Joslin President Urges Americans to Protect their Health as CDC Reports that Number of Americans with Diabetes Continues to Rise
BOSTON — October 26, 2005 — On Oct. 25, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that 20.8 million Americans now have diabetes, 7 percent of the U.S. population, and that more than 6 million of those people do not know they have the disease. The CDC reports that this number represents an additional 2.6 million people with diabetes since 2002.
Joslin President C. Ronald Kahn, M.D., said "Estimates by the World Health Organization predicting the epidemic of diabetes warned that the number of people with diabetes would hit 21.9 million in the US by the year 2025. Since the U.S. is adding more than one million new cases per year, these new data from the CDC indicate we will reach the 2025 prediction within the next two years. Clearly, the epidemic of diabetes is not just growing, it is accelerating."
"Type 2 diabetes can be prevented," said Dr. Kahn. "All Americans should take diabetes seriously and take steps to protect their health and the health of their families."
Diabetes at a glance fact sheet
Joslin Diabetes Center urges all Americans to be aware of the diabetes warning signs, which include excessive thirst, frequent urination, weight loss and blurred vision, among other symptoms.
How is diabetes diagnosed?
All individuals age 45 and above, particularly those with a BMI equal to or greater than 25, should be tested for diabetes, and if the test is normal, they should be re-tested every three years.
Preventing type 2 diabetes in adults
Joslin offers tips to help those at risk for diabetes, or diagnosed with pre-diabetes, prevent the disease. Studies at Joslin and elsewhere have shown that even if you are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes, you can reduce your risk by 58% through sustained modest weight loss and increased moderate-intensity physical activity, such as walking 30 minutes a day.
Preventing type 2 diabetes in children
Parents in particular should be aware of the danger of type 2 diabetes among children, especially those that are overweight, or were under five pounds or over 10 pounds at birth, or who have parents or close blood relatives with type 2 diabetes.
CDC Reports Number of Americans with Diabetes Continues to Rise
