Half U.S. Adults Have Diabetes or Pre-Diabetes In 2011-2012, the estimated prevalence of diabetes among U.S. adults was 12 percent to 14 percent and the prevalence of pre-diabetes was 37 percent to 38 percent, indicating that about half of the U.S. adult population has either diabetes or pre-diabetes, according to a study in theåÊ JAMA. Diabetes is a major cause of illness and death in the United States, costing an estimated $245 billion in 2012 due to increased use of health resources and lost productivity. Researchers included data from surveys conducted between 1988-1994 and 1999-2012; 2,781 adults from 2011-2012 were used to estimate recent prevalence and an additional 23,634 adults from 1988-2010 were used to estimate trends. In the overall 2011-2012 population, prevalence was 14.3 percent for total diabetes, 9.1 percent for diagnosed diabetes, 5.2 percent for undiagnosed diabetes, and 38 percent for pre-diabetes; among those with diabetes, 36.4 percent were undiagnosed. The prevalence of total diabetes was higher among non-Hispanic black participants (21.8 percent), non-Hispanic Asian participants (20.6 percent), and Hispanic participants (22.6 percent). The prevalence of pre-diabetes was greater than 30 percent in all sex and racial/ethnic categories, and generally highest among non-Hispanic white individuals and non-Hispanic black individuals. The authors note that although there was an increase in diabetes prevalence between 1988- 1994 and 2011-2012, prevalence estimates changed little between 2007-2008 and 2011-2012. ‰ÛÏThis plateauing of diabetes prevalence is consistent with obesity trends in the United States showing a leveling off around the same period.‰Û Of course all this said, the statistics are appalling. What is important to remember is that diabetes can be controlled and eliminated with diet and exercise. It is a lifestyle disease for the most part.