health

About 21 million people in the United States, or 7 percent of
the population, have diabetes.
Unfortunately, 6.5 million of these people have not been diagnosed
with the disease. Between 54 and 57 million Americans were thought to
have pre-diabetes as of 2007. Diabetes is the sixth leading cause of
death in the United States; about 65 percent of deaths among patients with
diabetes are the result of heart attacks and stroke, but diabetes is
the underlying cause.
Diabetes is a major cause of disability and
death in the United States. It costs the country about $135 billion each
year, including $42 billion in indirect costs (disability payments, lost
work time, and premature death) and $93 billion in direct medical costs
(hospital admissions, medical care, and treatment supplies).

The risk factors for type 1 and type 2 diabetes are different. People at
increased risk of type 1 diabetes include:

• Children and young adults rather than older adults
  
• Caucasians, particularly people of Swedish or Finnish background
  Risk factors for type 2 diabetes include:
  
• Family history of diabetes.
  
• Personal history of gestational diabetes or pre-diabetes.
  
• Age over forty-five.
  
• Obesity. 80 percent of persons diagnosed with type 2 diabetes are
  overweight.
• Ethnicity. African Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans,
  Pacific Islanders, and some Asian Americans are at greater risk than
  Caucasians. Native Americans have the highest rates of type 2 diabetes
  of all ethnic groups in the United States.
  
• High blood pressure.
  
• High blood cholesterol levels.
  
• Not getting enough exercise. Exercise helps the body use blood
  sugar more efficiently.