Diabetes-Related Press Releases from CDC
Historical
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Major Increase in Diabetes Among Adults Occurred Nationwide Between 1990 and 1998 — August 23, 2000
(ATLANTA)The burden of diabetes in adults in the United States has increased substantially over the last decade. Diabetes represents a serious health risk to millions of Americans, according to new research published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the September issue of Diabetes Care.
According to the findings, diabetes among adults increased rapidly during the 1990s across all regions, demographic groups and nearly all states in the United States. CDC researchers found the prevalence of diagnosed diabetes increased by 33 percent nationally during this time. Between 1990 and 1998, a 70 percent increase in diabetes was found among individuals aged 30 to 39, followed by an increase of 40 percent among those aged 40 to 49, and a 31 percent increase among those aged 50 to 59. In addition, the researchers found a 63 percent increase in diabetes cases among individuals with some college education, followed by a 47 percent increase among those who were college graduates or achieved higher levels of education.
Dramatic increases were also noted among various ethnic groups: Hispanics had a 38 percent increase compared to whites with a 29 percent increase and blacks with a 26 percent increase.
Researchers found that the prevalence of obesity has also increased rapidly in the United States. This increase will have a major impact on type 2 diabetes (formerly called adult onset diabetes) and other chronic diseases. For diabetes specifically, much of the impact of the upsurge in obesity may be felt some years from now, because there is a substantial delay between the onset of obesity and the subsequent development of diabetes. Therefore, an increase in the prevalence of diabetes can be expected in the future.
"We need to take diabetes very seriously as individuals and as a nation," said CDC’s director, Dr. Jeffrey P. Koplan. "This study sends a clear message that American lifestyles, including inactivity and poor nutrition, are having a dramatic influence on our health and will ultimately increase the need for diabetes care in the future."
In 1998, the total number of adults who suffer from diabetes was 16 million. While there were variations among the states, in general, most experienced an increase in the prevalence of diabetes between 1990 and 1998.
"With diabetes increasing at an alarming rate, it is critical that everyone who has the disease remain in regular contact with his or her health care professional for monitoring and treatment. Scientific studies clearly show that even if diabetes is present, complications such as blindness, amputations, kidney failure, and heart attacks do not have to occur if intensive diabetes management can be achieved," said Dr. Frank Vinicor, director of CDC’s diabetes program.
These data are derived from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), a standardized telephone survey conducted by state health agencies in collaboration with CDC. All states were included in the analysis, with the exception of the District of Columbia and seven states (Alaska, Arkansas, Kansas, Nevada, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Wyoming), because they did not have data available for every year. In 1998, a total of nearly 150,000 individuals from all states completed the BRFSS survey.
Approximately 800,000 new cases of diabetes are diagnosed each year. It is the seventh leading cause of death in this country and a major contributor to such health problems as heart disease, stroke, blindness, high blood pressure, kidney disease, and amputations.
In response to the problem, CDC is working with the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) in sponsoring the National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP) that involves public and private partners to improve the treatment and outcomes for people with diabetes, to promote early diagnosis, and, ultimately, to prevent the onset of diabetes.
Copies of the full article and electronic maps can be obtained by
calling the press contacts listed above. For more information on diabetes, visit
the CDC's Web site at www.cdc.gov/diabetes
or call toll free: 1-800-CDC-INFO
1-888-232-6348 TTY . For information
about nutrition and physical activity, call 1-888-CDC-4NRG (888-232-4674) or
visit the Web site at
www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa.
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