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Prevalence of Diabetes in the US by Type

MMWR; 2018 Mar 30; Bullard, Cowie, et al

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) was 21 million US adults in 2016, with prevalence estimates increasing with age, a new study shows. The study sample included 3,519 respondents aged ≥18 years from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) who reported having diabetes. Researchers examined the prevalence of diagnosed diabetes by diabetes type in the US in 2016. They found:

  • The prevalence of diagnosed type 1 diabetes (T1D) was 0.55%, representing 1.3 million US adults.
  • The prevalence of diagnosed T2D was 8.6%, representing 21.0 million US adults.
  • Non-Hispanic white adults had a higher prevalence of diagnosed T1D compared with Hispanic adults.
  • Non-Hispanic blacks had the highest incidence of diagnosed T2D diabetes.
  • Diagnosed T2D prevalence estimates increased with age and decreased with increasing levels of educational attainment.

Citation:

Bullard KM, Cowie CC, Lessem SE, et al. Prevalence of diagnosed diabetes in adults by diabetes type—United States, 2016. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2018;67:359–361. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6712a2.