Diabetes and Gender: Understanding the Facts & Trends

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that 23.6 million people in the United States have diabetes. Between 1980 and 2002, the number of people with diabetes has doubled. By 2050, the number is expected to double again.

What is Diabetes?

• Diabetes is a disease that occurs when your body does not produce enough insulin, resulting in increased blood glucose levels.

Gender

• Currently, more men than women have diabetes. However, little evidence suggests that those of a certain gender are more likely to become diabetic. Diabetes is determined more by other risk factors.

Race and Ethnicity

• Native Americans, African Americans, Asian Americans and Hispanics are the people groups most likely to develop diabetes.

Family History

• If you have family members with diabetes, you are more likely to develop diabetes.

Age

• People of all ages have diabetes, but children and seniors are affected the most. Because of increased childhood obesity rates, diabetes is dramatically increasing in children under 18 years of age. The CDC estimates one in 500 children have diabetes, whereas 23 percent of adults who are 60 years or older have diabetes.

Other Factors

• If you are overweight or have high blood pressure, you are more likely to develop diabetes.