Last Updated: March 26, 2008
Last Reviewed:
March 26, 2008
Content Source:
Office of Minority Health & Health Disparities (OMHD) |
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Eliminate Disparities in Diabetes
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What is the Burden of Diabetes in the United
States? |
Diabetes was the
sixth leading cause of death in the year 2000.1
More than 20.8 million Americans have diabetes.2
Diabetes is a
group of diseases described by high levels of blood glucose resulting from
defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. This disease can
cause serious complications and premature death, but persons with diabetes
can take measures to reduce the likelihood of such occurrences. |
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Type 1 diabetes was previously called
insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) or juvenile-onset diabetes.
Risk factors are less well defined for type 1 diabetes than for
type 2 diabetes, but autoimmune, genetic, and environmental factors are
involved in the development of this type of diabetes.3 |
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Type 2 diabetes was
previously called non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) or
adult-onset diabetes. Type 2 diabetes may account for about 90 to 95
percent of
all diagnosed cases of diabetes. Risk factors for type 2
diabetes include older age, obesity, family history of diabetes, prior
history of gestational diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance, physical
inactivity, and race/ethnicity.3 |
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Gestational diabetes
is
a form of glucose intolerance that is diagnosed in some women during
pregnancy. Gestational diabetes occurs more frequently among African
Americans, Hispanic/Latino Americans, and American Indians. It
is also more common among obese women and women with a family
history of diabetes. During pregnancy, gestational diabetes
requires treatment to normalize maternal blood glucose levels to
avoid complications in the infant.3 |
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