What is striking, however, is the fact that this number had increased over 32 percent since the last survey by the CDC done in 1990. Furthermore, the increase occurred in every state, every ethnic group, and at all ages. In fact, the biggest percentage increases occurred in the younger age groups, with a 40 percent increase in those between age 40 and 49, and a 70 percent increase in those individuals between 30 and 39. There is not only much more diabetes, but it is occurring at younger and younger ages. In fact, the average body weight for both men and women rose by almost 8 pounds in this short eight-year span.
Similar trends are apparent throughout the world, and are even worse in less developed countries.
Indeed, the World Health Organization is predicting an increase in the number of people with diabetes around the world from 140 million to over 300 million by the year 2025, with most of this increase occurring in less developed countries as they assume more westernized life styles. For a non-communicable disease, this rate of increase in prevalence represents a true epidemic. When these figures are extrapolated to the population of the U.S., there are now 13 million people over 18 with diagnosed diabetes. Furthermore, this recent study indicates that more of these people with diabetes are developing the disease at younger ages. They usually occur after 15-20 years of exposure to high blood glucose levels.