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CDC: New diabetes diagnoses decreased from 2009 to 2014
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The number of newly diagnosed cases of diabetes among adults in the United States has significantly decreased from 2009 to 2014, according to new data released by the CDC.
In 2009, there were more than 1.7 million cases of newly diagnosed diabetes compared with 573,000 in 1991. However, between 2009 and 2014, the number of new cases decreased to 1.4 million.
Ann Albright
“Our new surveillance data provides an indication that we’re moving in the right direction,” Ann Albright, PhD, RD, director of the division of diabetes translations at the CDC, told Endocrine Today. “There are a number of factors that could be responsible for the encouraging decrease we’re seeing in new diabetes cases. Over time, we are seeing some improvements related to increased physical activity and better food choices — both of which are key factors in preventing type 2 diabetes.”
The incidence of diabetes among adults aged 65 to 79 years nearly doubled from 1980 to 2014. Among adults aged 45 to 65 years, no consistent change was seen in the 1980s, an increase was found from 1992 to 2002 and the incidence leveled off between 2002 and 2014. Among adults aged 18 to 44 years, a significant increase was seen from 1980 to 2003, there was little change from 2003 to 2006 and a significant reduction is apparent from 2006 to 2014.
“While this news is encouraging, there is also much more work to be done,” Albright said. “Diabetes remains a serious health threat impacting more than 29 million Americans. That’s about one out of 11 people, and among them, one in four don’t even know they have it.”
Albright added that there are also 86 million Americans with prediabetes and only one in 10 know they have it.
“Now is the time to press harder and strengthen our prevention efforts that support healthy choices for the entire population and increase the availability of proven interventions, such as the National Diabetes Prevention Program, for those who have prediabetes.” – by Amber Cox
Reference:
http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/statistics/incidence/index.htm
Perspective
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Derek LeRoith, MD, PhD
The epidemic in obesity is a worldwide phenomenon, and the incidence of diabetes parallels this epidemic. Indeed it is estimated that today amongst the nations of the world, there are more diabetics in China. In the U.S., the CDC presents the latest statistics showing that the incidence of newly diagnosed cases of diabetes, from 2009 to 2014, has decreased. This decrease in newly diagnosed diabetics could be explained by a reduction in obesity. Indeed, the obesity rate in young children has fallen dramatically; however, in adults it is flat and in older women it has actually increased. Thus, while new guidelines for physical activity and better food choices have been implemented nationally and are perhaps successful, there maybe other factors we should consider. Is it possible that physicians and other health care providers are screening more often and more appropriately, because of our increased awareness for diabetes and that therefore there are fewer undiagnosed diabetics remaining from the previous decade? Most patients have a fasting blood glucose to diagnose prediabetes and diabetes; however, it is well recognized that HbA1c and oral glucose tolerance tests will pick up diabetes much earlier than the rise in fasting blood glucose.
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