Diabetes afflicts 8.3% of Americans

The blue circle symbol used to represent diabetes.Image via Wikipedia
San Antonio Express-News:

New government estimates released Wednesday show the diabetes epidemic continues to worsen, with almost 26 million Americans now likely suffering from the disease — 7 million of them unaware they have it.

Although local numbers weren't included in the new estimates, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that some 11.8 percent of Hispanic adults 20 and older have diabetes, compared to 7.1 percent of Anglos — meaning the problem likely is bigger in San Antonio.

“It's very alarming,” Anne Albright, the CDC's director of diabetes translation, said in an interview. “This is a serious disease, as you in Texas are well aware. But there are things that can be done to prevent the most common form, Type 2 diabetes, and there are things that can be done to help those who live with the disease live more successfully.”

The 2011 National Diabetes Fact Sheet found there are 2.2 million more diabetics today than in 2008. The percentage of all Americans, young and old, with diabetes rose from 7.8 to 8.3 percent. Among adults, 11.3 percent have diabetes.

In perhaps the most alarming statistic in the report, another 79 million adults — or 35 percent — have a condition called prediabetes, a precursor to the disease.

Added together, almost half of all adults are at risk of developing the complications of diabetes, including heart disease and stroke, kidney failure and blindness. Among those 65 and older, half have prediabetes and nearly 27 percent have diabetes.

...
I was first diagnosed with diabetes about a year and a half ago, and I have probably suffered from it for over two years. I currently have it pretty well managed. It takes a tackle box full of pills and a daily shot of a new medication called Victoza. This new medication is like a non evasive lap band that shrinks your appetite and your stomach. It has also helped to reduce my blood pressure to more normal levels. While eye surgery has helped, I still have to deal with double vision when my eyes get tired. I am going to try some corrected lenses for a few months to help the healing process.
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