26 Million Americans Have Diabetes

The seventh leading cause of death in the United States, diabetes costs the nation $174 billion annually, including $116 billion in direct medical expenses.  The US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC; Georgia, USA) reports that nearly 26 million Americans have diabetes, affectsing 8.3% of Americans of all ages, and 11.3% of adults ages 20-plus.  In addition, an estimated 79 million – one-third of the nation’s adult population -- has prediabetes, a condition in which blood sugar levels are elevated, thereby raising a person's risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke.  Half of Americans aged 65 and older have prediabetes, and nearly 27% are diabetic.  The 2011 estimates have increased for several reasons, notably that many people are living longer with diabetes.  Better management of the disease is improving cardiovascular disease risk factors and reducing complications such as kidney failure and amputations.