Nearly 1 in 6 adults in the US has diabetes – and about 25% of them don’t know it, a new report shows.
The percentage of adults with diabetes increased from 15.8% to 15.8% between 2021 and 2023 9.7% in 1999 to 2000according to facts The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced this on Wednesday.
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There are two types of diabetes. Type 1 is an autoimmune disease that causes the immune system to attack cells that produce insulin. People with type 2 diabetes produce insulin, but their cells have difficulty responding to it. About 95% of people have diabetes have type 2.
The new CDC report shows that diabetes is more common in men (18%) than in women (13.7%).
In line with previous research, diabetes rates rose alongside obesity rates: 24.1% of obese people have diabetes, compared to 12.3% of overweight people who have not been diagnosed as obese. Just under 7% of other adults have the disease.
The incidence of both types of diabetes also increased with age. While 3.6% of people under the age of 40 have the disease, 12.1% of people between the ages of 40 and 59 and 61% of people over the age of 60 have the disease, according to the report.
The number of diabetes patients decreased as the level of education increased. Nearly 20% of people with diabetes have a high school diploma. Just under 11% of people with diabetes have a college degree, the report found.
To collect data for the new report, CDC researchers interviewed a representative sample of the U.S. population and conducted health surveys and laboratory tests at mobile centers between August 2021 and August 2023.
Signs of diabetes
Early detection and treatment of diabetes can help prevent people from developing other health complications, including cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease and foot and skin problems. American Diabetes Association. Sometimes the early symptoms of diabetes are so mild that they go unnoticed. Signs and symptoms of the disease include:
• Frequent urination
• Feeling very thirsty
• Feeling very hungry even when you eat
• Extreme fatigue
• Blurred vision
• Cuts/bruises that heal slowly
• Weight loss – even though you eat more (type 1)
• Tingling, pain or numbness in the hands/feet (type 2)
How to prevent type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is typically caused by prediabetes — when blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not enough to cause a type 2 diagnosis, according to the CDC. But because prediabetes usually doesn’t cause symptoms, most people don’t realize they have it.
People at higher risk for prediabetes include those who are 45 years or older, are overweight, have high blood pressure, have had gestational diabetes, or have a family history of type 2 diabetes. Latino, Black, Asian American and Native American people are also at greater risk.
Making lifestyle changes can prevent or delay the development of type 2 diabetes. The CDC recommends that people with prediabetes work with trained lifestyle coaches who can help them eat healthier, add exercise to their daily routines, and make progress.