Diabetes: The Numbers Game

It's an equation for which you decide the solution.

Negative Numbers – One of every nine U.S. adults has diabetes, up from one out of 10 just last year. While this fact will most seriously affect those who just joined that crowd of some 26 million Americans, you too should pay attention. Especially since twice that number – 54 million – have prediabetes, putting them at risk for type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and eye disease.

Researchers have calculated that if trends continue, more than 37 million Americans will be living with diabetes by the end of 2015. This upward climb mirrors the country's rapid increase in obesity. In fact, the obese are three times as likely to be diagnosed with diabetes as are people of normal weight.

The states that showed the highest increase in obesity rates also showed the highest increase in diabetes rates, and the opposite was true for those states where obesity has not run rampant.

Other numbers paint a lifestyle picture. For example, only 8 percent of diabetics reported getting at least 30 minutes of exercise at least four times a week, while twice that many reported little or no exercise.

Positive Numbers – When people at risk for diabetes lost weight and increased their physical activity, they reduced their development of diabetes by 58 percent over 3 years. When adults over 60 followed a similar program, the reduction jumped to 71 percent. So run and dance and jump for joy – you're winning the numbers game.

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