Diabetes has tremendous impact on the health of the nation. An estimated 20.8 million people in the United States—7.0 percent of the population—have diabetes. Of those, 14.6 million have been diagnosed, and 6.2 million have not yet been diagnosed. In 2005, about 1.5 million people aged 20 or older were diagnosed with diabetes.

Approximately 3.2 million African Americans, ages 20 years and older (or 13.3 percent), have diabetes, one-third of whom are undiagnosed. On average, African Americans are 1.8 times more likely to have diabetes as non-Hispanic whites of similar age.

Diabetes is one of the leading causes of death and disability in the United States. Total health care and related costs for the treatment of diabetes run about $132 billion annually.

In this section, health professionals will find information to help educate patients about diabetes and help those with the disease to better manage this condition.

Other Resources.

For additional information about diabetes and the African American patient, click here.

For other diabetes resources from the National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP), click here.

For additional resources relevant for health care professionals, visit the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse and the diabetes section of Medline Plus.

The National Diabetes Education Initiative is an educational program focused on type 2 diabetes for CME educational programming for healthcare professionals involved in the care and management of patients with type 2 diabetes. The website includes PowerPoint presentations, CME offerings, case studies, etc.