More than 18 million Americans have diabetes. Now the sixth leading cause of death in America , diabetes is responsible for over 200,000 deaths each year. The number of U.S. adults with diagnosed diabetes, including women with gestational diabetes (diabetes that develops during pregnancy), has increased 61% since 1991 and is projected to more than double by 2050.

Diabetes is becoming more common in the United States. From 1980 through 2003, the number of Americans with diabetes more than doubled (from 5.8 million to 13.8 million). As the detailed tables show, people aged 65 years or older account for almost 40% of the population with diabetes. Between 1996 and 1997 an unusually large increase occurred in the number of people with diagnosed diabetes. Part of this increase may be a result of changes in the survey used to measure diagnosed diabetes.

Data Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics, Division of Health Interview Statistics, data from the National Health Interview Survey. U.S. Bureau of the Census, census of the population and population estimates. Data computed by the CDC's Division of Diabetes Translation, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.

Prevalence of total diabetes in the United States , all ages -- United States , 2002

Total: 18.2 million people - 6.3% of the population - have diabetes.

Diagnosed: 13 million people

Undiagnosed: 5.2 million people

Data Source: 1999-2001 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. U.S. Bureau of the Census, 2002 population estimates.