Diabetes Facts

_It is estimated that 23.6 million people in the United States—7.8 percent of the population—have diabetes, a serious, lifelong condition. Of those, 17.9 million have been diagnosed, and 5.7 million have not yet been diagnosed. In 2007, about 1.6 million people ages 20 or older were diagnosed with diabetes. For additional statistics, see the National Diabetes Statistics, 2007 fact sheet online at www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/statistics or call the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse (NDIC) at 1–800–860–8747 to request a copy.

• Diabetes is a chronic condition associated with abnormally high levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood.

• Insulin produced by the pancreas lowers blood glucose.

• Absence or insufficient production of insulin causes diabetes.

• The two types of diabetes are referred to as type 1 (insulin dependent) and type 2 (non-insulin dependent).

• Symptoms of diabetes include increased urine output, thirst and hunger as well as fatigue.

• Diabetes is diagnosed by blood sugar (glucose) testing.

• The major complications of diabetes are both acute and chronic.

Acutely: dangerously elevated blood sugar, abnormally low blood sugar due to diabetes medications may occur.

Chronically: disease of the blood vessels (both small and large) which can damage the eye, kidneys, nerves, and heart may occur.