Living with Diabetes
- There are 23.6 million children and adults in the United States, or 7.8% of the
population, who have diabetes.
- While an estimated 17.9 million have been diagnosed with diabetes, unfortunately
5.7 million people (or nearly one quarter) are unaware that they have the disease.
- Pre-diabetes is a condition that occurs when a person's blood glucose levels are
higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. There
are 57 million Americans who have pre-diabetes, in addition to the 23.6 million
with diabetes.
- Type 1 diabetes results from the body's failure to produce insulin, the hormone
that "unlocks" the cells of the body, allowing glucose to enter and fuel
them. It is estimated that 5-10% of Americans who are diagnosed with diabetes have
type 1 diabetes.
- Type 2 diabetes results from insulin resistance (a condition in which the body fails
to properly use insulin), combined with relative insulin deficiency. Most Americans
who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 2 diabetes.
- Gestational diabetes occurs during or after pregnancy; 5% to 10% of women are found
to have gestational diabetes, usually type 2.
- Diabetes is the fifth-deadliest disease in the United States; since 1987 the death
rate due to diabetes has increased by 45%, while the death rates due to heart
disease, stroke and cancer have declined.
SOURCE: American Diabetes Association
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