The prevalence of diabetes has increased in the United States, with an estimated rate of 12% to 14% among adults, according to a study published September 8 in JAMA. The data suggested a higher prevalence among individuals who were Hispanic, non-Hispanic black, and non-Hispanic Asian.
Andy Menke, PhD, and colleagues estimated the prevalence and trends in total diabetes, diagnosed diabetes, and undiagnosed diabetes using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). To estimate recent prevalence, 2,781 adults from 2011 to 2012 were included. An additional 23,634 adults from 1988 to 2010 were used to estimate trends. Defining diabetes as a hemoglobin A1c level of 6.5% or greater or a fasting plasma glucose level of 126 mg/dL or greater, the researchers estimated that the prevalence of total diabetes increased from 9.8% between 1988 and 1994 to 10.8% between 2001 and 2002 to 12.4% between 2011 and 2012.
These increases were significant in every age group, in both sexes, in every racial/ethnic group, by all education levels, and in all poverty income ratio tertiles.
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