Diabetes Information Overview

Written by HealthyPlace.com Staff Writer

Definition of diabetes, types of diabetes, impact of diabetes, populations at risk for diabetes covered here.

What Is Diabetes?

• a disorder of metabolism—the way the body uses or converts food for energy and growth

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What Are the Main Types of Diabetes?

• type 1 diabetes
• type 2 diabetes
• gestational diabetes

What Is the Impact of Diabetes?

• It affects 23.6 million people—7.8 percent of the U.S. population.
• It is a leading cause of death and disability.
• It costs $174 billion per year.

Who Gets Diabetes?

• people of any age
• people with a family history of diabetes
• others at high risk for type 2 diabetes: older people, overweight and sedentary people, African Americans, Alaska Natives, American Indians, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, some Pacific Islander Americans, and Hispanics/Latinos

Sources:

• National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, NIH Publication No. 09-3873 (November 2008)

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