Diabetes numbers rise, CDC says

The number of Americans who have type 2 diabetes has risen to nearly 26 million, federal officials announced today.

In addition, about 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, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prediabetes raises a person's risk of type 2
diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

In 2008, CDC estimated that 23.6 million Americans had diabetes and an additional 57 million adults had prediabetes.

"These distressing numbers show how important it is to prevent type 2 diabetes and to help those who have diabetes manage the disease to prevent serious complications such as kidney failure and blindness," said the CDC's Ann Albright in a statement. "We know that a structured lifestyle program that includes losing weight and increasing physical activity can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes."

About 7 million Americans do not know they have the disease.

The increase was caused by a number of factors, including:

-- More people are developing diabetes. Obesity, which has been increasing, is a leading cause of diabetes.

-- Medical advances are enabling many people to live longer with diabetes.

-- A test known as hemoglobin A1c is now being used to diagnose diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes, which is most common form of the disease, occurs when the body gradually loses the ability to control blood sugar levels. Risk factors include older age, obesity, family history and being sedentary. African Americans, Hispanics and American Indians are among those at increased risk.

Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. People with diabetes are more likely to have heart attacks, strokes, high blood pressure, kidney failure, blindness and require amputations. Diabetes costs $174 billion annually, according to the CDC.

By Rob Stein