Diabetes is a serious medical condition that affects millions of people around the world. This disease affects the way your body uses blood sugar, medically known as blood glucose. Your insulin hormone will not convert the sugar and starches from your body into energy. This source of energy not only fuels your brain, but it is necessary for your muscles and tissues. If you suffer from diabetes, your body is either producing little or no insulin.

There are treatments available for diabetes; each varying by the type of diabetes you have been diagnosed with.

Adults

According to the American Diabetes Association, 25.6 million people who suffer from diabetes in the United States are 20 years of age or older. 26.9 percent of people who have diabetes are 65 years of age or older. 1 in 10 adults have Type 2 diabetes in the U.S.

Children

Children can be born with diabetes, or develop the medical condition over time. Type 1 diabetes will affect 1 in 400 children in the United States. Children are more likely to suffer from diabetes because of childhood obesity being on the rise. Obesity is not the only cause of Type 2 diabetes, but weight and health is a huge factor in most cases.

Racial Groups and Ethnicities

The number of individuals with diabetes will also vary, based on their race or ethnicity. Non-Hispanic blacks have the largest number of diabetes cases, with 12.6 percent. Hispanics have the second largest percentage of diabetes cases – 11.8 percent. Asian Americans make up 8.4 percent of diabetes cases in the U.S., while non-Hispanic whites make up 7.1 percent.

Of the Hispanic percentage, 7.6 percent are Cuban, 13.8 percent are Puerto Rican, and 13.3 percent are Mexican Americans.

United States

Each year more and more cases of diabetes are diagnosed. There are a total of 1.6 million new cases of diabetes each year. Diabetes currently costs the United States 220 billion dollars, but that number continues to rise each year. The United Health Group studies show that if trends continue, the United States will spend 3.35 trillion dollars on diabetes by the year 2020.

Around the Globe

300 million people are living with diabetes worldwide, according to the International Diabetes Foundation. According to Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 92 million diabetics live in China, the country with the highest number of diabetics.

The type of healthcare available varies by country. Less affluent countries do not have access to adequate healthcare, which could prevent them from being diagnosed or treated for diabetes. Of the reported diabetes cases, 298 million live in developing countries where healthcare is not adequate. 80 percent of deaths that occur in low and middle-income countries are caused by diabetes.

Future Diabetes Cases

You need to maintain a healthy lifestyle in order to prevent diabetes; however, Type 1 diabetes is often hereditary. As the years go by, the diabetes cases are expected to double. Researchers believe that 1 in 3 Americans will suffer from diabetes if current trends continue. Studies show that by 2030, more people will be affected by diabetes worldwide than those affected by HIV/AIDS – approximately 10 times more.

References

“Diabetes Statistics.” American Diabetes Association. Retrieved from http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/diabetes-statistics/. Accessed on August 22, 2013.

“Diabetes Research Center.” Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University. Retrieved from http://www.einstein.yu.edu/centers/diabetes-research/facts-statistics/. Accessed on August 22, 2013.