More than 21 million Americans have diabetes. The number of adults with diabetes has increased by 61 percent since 1991 and is projected to more than double by 2050. Diabetes costs the United States nearly $132 million annually in medical expenditures and lost productivity.

If a diabetic's blood sugar is not controlled adequately, it can cause a variety of serious health problems, such as blindness, amputations and kidney disease. The average annual health cost for a person with diabetes in 2002 was $13,243, compared to $2,560 for a person without the disease. A significant portion of these costs are borne by state healthcare systems.

Type 2 diabetes and many of its complications can be prevented. Every state has implemented diabetes education, prevention and control programs that help raise awareness, detect diabetes earlier, prevent complications and improve the quality of care. Prevention programs not only help improve quality of life, they also improve a state's bottom line. For example, every $1 spent on training to help diabetics manage their disease can cut health care costs by up to $8.76.

Do you want to know how many diabetics in your state get recommend blood screening tests that can help prevent costly complications? Would you like to know how your state stacks up with the rest of the nation in the number of diabetics who smoke, are obese or say their disease limits their ability to do normal activities? You can learn all these answers and more with the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's expanded Diabetes Data & Trends Web site.

Community Health Resources

Learn more about diabetes prevention and management programs in CDC's Community Health Resources, including fact sheets, state and local program contacts, communication materials and state data.

World Diabetes Day Proclamation

Here is a sample proclamation that legislators can use to show their support of the United National resolution declaring November 14 every year as World Diabetes Day. It will be observed for the first time this year.

Controlling Diabetes to Save Sight

With more Americans being diagnosed with diabetes at a younger age, states can expect more of their residents to develop complications such as blindness if the disease is not adequately controlled. Find out what that could mean for states in this August 2006 article from State News.

Using Sound Science to Prevent Chronic Disease: State Policy Implications

This TrendsAlert describes 20 key proven strategies to prevent chronic diseases and promote good health. It also explores factors—such as insurance coverage and low health literacy—that affect the use of proven interventions.  It reveals how policymakers can prevent significant costs and illness by acting decisively to employ underutilized prevention strategies.

Preventing Diabetes and Its Complications: What Works in the Hispanic Community

Hispanic Americans are 1.5 times more likely to have diabetes than non-Hispanic whites. The disease can lead to heart disease, blindness, kidney failure, amputations and death.  Yet diabetes can be prevented and its dire complications avoided. This Web conference described best practices and effective prevention strategies for Hispanic communities. Read the issue brief for more resources and a summary of the conference.

Did you know that one in nine U.S. adults have chronic kidney disease and another 20 million more are at an increased risk for developing it? If someone has diabetes, he or she is at an increased risk for kidney disease. African-Americans are four times more likely than whites to develop kidney failure.

Click here to learn more about how kidney disease is affecting African-Americans.

Click here to learn more about a free health screening program aimed at those who are at risk.

Click here for more information from the CDC about diabetes in general.