Among ethnic groups, Native Americans and Alaska Natives have the highest rates of diabetes—with 16.5% afflicted for each of the two groups.

Mexican-Americans are at 11.9% and Cuban-Ameicans come in at 8.2%. Asian-Americans and White-Americans have even lower rates, at 7.5% and 6.6%, respectively.

Ann Albright, director of the CDC’s Division of Diabetes Translation, states, "It is concerning to know that we have more people developing diabetes, and these data are a reminder of the importance of increasing awareness of this condition, especially among people who are at high risk. On the other hand, it is good to see that more people are aware that they have diabetes. That is an indication that our efforts to increase awareness are working, and more importantly, that more people are better prepared to manage this disease and its complications." [Associated Press/Desert News: “Diabetic population in U.S. climbs to 8%"]

For more information on the CDC report, please read the article “National Diabetes Fact Sheet, 2007” (pdf file).

Some information found on this report is:

On the down side:

• Adults with diabetes have heart disease death rates about 2 to 4 times higher than adults without diabetes.

• The risk for stroke is 2 to 4 times higher among people with diabetes.

• Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults aged 20–74 years.

• About 60% to 70% of people with diabetes have mild to severe forms of nervous system damage. The results of such damage include impaired sensation or pain in the feet or hands, slowed digestion of food in the stomach, carpal tunnel syndrome, erectile dysfunction, or other nerve problems.

• Severe forms of diabetic nerve disease are a major contributing cause of lower-extremity amputations.

• After adjusting for population age and sex differences, average medical expenditures among people with diagnosed diabetes were 2.3 times higher than what expenditures would be in the absence of diabetes.

There is good news, too, about diabetes. Please click for the next page.