CDC: Over 100 million Americans had diabetes or prediabetes in 2015

An estimated 12.2% of U.S. adults had diabetes in 2015, including one in four aged 65 and older, according to the latest national estimates released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nearly one-quarter of the 30.2 million adults with diabetes were not aware they had it, based on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and Census Bureau. Fasting glucose and hemoglobin A1C levels were used to derive estimates for undiagnosed diabetes and prediabetes. About one-third of adults (84.1 million) had prediabetes, blood glucose levels at risk of progressing to diabetes, including nearly half of adults aged 65 and older. “Consistent with previous trends, our research shows that diabetes cases are still increasing, although not as quickly as in previous years,” said Ann Albright, director of CDC’s Division of Diabetes Translation. “Diabetes is a contributing factor to so many other serious health conditions. By addressing diabetes, we limit other health problems such as heart disease, stroke, nerve and kidney diseases, and vision loss.”