A key objective of D.R.E.A.M. is to raise awareness about diabetes and inform the public of the growing epidemic of juvenile diabetes. Below are important facts* to note.

Warning Signs

Warning signs of T1D often appear suddenly and may include:

  • Drowsiness or lethargy

  • Extreme thirst

  • Frequent urination

  • Fruity odor on the breath

  • Increased appetite

  • Heavy or labored breathing

  • Sudden weight loss

  • Sudden vision changes

  • Sugar in the urine

  • Stupor or unconsciousness

Diabetes by the numbers

~1.6 million Americans are living with T1D.

including about 200,000 youth (less than 20

years old) and 1.4 million adults (20 years old And

older)

  • 64,000 people are diagnosed each year in the U.S

  • 5 million people in the U.S. are expected to have T1D by 2050, including nearly 600,000 youth.

  • Between 2001 and 2009, there was a 21 percent increase in the prevalence of T1D in people under age 20.

  • In the U.S., there are $16 billion in T1D-associated healthcare expenditures and lost income annually.

  • Less than one-third of people with T1D in the U.S. are consistently achieving target blood-glucose control levels.

Diabetes in youth

  • About 210,000 Americans under age 20 are estimated to have diagnosed diabetes, approximately 0.25% of that population.

  • In 2014—2015, the annual incidence of diagnosed diabetes in youth was estimated at 18,200 with type 1 diabetes, 5,800 with type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes by race/ethnicity

The rates of diagnosed diabetes in adults by race/ethnic background are:

  • 7.5% of non-Hispanic whites

  • 9.2% of Asian Americans

  • 12.5% of Hispanics

  • 11.7% of non-Hispanic blacks

  • 14.7% of American Indians/Alaskan Natives

The breakdown among Asian Americans:

  • 5.6% of Chinese

  • 10.4% of Filipinos

  • 12.6% of Asian Indians

  • 9.9% of other Asian Americans

The breakdown among Hispanic adults:

  • 8.3% of Central and South Americans

  • 6.5% of Cubans

  • 14.4% of Mexican Americans

  • 12.4% of Puerto Ricans

Deaths

Diabetes was the seventh leading cause of death in the United States in 2017 based on the 83,564 death certificates in which diabetes was listed as the underlying cause of death. In 2017, diabetes was mentioned as a cause of death in a total of 270,702 certificates.

Diabetes may be underreported as a cause of death. Studies have found that only about 35% to 40% of people with diabetes who died had diabetes listed anywhere on the death certificate and about 10% to 15% had it listed as the underlying cause of death.

Cost of diabetes

Updated March 22, 2018

$327 billion: Total cost of diagnosed diabetes in the United States in 2017

$237 billion was for direct medical costs

$90 billion was in reduced productivity

After adjusting for population age and sex differences, average medical expenditures among people with diagnosed diabetes were 2.3 times higher than what expenditures would be in the absence of diabetes.

For additional information

For additional information, read the CDC National Diabetes Statistics Report, 2020.