Diabetes facts, figures, and myths
Diabetes facts
1 in 11 people in the U.S. has been diagnosed with diabetes. 1 in 2 is undiagnosed.
- CDC, 2020
1 in 3 people in the U.S. is prediabetic.
- CDC, 2020
... someone has a diabetes-related amputation.
- American Journal of Managed Care
- World Health Organization, 2019
Obesity facts
By 2030, 1 in 2 Americans will be obese.
- American Journal of
Preventative Medicine
Using the model for weight gain 'calories in vs. calories out,' the difference between a healthy weight and overweight adult is 10 calories per day more over a lifetime, or the equivalent of one potato chip too many a day.
- Obesity Action Coalition
Diabetes and obesity myths
Myth: Diabetes is a bigger problem in North America and Europe than the rest of the world.
Fact: more than 10% of people in the US have diabetes. That's shockingly high, but it ranks 59th worldwide behind the Marshall Islands at 30%, Sudan at 22%, Pakistan at 19%, and Belize at 17%.
Diabetes is a global issue. - The World Bank
Myth: We get obesity or type 2 diabetes because we eat more in calories than we expend in exercise.
Fact: We really don't know what causes diabetes and studies implicate everything from gut bacteria to microplastics to working the night shift. While being overweight is a strong risk factor for type 2 diabetes, genetics, family history, and other environmental factors are too.
Myth: Type 2 diabetes and obesity are easily reversed by eating less and exercising more.
Fact: While weight loss is beneficial to those of us who are overweight, eating less and exercising are unreliable for diabetes remission. For example, 3.5% of people experienced 4-year remission in this study. We should make healthy choices, however, often eating less and exercising don't stop or reverse diabetes.