Diabetes Information

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People & Diabetes

Who Gets Diabetes?

Diabetes can strike anyone in all stages of life, from infancy to the elderly, in people of all shapes, sizes, and ethnicities. Over 11 million people in the U.S. know they have diabetes and another 7 million have it but are unaware of it.

Type 1 diabetes accounts for between 5 to 10% of all diagnosed diabetes in the United States. It occurs equally among males and females, but is more common in whites than in nonwhites. The risk of developing type 1 diabetes is higher than virtually all other severe chronic diseases of childhood. Type 1 diabetes tends to run in families. Brothers and sisters of children with type 1 diabetes have about a 10% chance of developing the disease by age 50.

Type 2 diabetes is more common in older people, especially in people who are overweight and leads a nonactive lifestyle. People of African-American, American Indian, Asian American, Hispanic, and Pacific Islander background are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is generally associated with adults, but a growing number of children and adolescents are developing it. As the U.S. population becomes increasingly overweight, Type 2 diabetes appear to be becoming more frequent in younger, pre-pubescent children.

This section contains the following information:

• Women & Diabetes
• Men & Diabetes
• Children & Diabetes
• Air Travel & Diabetes

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