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Diabetic Statistics

Diabetic Statistics

(2012 National Diabetes Statistics Report, 2014 released June 10, 2014)

  • 29.1 Million Americans are diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes (Nearly 10% Population!)
  • 22 Million more Americans are undiagnosed
  • 25% Americans over 65 years old have Type 2 Diabetes
  • In 2010, 86 million people over 20 years of age have Pre-Diabetes
  • In 2012, 1.7 million new cases were reported

Diabetic Complications

Type 2 Diabetes is certainly commmon, affecting nearly 30% of the American population in some capacity.  But why do we care? What’s the fuss?  Unfortunately diabetes has numerous major life-threatening consequences given enough years or when ignored.

  • Hypoglycemia: In 2011, about 282,000 emergency room visits for adults aged 18 years or older had hypoglycemia (LOW BLOOD SUGAR) as the first-listed diagnosis and diabetes as another.
  • Hypertension: In 2009–2012, of adults aged 18 years or older with diagnosed diabetes, 71% had blood pressure greater than or equal to 140/90 millimeters of mercury or used prescription medications to lower high blood pressure.
  • CVD Death Rates: In 2003–2006, after adjusting for population age differences, death rates were about 1.7 times higher among adults aged 18 years or older with diagnosed diabetes than among adults without diagnosed diabetes.
  • Heart Attack Rates: In 2010, hospitalization rates for heart attack were 1.8 times higher among adults aged 20 years or older with diagnosed diabetes than among adults without diagnosed diabetes.
  • Stroke: In 2010, hospitalization rates for were 1.5 times higher among adults with diagnosed diabetes aged 20 years or older compared to those without diagnosed diabetes.
  • Blindness Rates: In 2005–2008, of adults with diabetes aged 40 years or older, 4.2 million (28.5%) people had retinal (damage to small blood vessels in the eye) leading to blindness.
  • Kidney Disease: Diabetes was listed as the primary cause of kidney failure in 44% of all new cases in 2011.  In 2011, 49,677 people of all ages began treatment for kidney failure due to diabetes.  In 2011, a total of 228,924 people of all ages with kidney failure due to diabetes were living on chronic dialysis or with a kidney transplant.
  • Amputations: In 2010, about 73,000 lower-limb amputations were performed in adults aged 20 years or older with diagnosed diabetes.  About 60% of non-traumatic lower-limb amputations among people aged 20 years or older occur in people with diagnosed diabetes.- See more at: http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/statistics/?referrer=https://www.google.com/#sthash.frAjP0Zh.dpuf

Diabetic Good News

At Future Focus Family Medicine we believe that diabetes doesn’t have to be a death sentence!  The sobering statistics I listed above serve as a reminder of the magnitude of the problem.

My clinical experience however reveals that SPECIFIC lifestyle interventions can make enormous changes for individuals willing to explore those options.  We’re not reliant on drugs and test strips!  Nutritional choices, physical activity, and understanding the role of stress on health are but three key areas each of us can control.

Take a moment to consider the previous statement.  Now is the time to learn what “Really” makes a difference in Diabetic care.  

Stay tuned for the next installment where we learn about the basic causes of diabetes.