Data & Trends

Diabetes Surveillance System

1999 Surveillance Report

Chapter 2: Prevalence and Incidence

Diabetes is becoming more common. The numbers of existing cases (prevalent cases) and new cases (incident cases) of diabetes are increasing, and most of this increase is not due to aging of the U.S. population. Trends also show that minority and elderly populations are disproportionately affected by diabetes.

Between 1980 and 1996, the number of persons with diagnosed diabetes increased by 2.7 million (Figure 2.1; Table 2.1). In 1996, about 8.5 million persons in the United States (3.2% of the population) reported that they had diabetes mellitus (Figure 2.1; Table 2.8).

Between 1980 and 1996, the age-adjusted prevalence of diagnosed diabetes increased 19% compared with an increase of 26% in the crude prevalence (Figure 2.2; Table 2.8), indicating that less than 30% of the increase in prevalence is due to the aging of the U.S. population. This increase appears to be a recent trend, with more than 75% of the increase in age-adjusted prevalence having occurred in the 1990s.

The age-adjusted prevalence of diagnosed diabetes was higher among blacks than whites throughout the 1980s and early 1990s and was highest among black females (Figure 2.3; Tables 2.11, 2.12, 2.13, and 2.14). The rate of increase between 1980 and 1996 in age-adjusted prevalence was highest among black males (50% increase) and lowest among white females (10% increase).

The age-specific prevalence of diabetes in 1994-1996 increased with age until age > 75 years (Figure 2.4). Prevalence increased in all age groups: the 45-64 age group increased 10% and all other age groups increased more than 20%. Prevalence was higher for blacks than for whites in each of the age groups, and, in general, the prevalence of diabetes was highest for black females. Between 1980 and 1996, the largest increases in prevalence (more than 50%) were seen among black males and females aged 65 years and older (Tables 2.13 and 2.14).

Age-Adjusted prevalence of diagnosed diabetes among adults in 1996 varied by state and, in general, was lowest in the western states (Figure 2.5; Tables 2.17). Alabama and Louisiana had the highest age-adjusted prevalence among adults (6.0%), about twice the prevalence in Montana (2.9%), which had the lowest prevalence.

The incidence of diabetes increased in the early 1980s, leveled off in the middle of the decade, and then increased in the 1990s (Figure 2.7; Table 2.21). In 1996, the age-adjusted incidence of diabetes (2.79 per 1,000 population) was 18% higher than the incidence in 1980 (2.36 per 1,000 population). In the 1990s, the number of new cases of diabetes averaged more than 760,000 per year (Figure 2.6; Table 2.18). With these cross-sectional data, it is impossible to determine whether this increased incidence is due to a true increase in disease incidence, increased case ascertainment, or a combination of these factors.

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This page last reviewed January 18, 2005.

United States Department of Health and Human Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Division of Diabetes Translation