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News Release

HHS Releases 2003 National Diabetes Estimates

HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today announced that the number of Americans with diabetes rose to an all-time high with an estimated 18.2 million people in 2003.

"These new estimates show we are diagnosing more people who live with diabetes, and the overall prevalence of this disease continues to increase," Secretary Thompson said. "Clearly, diabetes remains a serious and growing health threat. We are fighting this terrible disease by promoting better lifestyle choices and increasing awareness among all Americans."

The new diabetes numbers, which were released in advance of tomorrow's World Diabetes Day, reflect an annual update of national estimates based on data from HHS' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Indian Health Service (IHS). Highlights of the updated data include:

• Diabetes continues to be the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.

• An estimated 13 million Americans have been diagnosed with this disease, and about 5.2 million additional Americans have the disease but have not been diagnosed.

• Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness among adults between 20 and 74 years old.

• 14.9 percent of American Indians and Alaska Natives who are at least 20 years old and receive care from IHS have diabetes. On average, American Indians and Alaska Natives are 2.3 times as likely to have diabetes than non-Hispanic whites of similar age.

• 11.4 percent of non-Hispanic blacks aged 20 years or older have diabetes. On average, non-Hispanic blacks are 1.6 times as likely to have diabetes than non-Hispanic whites of a similar age.

• 8.4 percent of non-Hispanic whites aged 20 years or older have diabetes.

• 8.2 percent of Hispanics aged 20 years or older have diabetes. On average, Hispanic Americans are 1.5 times more likely to have diabetes than non-Hispanic whites of similar age.

• Native Hawaiians and Japanese and Filipino residents of Hawaii aged 20 years or older are twice as likely to have diabetes as white residents of Hawaii.

The data, which is included in HHS' new 2003 National Diabetes Fact Sheet, will help national, state and local health officials understand the health and economic burden of diabetes and better direct efforts to reach populations hardest hit by the disease.

"Prevention is the key to stemming this unfolding epidemic," CDC Director Dr. Julie Gerberding said. "By eating a healthy diet and engaging in regular physical activity, individuals can greatly reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes."

Many Americans are unaware that they may be at risk -- or already have -- diabetes. Early diagnosis and proper treatment of diabetes can delay, and even prevent, the progression of serious health problems such as heart disease and stroke, blindness, lower limb amputations and kidney failure.

In an effort to identify persons with undiagnosed type 2 diabetes or at risk, HHS this month began a new community-based effort. The Diabetes Detection Initiative: Finding the Undiagnosed (DDI) is focused on helping Americans better understand their diabetes risk so that they can take appropriate actions based on those risks.

A broad-based community effort, the DDI encourages individuals to determine their risk for undiagnosed diabetes using a customized self risk assessment tool adapted from the American Diabetes Association. A person found to be at high risk will be given clear messages regarding referral to a health care site for appropriate blood testing. The DDI is currently being piloted in 10 communities in a variety of urban and rural settings.

The 2003 National Diabetes Fact Sheet is available at http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/factsheet.htm.

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Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at http://www.hhs.gov/news.

Last Revised: November 13, 2003