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I have been looking at Diabetes data lately and thought I would share with you some of the more interesting statistics, coming from multiple sources, but still underscoring the phenomenon that we are on the front end of a diabetes epidemic in the US.

Like the rolling credits at the end of a film, here we go.

• By 2020 an estimated 52% of the adult population of the US will be either Diabetic or Pre-Diabetic.

• Health spending on Diabetes and Pre-Diabetes costs about $194 billion today (around 7% of total healthcare expenditures) and is expected to increase to $500 billion by 2020 (at least 10% of total healthcare expenditures).
• Most people with Diabetes are diagnosed between 4-7 years after they become diabetic.
• 90% of pre-Diabetics and 25% of Diabetics are not aware of their condition.
• Type-2 Diabetes represents 95% of all diagnosed cases.
• The prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes has tripled since the 1980s (causes are believed to be due to the aging population, the longer lifespan of diabetics, and the increase in the prevalence of obesity)
• The average annual medical costs for diabetics in commercial insurance plans tends to range from 1.8x-4.7x ($7,800-$20,700) the average annual cost of the remaining members of an insured population (around $4,400).
• The average cost for diabetes increases significantly (into the 4.7x category) depending on complications, the most common being hypertension, the others being cardiovascular disease, including peripheral artery disease (PAD), and kidney failure.
• Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in working age people and a major source of Fetal and Maternal mortality during pregnancy.
• $1 in $4 Medicare dollars go toward the treatment of Diabetes.
• Diabetics use 4-6 times more medical services than non-diabetics.
• Diabetics have an average of 23 contacts/year with physicians.
• Utilization of physician services by Diabetics is increasing at around 30% per year.

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Thanks to the United Health Center for Health Reform and Modernization and EosHealth, among others, for much of the above data.