Diabetes Statistics and Facts
The incidence of diabetes is increasing in the United States. The most recent diabetes statistics show that 23.6 million adults and children — 7.8 percent of the population — have the disease. What’s more, 24 percent of those 23.6 million people don’t even know they have it! Another 57 million people have pre-diabetes, which can develop into type 2 diabetes.
Information, though, can be a powerful tool to prevent or control diabetes. The more diabetes statistics and facts you know, the more likely you will be to recognize the signs of the disease or take steps in not getting type 2 diabetes. If you have been diagnosed as diabetic, knowing facts and statistics on diabetes can help you control the disease effectively.
Differences between Type 1 Diabetes, Type 2 Diabetes, and Prediabetes
Type 2 diabetes usually strikes adults who are 45 and over. But according the most recent diabetes statistics, the incident of type 2 diabetes in children and young adults is increasing. Statistics on diabetes also show that prediabetes is increasing as well. Even though type 1 diabetes is unpreventable, type 2 diabetes is preventable even in its prediabetes stage. The common feature among these three conditions is that your body’s blood sugar increases above its normal level. The differences are:
- Type 1 Diabetes — Your pancreas stops producing the insulin your body needs to help your cells absorb blood sugar. So the excess sugar remains in your body, creating a high blood sugar level.
- Type 2 Diabetes — Your cells develop a resistance to insulin, which prevents them from absorbing blood sugar. The excess sugar stays in your body and elevates your blood sugar level.
- Prediabetes — Your blood sugar level is higher than normal but not high enough to be classified as type 2 diabetes.
The Fatality of the Two Diseases
Some people think that developing diabetes — especially type 1 diabetes — is the same thing as being given a death sentence. But diabetes statistics prove that they’re dead wrong. It is true that all people with type 1 diabetes and some with type 2 diabetes have to take insulin every day for the rest of their lives. But as long as they take their insulin and take good care of themselves, they can live long, productive and happy lives.
Recognizing the Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes
According to the most recent diabetes statistics, roughly 90 percent of diabetics have type 2 diabetes and only around 10 percent have type 1 diabetes. The reason for these lopsided statistics on diabetes is because type 1 diabetes strikes dramatically, usually in the matter of hours or a couple of days, so its symptoms are easy to recognize. Type 2 diabetes, though, develops gradually over several years, so its symptoms are difficult to recognize – so hard, in fact, that few people realize they have type 2 diabetes until it is discovered during a routine blood test or a visit to the doctor for an unrelated problem.
The Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes
The increases that the diabetes statistics show in prediabetes and type 2 diabetes can be decreased quite easily. While type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that cannot be prevented, type 2 diabetes comes from living an unhealthy lifestyle by:
- Overindulging in foods such as ones high in carbohydrates, fast foods, fatty foods, salty foods, and foods and drinks — especially soft drinks — that contain high levels of high fructose corn syrup
- Not exercising regularly
- Being overweight
By living a healthier lifestyle and getting periodic blood sugar tests, you can help lower the statistics on diabetes.
Tags: blood sugar levels, diabetes statistics, diabetic, prediabetes, statistics on diabetes, Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes
