Diabetes Statistics

The 2022 National Diabetes Statistics Report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows an estimated 130 million people in the United States are living with diabetes or prediabetes.

Twenty-two percent of the people who have diabetes are unaware they have the condition. Between 2001 and 2020, the prevalence of total and diagnosed diabetes among U.S. adults (18 years old and older) increased.

Diabetes awareness and increases in routine screenings may play a significant role in the rise of diagnoses. Improved medical care services and early detection have significantly improved life expectancy among people with diabetes.

Diabetes Statistics in Youth

A CDC study showed that about 283,000 Americans under the age of 20 have diabetes, a prevalence rate of 35 per 10,000 youths. About 244,000 of them have Type 1 diabetes.

Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes prevalence also escalated among young people in the last 10 years. The study found that cases of Type 2 diabetes intensified the most among youth aged 10 to 19 years.

Type 2 diabetes will affect 1 in 3 children born after the year 2000. Among youths from all races and ethnic groups between the ages of 10-19, Type 2 diabetes impacts African-American, Native American and Hispanic children at statistically higher rates.

Diabetes Statistics by Race/Ethnicity

Given the genetic distinctions between racial or ethnic groups and the well-known genetic influences on Type 2 diabetes, hereditary factors likely account for some discrepancies in diabetes prevalence.

The risk of diabetes is higher in Asian and Hispanic subgroups. Risk rates for race and ethnicity are:

Screenings for prediabetes and Type 2 diabetes should be part of your routine physical exams. Also discuss all of your diabetes risk factors, medical history and family medical history with your doctor.

Diabetes Mortality Rate Statistics

In 2019, diabetes caused more than 87,000 U.S. deaths, or about 1 in 10 deaths. The disease ranks seventh among the major causes of death in the U.S.
Globally, diabetes was the ninth-most significant cause of mortality in 2019, with more than 1.5 million fatalities attributed to it and its complications. That number has risen steadily over the past few years.

People with diabetes are at increased risk of having other negative health conditions, such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, stroke, retinopathies leading to blindness, renal disease and kidney failure, and lower limb amputations due to vascular problems. These diseases have a high mortality rate.

Diabetes Cost

The approximate cost of diabetes in the U.S. was $327 billion in 2017, a 26% increase from 2012. The health care cost is $237 billion, while the remaining $90 billion accounts for lost work and wages.

Diabetes imposes a considerable burden on society. People with diabetes spend an average of $16,752 a year on medical expenses, with diabetes accounting for around $9,601 of that. The federal government spends about $1 out of every $4 on health care costs for people with diabetes.

Prediabetes is an increasingly common condition affecting about 96 million U.S. adults in 2019 — approximately 38% of the American adult population. The CDC estimates only about 19% of people are aware of their condition. Most patients learn of their condition when it’s detected in annual blood work.

Patients with prediabetes have sustained high blood sugar levels, but their levels are not high enough to be diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Left unchecked, prediabetes often leads to Type 2 diabetes. Men have statistically higher rates of prediabetes.

Gestational diabetes affects about 5% to 10% of pregnant American women annually. Between the years 2000 and 2010, the rate increased 56%.

As its name suggests, gestational diabetes impacts women during pregnancy, occurring when a mother’s body can’t sufficiently process glucose. The disease can lead to health complications for the mother and her baby, although the condition usually resolves after giving birth.

The risk of diabetes during pregnancy also varies depending on race and ethnicity. Asian and Hispanic women are more likely to develop gestational diabetes, and Black and Hispanic women are more likely to develop adult-onset Type 1 diabetes or Type 2 while pregnant.

Incidences of diabetes type 1 have soared over the past few decades, accounting for 5% to 10% of all cases of diabetes. While less common than Type 2 diabetes, approximately 1.9 million Americans have Type 1 diabetes, including about 244,000 children.

Type 1 diabetes, also known as T1D, occurs when the body’s immune system destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. That causes high levels of glucose in the blood. Untreated, Type 1 diabetes causes serious health issues.

The causes of Type 1 diabetes remain unknown. However, researchers believe genetics and environmental factors, such as viruses, play significant roles.

Type 2 diabetes, also known as adult-onset diabetes, is the most prevalent form of diabetes. Of the 37 million people with diabetes, Type 2 diabetes accounts for 90% to 95% of cases. Diabetes accounts for 28.7 million diagnoses, and about 8 million people are unaware they have the condition.

A number of risk factors exist for diabetes. Smokers, for example, are 30% to 40% more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes than nonsmokers. Also, more than 50% of women who have been diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) will also develop Type 2 diabetes.

Almost 25% of people over the age of 65 have been diagnosed with Type 2. If trends persist, more than half of the Americans who reach age 65 will have Type 2 diabetes. The American Diabetes Association estimates that approximately 90% of people with Type 2 diabetes are above their medically determined ideal body weight.

Symptoms are often difficult to spot, and an early diagnosis will prevent the onset of health complications. Routine diabetes testing and discussing your personal risk factors with your health care team is critical.