Diabetes Cases Rapidly Rise in the US

 

The number of adults struggling with diabetes has risen to over 23 million individuals throughout the country, marking a drastic percentage of the overall population.

The CDC has noted that a majority of these cases are related to type 2 diabetes, which represents a significant 21 million of the people represented. This particular strain of the disease is mainly linked with problems such as obesity, which is something that can be actively avoided by a majority of people with a little effort. Another 1.3 million cases are connected to type 1 diabetes, which is caused by an autoimmune disorder that prevents the body from making enough insulin to competently function.

The Difference between Type 1 and 2 Diabetes

Dr. Robert Courgi, a diabetes specialist in New York noted that 10% of the American population had been affected by the disease, and that the popular type 2 diabetes is usually treated through the prescription of pills. Speaking on type 1 diabetes, the doctor stressed the importance of identifying the disease early on for enhanced chances of successful treatment. Dr. Courgi acknowledged the difficulty of diagnosing the condition, and warned that if left untreated, it could result in the destruction of the pancreas. Type 1 diabetes is mainly treated via insulin injections.

Diabetes and the American Population

Research from the CDC has discovered that different types of diabetes exhibit prevalence amongst certain groups and communities. Type 1 diabetes was mostly diagnosed in white adults, as compared to the number of similar cases identified within the Hispanic community. Type 2 diabetes exhibited prevalence in African American societies, with the highest percentage recorded at 11.5%. 8% of Caucasians were also affected, as well as 9% of Hispanics. It was noted that the disease’s prevalence rose with age, but also decreased in cases of advanced education levels and improve income.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted that there had also been around 800, 000 cases of different diabetes forms unrelated to type 1 and 2. These included versions such as the latent autoimmune disorder that only manifests in the adult population, among others. Data for the study was collected from over 33, 000 individuals by the National Interview Survey, and pioneered the inclusion of additional questions to help categorize the case by the type of diabetes suffered.

Dr. Caroline Messer, a leading endocrinologist in New York talked about the value this latest research had brought to the exploration of type 1 diabetes, noting that this version had nearly been ignored as a result of the large number of people suffering from its counterpart. She believes that the latest numbers regarding this form of diabetes will encourage the funding needed in order for efficient progress to be made regarding an effective solution.

The doctor mentioned the numerous treatments that have flooded the market related to type 2 diabetes, and expressed the need for similar efforts to be placed regarding the type 1 version for the sake of its victims.