The problem of diabetes in the U.S. is likely to be even worse than it appears This graph reflects only diagnosed cases of diabetes. But, 1 in 3 people with diabetes is unaware that he or she has the disease. If you do not know that you have diabetes and you are not being treated, your diabetes is not controlled, and you are at even greater risk of developing complications such as heart disease, blindness, or kidney disease.

The uptick in diagnosed cases between 2000-2004 may reflect an increase in the number of overall cases, possibly due to under-representation of Hispanics in earlier data sets, or it may reflect improvements in diagnosing diabetes in previously undiagnosed individuals.

Predictions of future cases of diagnosed diabetes paint a sobering picture. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention project that, by 2050, nearly 50 million Americans will have been diagnosed with diabetes.

Source: Data for 1960-2004 from the National Health Interview Survey, NCHS, CDC. Projected data for 2005-2050 from Narayan KMV, et al, Diabetes Care 29:2114-2116, 2006.