January 26/Atlanta/CDC Division of News and Electronic Media -- Nearly 26 million Americans have diabetes, according to new estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In addition, an estimated 79 million U.S. adults have prediabetes, a condition in which blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. Prediabetes raises a person's risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke.
Diabetes affects 8.3% of Americans of all ages, and 11.3% of adults aged 20 and older, according to the National Diabetes Fact Sheet for 2011. About 27% of those with diabetes -- 7 million Americans -- do not know they have the disease. Prediabetes affects 35% of adults aged 20 and older.