Diabetes Statistics – How Many People Have It?

Don’t miss these fascinating diabetes statistics. Learn how many people have diabetes and what are all the latest facts and statistics. Where do these figures come from?

From time to time, the National Institute of Health publishes a report detailing the latest Statistics. The information provides an interesting look into the profile of diabetes in America.

The latest report was published in 2011 and also included a startling look at minorities with diabetes. It answers questions like how many people have diabetes and what are the most recent diabetes facts and statistics.

I would note that the report provides a fair amount of diabetes complications related data. This data is given just before the NIH provides a list of healthy living traits that can reduce the incidences of the complications!!

Nothing like a good set up for changing your ways. The moral of the story is: Take care of your health!

I have also compared the 2007 Report with the 2011 Report. What I found was that in just four years, the instances of diabetes has grown tremendously. Also, one big change is that the 2011 report uses fasting blood glucose AND A1C levels to diagnose diabetes. Previously, the 2007 Report only used fasting blood glucose.

How Many People Have Diabetes?

When looking at the following percentage figures, please be aware that the percentage given is for that specific population. For example, for ALL Non-Hispanic Whites, 15.7 million people have diabetes. This represents 10.2% of that specific population (i.e., Non-Hispanic Whites) in the United States, not the percentage of the entire population of the United States.

Total Number of People with Diabetes (All Ages)(diagnosed and undiagnosed):

Pop. = population

2007	2011	Change
23.6 million (7.8% of pop.)	25.8 million (8.3% of pop.)	9.3% increase

Total Diagnosed (all ages):

2007	2011	Change
17.9 million	18.8 million	5% increase

Undiagnosed (all ages):

2007	2011	Change
5.7 million	7 million	22.8% increase

Age 20+ years:

2007	2011	Change
23.5 million (10.7% of pop.)	25.6 million (11.3% of pop.)	8.9% increase

Age 60+ years (2007) and Age 65+ years (2011):

2007	2011	Change
12.2 million (23.1% of pop.)	10.9 million (26.9% of pop.)	NA

Women (all ages):

2007	2011	Change
11.5 million (10.2% of pop.)	12.6 million (10.8% of pop.)	9.57% increase

Non-Hispanic Whites (all ages)

2007	2011	Change
14.9 million (9.8% of pop.)	15.7 million (10.2% of pop.)	5.37% increase

Non-Hispanic Blacks (all ages):

2007	2011	Change
3.7 million (14.7% of pop.)	4.9 million (18.7% of pop.)	32.4% increase

Younger than 20 years:

2007	2011	Change
186,300	215,000	15.4% increase

New Cases:(20+ years old)

2007	2011	Change
1.6 million	1.9 million	18.75% increase

Deaths:

The statistics in this section were not updated by the 2011 Report.

          2006:  Diabetes was the seventh leading cause of death.

          2006:  Only 35-40 percent of decedents with diabetes had it listed on their death certificates, thus diabetes as a cause of death may be under reported.

Complications:

The statistics in this section were not updated by the 2011 Report.

Heart Disease:  In 2004, heart disease was noted on 68 percent of diabetes related death certificates (persons 65+ years). Stroke was noted on 16 percent of diabetes related death certificates (persons 65+ years). Heart and stroke risk is 2-4 times greater for diabetics.

Blindness:  Leading cause of new cases in persons aged 20-74.

Kidney Failure:  Leading cause of kidney failure in 2005, representing 44 percent of all cases.

Dental Disease:   Periodontal disease is more common in diabetics. Those who do not control their diabetes were three times more likely to have severe periodontal disease.

Pregnancy:  Poorly controlled Type 1 diabetes before and after conception can cause major birth defects.

Misc.:  Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to chemical imbalances possibly resulting in diabetic ketoacidosis, hypersmolar, and nonketotic coma. Other ailments, such as pneumonia, are often more acute in diabetics.

Preventing Complications:

The diabetes statistics in this section were not updated by the 2011 Report.

Glucose Control:  Improved glycemic control benefits both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetics. For every percentage point drop in A1C blood test results, (for example 8.0 to 7.0 percent) can reduce the risk of eye, kidney and nerve diseases by 40 percent!

Blood Pressure:  Good blood pressure control reduces cardiovascular diseases (stroke and heart attack) by 33 to 50 percent, and eye, kidney and nerve diseases by approximately 33 percent.

Cholesterol:  Improved LDL cholesterol can reduce cardiovascular complications by 20-50 percent.

Eye Diseases:  Detecting and treating diabetic eye diseases with laser therapy can reduce the development of severe vision loss by an estimated 50-60 percent.

Foot Care:  Foot care programs can reduce amputation rates by 45-85 percent.

Kidney Care:  detecting and treating early kidney disease by lowering blood pressure can reduce the decline of kidney function by 30-70 percent.

These are all the latest and greatest diabetes facts and statistics. Now you know how many people have diabetes. You are not alone! We hoped you found them interesting, but probably a little disturbing as well.