or 7 percent of the population — had diabetes. Of those, 14.6 million were diagnosed and 6.2 million were undiagnosed.
- Diabetes was the sixth leading cause of death listed on U.S. death certificates in 2002.
- Overall, the risk for death among people with diabetes is about twice that of people without diabetes of similar age.
- Heart disease and stroke account for about 65 percent of deaths in people with diabetes.
- The risk for stroke is two to four times higher among people with diabetes.
- Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults aged 20-74 years.
- Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure, accounting for 44 percent of new cases in 2002.
- More than 60 percent of non-traumatic lower-limb amputations occur in people with diabetes.
- Studies in the U.S. and abroad have found that improved glycemic control benefits people with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes.
- Blood pressure control reduces the risk of cardiovascular
disease (heart disease or stroke) among people with diabetes by 33
to 50 percent.
— Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
