Frequency
- In the United States, 17 million people have diabetes: 11.1 million people are diagnosed and 5.9 million people are unaware that they have it
- 7.8 million men and 9.1 million women have diabetes
- 1 million people aged 20 or older are diagnosed each year
- In 1999, about 19% of all deaths in the United States occurred among people with diabetes aged 25 and older
Heart disease and Stroke
- Adults with diabetes have 2-4 times higher risk of developing heart disease compared to those without diabetes.
- People with diabetes have 2-4 times the risk for stroke
- Maintaining cholesterol and blood lipids can decrease cardiovascular problems by 20-50%
Blindness and Eye Disease
- The leading cause of new cases of blindness among ages 20-74 is diabetes
- Diabetic retinopathy causes from 12,000 -24,000 new cases of blindness each year
- Detection and treatment of diabetic eye disease with laser therapy can reduce the development of severe vision loss by about 50-60%
Kidney and Renal Disease
- The detection and treatment of early diabetic kidney disease can reduce the development of kidney failure by 30-70%
- Diabetes is the leading cause of treated end-stage renal disease, which accounts for 43% of new cases
Nervous system damage
- Approximately 60%-70% of people with diabetes have mild to severe forms of nervous system damage
- Severe forms of diabetic nerve disease are a major contributing cause of lower-extremity amputations
- More than 60% of non-traumatic lower-limb amputations in the United States occur among people with diabetes
- Comprehensive foot care programs can reduce amputation rates by 45-85%
Gum disease
- Periodontal or gum diseases are more common among people with diabetes than among people without it
Pregnancy risks
- Poorly-controlled diabetes prior to conception and throughout the first trimester of pregnancy can cause major birth defects in 5%-10% of pregnancies and spontaneous abortions in 15% to 20% of pregnancies