Diabetes is a chronic, life-altering disorder that can pose daily challenges to those struggling to keep their blood sugar in the normal range. The most serious form, type 1, is an autoimmune disease in which the pancreas stops producing insulin. Multiple daily insulin injections or an insulin pump are needed to manage it. While it affects primarily children and young adults, type 1 diabetes can strike older adults, too.

In type 2 diabetes, the body doesn't make enough insulin or doesn't use it properly. Individuals with type 2 diabetes are frequently overweight or obese, and when they lose weight by eating better and getting regular exercise, their diabetes may improve. There's also a form of diabetes known as gestational diabetes that afflicts some pregnant women.

Here is a look at diabetes by the numbers:

25.8 million: Estimated number of U.S. adults and children who have diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association.

79 million: Estimated number of people living with prediabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association.

7 million: Approximate number of people with diabetes who are unaware that they have the condition.

72.3: Percentage of American men who are overweight or obese.>

18: Percentage of pregnant women who experience gestational diabetes.

1940: Year the nonprofit American Diabetes Association was founded.

$174 billion: The cost of treating diagnosed diabetes (including $58 billion in lost productivity).

15: Percentage of individuals with type 1 diabetes who have a first-degree relative with the disease.

3 million: Number of Americans with type 1 diabetes.

85: Percentage of individuals living with type 1 diabetes who are adults.

 


 

Sources:

Whole Health Source: Ancestral Nutrition and Health
By 2026, the U.S. Diet will be 100 Percent Sugar
http://wholehealthsource.blogspot.com/2012/02/by-2606-us-diet-will-be-100-percent.html

USDA
Dietary Assessment of Major Trends in U.S. Food Consumption, 1970-2005
Wells, Hodan Farah and Buzby, Jean C.
http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/EIB33/EIB33.pdf

American Diabetes Association
Genetics of Diabetes
http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/genetics-of-diabetes.html

American Diabetes Association
Federal Legislative Priorities
http://www.diabetes.org/assets/pdfs/advocacy/federal-legislative.pdf

American Diabetes Association
Diabetes Statistics
http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/diabetes-statistics/?loc=DropDownDB-stats

American Diabetes Association
Gestational Diabetes
http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/prevention/checkup-america/gdm.html

American Diabetes Association
What is Gestational Diabetes?
http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/gestational/what-is-gestational-diabetes.html

JDRF
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
http://www.jdrf.org/index.cfm?page_id=103442

JDRF
Facts Sheets: Type 1 Diabetes Facts
http://www.jdrf.org/index.cfm?page_id=102585

Weight-control Information Network
Overweight and Obesity Statistics
http://win.niddk.nih.gov/statistics/index.htm