Diabetes a Growing Problem in the U.S.

The number of Americans with diabetes has tripled over the last 30 years – and experts see no end to the trend.

In 1980, 6 million Americans had diabetes. That figure had risen to 18 million by 2008. Today, about 24 million Americans have diabetes, but a quarter of them don’t know it yet.

And the CDC predicts that the numbers will continue to rise, until 15 in 1,000 people will have the disease by 2050.

"These are alarming numbers that show how critical it is to change the course of type 2 diabetes," says Ann Albright, Ph.D., director of CDC's Division of Diabetes Translation.

What worries Albright and other health experts are the health problems that this disease will bring to millions of Americans over the coming decades.

Scope of the problem

Why the surge in diabetes? One reason is an aging population. The risk for diabetes rises with advancing age, and the baby boomer generation is swelling the ranks of the retired. People ages 65 and older account for nearly 40 percent of diabetes cases, the CDC says.

Another reason for the increase is an overweight America – more than a third of U.S. adults are overweight or obese. Being overweight or obese increases your risk for developing type 2 diabetes, as does being a couch potato.

(Other risk factors for type 2 diabetes are family history and ethnic background. African-Americans, Hispanic Americans, American Indians, Alaskan Natives, and certain Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders are at higher risk than other ethnic groups.)

Over time, diabetes can cause a constellation of health problems, from heart disease to nerve damage. The disease is the leading cause of new cases of blindness for people younger than 75. It’s also the top cause of kidney failure and preventable leg and foot amputation among U.S. adults.

And the monetary costs of diabetes are high, as well. People with diabetes have health care costs that are more than twice those of people without the disease.

Sensible lifestyle choices

Mary Ann Banerji, M.D., of the Diabetes Treatment Center at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in New York City, says that the burden of diabetes is much greater than many people thought. She urges immediate action.

Eating a healthier diet, getting more physical activity and sleep, and managing stress are all lifestyle changes that can cut the risk for diabetes – and obesity.

“We can make changes in our physical environment to promote greater physical activity, and we should consider changes in national food policy,” says Dr. Banerji.

To address this concern, the CDC has launched a campaign aimed at overweight and obese people. The campaign stresses dietary changes, coping skills, and group support to help people lose 5 to 7 percent of their body weight and rack up at least 150 minutes a week of moderate physical activity.

Always talk with your health care provider to find out more information.