by: Leah Rampolla
The following data was obtained from the CDC’s 2007 National Diabetes Fact Sheet. According to 2007 statistics, 23.6 million or 7.8% of people of all ages were diagnosed with diabetes. Diagnosed cases accounted for 17.9 million while undiagnosed cases of diabetes totaled 5.7 million. 23.5 million of 10.7% of adults age twenty and older were diagnosed with diabetes while 12.2 million of 23.1% of adults age 60 and older were diagnosed. Men and women age twenty and older had a comparative diagnoses rate of 12 million or 11.2% and 11.5 million or 10.2% respectively. In this age group 1.6 million cases are diagnosed annually.
Approximately 186,300 people younger than twenty are diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes annually. New cases in this demographic are 19 per 100,000 for type 1 diabetes and 5.3 per 100,000 are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
In 2006, diabetes was ranked as the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. Diabetes was attributed to 72,507 deaths in 2006. In 2005 diabetes claimed 233,619 lives. Death is twice as likely to occur with a diabetic then a non diabetic of approximately the same age. A more exact estimate of deaths linked to diabetes is difficult to obtain because diabetes is often underreported as a cause of death. Diabetes is listed as the primary cause of death on a death certificate only 35-40% of the time and is listed as an underlying cause of death 10-15% of the time.
Many other medical complications are common in diabetics. In 2004 heart disease was noted on 68% of death certificates of diabetics age 65 and older. Stroke was recorded on 16% of death certificates of diabetics age 65 and older in 2004. Adult diabetics are two to four times more likely to have heart disease and strokes. In 2003-2004 75% of adults with self reported diabetes also had high blood pressure levels, also known as hypertension, or were currently taking blood pressure medications.
Numerous studies have shown that diet has a significant impact on the likelihood of being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The increase of children being diagnosed with a disease that was historically found in adults demonstrates the need for children to be educated about healthy food choices. Foods like Popcake pancakes are low calorie and 97% fat free. Foods like Popcake pancakes can be incorporated into a diet that promotes good health and well being and may aid in the prevention of the development of some diseases like type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
