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Over 38 million people in the U.S. are living with diabetes, and the prevalence is growing. The percentage of the U.S. population with diabetes has increased from 9.7% in 2000 to 14.3% in 2023—an upward trend that is expected to continue.
When not managed, diabetes can cause complications such as heart disease, kidney disease, stroke and eye issues that can lead to vision loss. Diabetes also contributes substantially to rising health care costs, accounting for 25% of health care spending in the U.S. Between 48% and 64% of lifetime medical costs for diabetes are due to complications from unmanaged blood sugar levels.
Preventing and managing diabetes can be challenging. That’s why high-quality, evidence-based preventive and chronic care should be accessible and convenient—both for better clinical outcomes and a lower cost burden on the health care system.
Diabetes prevention and risk factors
Type 2 diabetes accounts for 90%-95% of diabetes cases, and most of the time it can be prevented. Prevention anchors on understanding risk factors, including family history, excess body weight, physical inactivity, smoking, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol among others. Additionally, as people age, diabetes screening becomes an increasingly critical part of overall preventive care. Nearly half of American adults over age 65 have prediabetes, which can develop into type 2 diabetes if not managed.
Health care providers play an important role in educating patients on preventive measures and guiding them on blood sugar screenings based on their individual health risks and needs.
Personalized diabetes management for better outcomes
Once diagnosed, diabetes requires ongoing management to make sure that blood sugar remains within an acceptable range. The treatment journey looks different for everyone. For some, lifestyle modifications may be enough to reduce and maintain blood sugar levels within normal range and below the threshold for diabetes. Others may benefit from medications, of which there are several classes approved by the FDA for managing diabetes.
Sticking to a treatment plan can be challenging, but personalized support can help patients stay on track. Treatment adherence is important for preventing complications.
Diabetes support through Health Care Delivery
“Diabetes management demonstrates the importance of proactive and personalized care to our patients,” says Sree Chaguturu, MD, President of Health Care Delivery at CVS Health®. “Care that considers the whole person and emphasizes prevention and early intervention supports better outcomes and lower costs of care, which is why we are committed to this approach at CVS Health.”
