When you hear that 20 million people in the US have diabetes, it may sound like a lot. What it represents is about 9%* of the adult population.
A really staggering figure is the number of Americans with impaired fasting glucose (IFG), a pre-diabetes condition that increases the risk for diabetes down the road, and that by itself has been associated with cardiovascular disease outcomes such as heart attack and stroke.
How many people have IFG? In 2002, about 26% of the adult population, or 54 million Americans. Since IFG usually doesn't cause symptoms, the only way to detect it is through a blood test.
These figures are the result of analysis done by researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Their work appears in the June issue of Diabetes Care.
Some of their other findings:
- Diabetes was more common in people over 65. The prevalence in this group rose to 22%. Almost 40% of them had IFG.
- Diabetes was twice as common in non-Hispanic blacks and Mexican Americans than non-Hispanic whites.
- IFG and undiagnosed diabetes were about 70% more common in men than women.
* 6.5% diagnosed plus 2.8% undiagnosed
For the Diabetes Care, June 2006 article (abstract only):
Prevalence of Diabetes and Impaired Fasting Glucose in Adults in the U.S. Population
For a summary:
One-third Of Adults With Diabetes Still Don't Know They Have It
