Type 2 diabetes incidence and prevalence in the United States

Diabetes Type

Analysis of Type 2 Diabetes

Local and National Statistics Compared

Incidences and Prevalence

According to data seen from 1994 through 1998 at the three university-based diabetes centers in Florida, 92 were classified with Type 2 diabetes. The proportion of patients increased over the five years from 9.4% in 1994 to 20.0% in 1998. From 1994 through 1998, there was a significant overall increase in the percentage of children referred with new-onset diabetes who were considered to have Type 2 diabetes[footnoteRef:1]. [1: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1497443 / ]

CDC carried out Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) surveys between 1995 to 1997, and 2005 to 2007 for examining state-specific changes and assessing geographic distribution of diabetes. During 2005 to 2007, incidence of diabetes ranged from 5.0 to 12.8 per 1,000 persons among 40 states, the District of Columbia, and two territories. The greatest incidence was observed in the South and Puerto Rico. Additionally, among thirty three states, the age-adjusted incidence of diabetes increased from the previous 4.8 to 9.1 per 1,000 in 2005 to 2007.

In the South, the incidence of diagnosed diabetes has been high. For thirty three participating states, the age-adjusted incidence was 90% higher during 2005 to 2007 than during 1995 to 1997. According to National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data, the overall incidence of 4.8 per 1,000 for the thirty three states during 1995 to 1997 was approximately similar to the 1997 estimate of diabetes incidence which was 4.9 per 1,000. Physical inactivity, older age, weight gain, obesity, being categorized in a racial or ethnic minority population, and lower educational attainment are the factors which are associated with the increased risk for diabetes.

A recent study found that in 2007, the prevalence of obesity was greatest in the South with 27.3% followed by 26.5% in the Midwest, 24.4% in Northeast, and 23.1% in the West. In three southern states i.e. Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee, the prevalence of obesity surpassed the 30%. Similarly, for physical inactivity, the South had greater prevalence i.e. 17.4% which greater than other regions as the Northeast had 15.7%, the Midwest had 14.1%, and the West had 11.2%.[footnoteRef:2] [2: http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/DM/PUBS/statistics/]

Who is at risk?

Increase in type 2 diabetes among children and adolescents have emerged with alarming increase in the number of young people. Family history and obesity become major risk factor of type 2 diabetes. The occurrence of adolescent and childhood obesity has doubled over the past 20 years, which is continued to be increasing (Seidell & Flegal 1997). Although children and adolescents of all socioeconomic, ethnic, racial groups have been affected by this trend, Native Americans, Hispanics, and African-Americans have become particularly vulnerable to it (Gopalan, 1998).

In the U.S., about 33.8%o of adults, and 17% of children and adolescents aging 2 to 19 years are obese. In 2010, all the states had a prevalence of more than 20% of the obesity. 36 states had a prevalence of above 25% and 12 of these states had above 30%.