At least one in five Americans has or is at serious risk for developing diabetes, meaning millions are at an increased risk for cardiovascular disease, key health organizations are warning.
New figures released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have caused serious concern among leading health groups, including the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC), and the National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP). The groups are collaborating during November -- American Diabetes Month -- to emphasize the link between diabetes and related cardiovascular complications.
The CDC revealed last week in its biannual report on diabetes that 20.8 million Americans are now living with diabetes, a 14 percent increase from the 18.2 million the CDC reported in 2003. Another 41 million have pre-diabetes, the condition that indicates an increased risk for developing both type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. It is estimated that heart disease and stroke kill two out of three people with diabetes.
"These alarming new national statistics underscore the need for broader efforts to educate the American public about diabetes and its close relationship with cardiovascular disease," said Robert Rizza, M.D., President, American Diabetes Association and Director for Research, Mayo Medical College, Rochester, Minn. "Research has shown that diabetes puts adults with diabetes at great risk for heart disease and stroke. A comprehensive diabetes care plan can help reduce these risks, but clearly more work is needed to educate people with diabetes on the proper steps to take."
The report also indicates that the prevalence of diabetes in ethnic populations continues to rise, heightening concerns about health disparities among minority populations. Diabetes affects about 3.2 million African Americans adults, up from 2.7 million in 2003, and 2.5 million Latino Americans adults, up from 2.0 million in 2003. About 13.3 percent of African Americans, 9.5 percent of Latino Americans and 8.4 percent of Caucasians aged 20 or over are estimated to have diabetes.
"Rising and disproportionate rates of diabetes among minorities is a challenge that demands the attention of all educators," said James R. Gavin III, M.D., Ph.D., professor of medicine, Emory University and former chair, National Diabetes Education Program. "Ethnic populations are not only at higher risk for having diabetes, but also are more likely to develop serious diabetes complications that could lead to disability or death. The challenge for educators and clinicians today is providing patients with the best tools and empowering them with the knowledge that they can control their diabetes and prevent its complications."
Research has shown that people with diabetes can reduce their risk for cardiovascular complications by managing their blood glucose (sugar), blood pressure and cholesterol. Approximately 73 percent of adults with diabetes have high blood pressure and most have cholesterol levels that put them at increased risk for cardiovascular disease.