Type 2 Diabetes Statistics and Facts You Should Know

One out of every three people will develop type 2 diabetes in the future (unless things change). To begin to help people cope with the problem of type 2 diabetes, we need to bring awareness to the problem through Type 2 Diabetes Statistics and Facts.

What are some of the interesting Stats, Facts & Overview of Type 2 Diabetes

About 30 million people in the United States have diabetes. Unfortunately, only one in every four people actually knows they have it.

Of the 30 million people that have diabetes, the large majority of them have type 2 diabetes. Actually, it’s a startling 95 percent, and it’s predicted that one out of every three people will develop type 2 diabetes in the future (unless things change).

To begin to help people cope with the problem of type 2 diabetes, we need to bring awareness to the problem through education.

Type 2 Diabetes Statistics and Facts Overview

Type 2 diabetes occurs when insulin is not processed properly in the body. Insulin is a hormone that aids your body with using glucose (sugar) in your cells for energy.

Your pancreas produces insulin, but if the insulin doesn’t convert the glucose to your cells, so you have energy, then type 2 diabetes results. In a normal functioning body, you eat carbohydrates, your body receives glucose, it transfers it to the cells, and it’s used for energy.

Then the pancreas makes more insulin. However, in a person who has type 2 diabetes, because the glucose is not moved to the cells for energy, the pancreas will continue to make insulin in an attempt to provide the cells the glucose it needs. As a result, glucose (sugar) builds up in the bloodstream instead, which can be very dangerous.

Who is Getting Type 2 Diabetes?

While adults mostly get type 2 diabetes, there has been a rise in the number of young people and children developing this disease. The last report by the American Diabetes Association stated the following statistics:

• About 193,000 children have diabetes.
• Seniors represent a large number of cases of diabetes, with 12 million having the disease.

The breakdown by ethnicity is as follows:

• American Indians make up 15.1 percent of cases.
• African Americans make up 12.7 percent of cases.
• Hispanics make up 12.1 percent of cases.
• Asian Americans make up 8.0 percent of cases.
• Non-Hispanic whites make up 7.4 percent of cases.

What are the results of diabetes?

Unfortunately, type 2 diabetes is very serious and is one of the top ten leading causes of death. Other consequences of this disease include “blindness, kidney failure, heart disease, stroke, and loss of toes, feet, or legs.”

High monetary costs are associated with diabetes including direct medical expenses as well as loss of work. The estimated amount lost due to this disease is $245 billion.

Although type 2 diabetes statistics and facts are startling, people with this condition can make changes and control the disease. If you have type 2 diabetes or suspect that you do, it’s important to check with your physician for a customised treatment plan.

Footnotes:

Diabetes.org –

http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/statistics/cdc-infographic.html

http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/statistics/?loc=db-slabnav