Following is data from the 2007 National Diabetes Fact Sheet, which was collected and reported by the Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“23.6 million children and adults in the United States (7.8% of the population) have diabetes. There are approximately 1.6 million new cases of diabetes diagnosed (in people aged 20 years and older) each year.”1Diabetes and Cardiovascular Diseases do not discriminate by race/ethnicity.
“Diabetes was the seventh leading cause of death listed on U.S. death certificates in 2006. This ranking is based on the 72,507 death certificates in 2006 in which diabetes was listed as the underlying cause of death.”2Complications, which are diabetes-related include, but are not limited to, heart disease and stroke, high blood pressure, blindness, kidney disease, neuropathy (nervous system disease), amputation and ultimately premature death.
Unfortunately Frances Scebor’s (the Foundation’s namesake) co-morbidities included high blood pressure, kidney disease, neuropathy, amputation, infection and ultimately death at age 52. This was a person who was educated in the disease state and followed by a group of renowned doctors. Again, Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease do not discriminate. Persistence of regular treatment and preventative measures, as well as patient and family education, are of utmost importance.
Costs associated with these diseases exceed $174 million per year (as of 2007). This figure represents approximately $116 million for direct medical costs and $58 million for indirect costs, which included disability, work loss and premature mortality.
The above statistics, as well as, additional extensive information may be found in the 2007 National Diabetes Fact Sheet, which is the most recent assessment of the impact of diabetes in the United States. This document was jointly produced by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), National Institute of Heath (NIH) and American Diabetes Association (ADA).
(1) National Diabetes Fact Sheet. Department of Health and Human Services Centers For Disease Control and Prevention. 2007.
(2) National Diabetes Fact Sheet. Department of Health and Human Services Centers For Disease Control and Prevention. 2007.
For the complete 2007 National Diabetes Fact Sheet, click here