A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals that approximately 15.8% of adults in the United States are living with diabetes. Alarmingly, over a quarter of these cases, or 4.5%, remain undiagnosed. The findings, which are based on data from between August 2021 and August 2023, were released by the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics this week.
The analysis found that men have a higher prevalence of both total and diagnosed diabetes compared to women, with 18.0% of men diagnosed overall versus 13.7% of women. The gap is also evident when it comes to diagnosed diabetes, with 12.9% of men reporting a diagnosis, compared to 9.7% of women. These rates are notably influenced by age and body weight, with both total and diagnosed diabetes more common among older adults and those with higher body mass indexes (BMIs).
Diabetes, a chronic condition that leads to elevated blood sugar levels, is classified into various types, including type 1, type 2, gestational diabetes, and other forms stemming from different causes. Left uncontrolled, diabetes can cause significant damage to organs such as the kidneys, heart, eyes, nerves, and blood vessels.
The study highlights a direct correlation between diabetes prevalence and weight status. Among individuals with normal weight or underweight, 6.8% were living with diabetes, compared to 12.3% of those classified as overweight, and a striking 24.2% of adults with obesity. For diagnosed diabetes specifically, the rates were 5.2% among normal-weight adults, rising to 9.5% among those overweight, and 16.3% among obese adults. Undiagnosed diabetes was also more prevalent in those with higher body weights, with 1.6% of normal-weight adults affected, 2.8% of overweight individuals, and 7.9% of those with obesity.
The CDC used survey responses to determine diagnosed cases of diabetes, asking participants whether a doctor had ever told them they had diabetes. For undiagnosed cases, the agency used fasting blood glucose levels or A1c tests to identify those with elevated blood sugar who had not received a formal diagnosis.
Another key takeaway from the report is the relationship between educational attainment and diabetes prevalence. Adults with lower educational levels reported higher rates of both total and diagnosed diabetes. For instance, 19.6% of adults with a high school diploma or less had total diabetes, while only 10.7% of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher were affected. Similarly, diagnosed diabetes was reported by 14.6% of adults with lower education, compared to 7.3% among those with higher education. However, no significant educational differences were noted for undiagnosed diabetes.
The CDC’s findings underscore the ongoing diabetes epidemic in the United States, highlighting the importance of early diagnosis and prevention efforts, especially in higher-risk groups.
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