U.S. diabetes burden grew since 2000
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Roughly 1 in 6 American adults are thought to have diabetes, including undiagnosed cases, up from 10% at the turn of the century, new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data show.
Why it matters: Even as the U.S. pays more attention to metabolic diseases and is consumed with diabetes and anti-obesity drugs, the burden of the disease is growing and complicating care in an already taxed health care system.
- The American Diabetes Association called it the most expensive chronic condition in the U.S., estimating the cost of diagnosed diabetes in the U.S. in 2022 was $412.9 billion, including $306.6 billion in direct medical costs.
What the found: When adjusting for age, the prevalence of diabetes increased from 9.7% in 1999-2000 to 14.3% in the August 2021-August 2023 time period.
- Diabetes was most common in adults 60 and older (27.3%) followed by adults ages 40-59 (17.7%).
- Men had a higher prevalence diabetes (18%) compared with women (13.7%).
- Roughly a quarter of those with diabetes are undiagnosed.
What we're watching: There continues to be a push for $35 insulin caps in the commercial market, pointing to insulin costs that are high compared with other countries.
