Diabetes causes blood glucose levels to be too high.
People develop Type 2 diabetes because the cells in the muscles, liver, and fat do not use insulin properly. As a result, the amount of sugar in the blood increases, while the cells are starved of energy.
Over time, high blood sugar damages nerves and blood vessels, and can commonly lead to complications, such as heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney disease, nerve problems, gum infections, and amputation.
Can my ethnicity put me at risk?
Some groups have a higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes than others. Type 2 diabetes is more common in African Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, and Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders, as well as the aged population.
United States Diabetes Costs
$327 billion
is the annual cost of diabetes making it the most expensive chronic condition in our nation.
$1 out of every $4
in US health care costs is spent on caring for people with diabetes.
More than 34 million
people of all ages (about 1 in 10) have diabetes, and 88 million adults (1 in 3) have prediabetes.
Where Can I Go for More Information?
Diabetes and its management
As a valuable resource for information about the disease, medications, exercise, living with diabetes, and diabetic supplies and tools, we recommend the following: