Diabetes Update: Beyond Glycemic Management – Nurse Practitioner

In 2021, insulin will celebrate its 100th anniversary. Yet a century after the discovery of insulin, the US is experiencing an escalation in the number of diabetes cases. In 2020, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that 34.2 million Americans (11% of the US population) have diabetes and 88 million American adults (35% of the US adult population) have prediabetes. New diabetes cases were higher among non-Hispanic blacks and people of Hispanic origin. Additionally, racial and ethnic minorities continue to develop type 2 diabetes at higher rates. The occurrence of diagnosed diabetes was highest among American Indians and Alaska Natives (14.7%), followed by people of Hispanic origin (12.5%), non-Hispanic blacks (11.7%), non-Hispanic Asians (9.2%) and non-Hispanic whites (7.5%). Coupled with the rising prevalence of diabetes is the obesity epidemic. Obesity is defined as a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 30 kg/m; severe obesity is a BMI greater than or equal to 40 kg/m2. In 2017–2018, 42% of adults in the US were considered obese. By age group, the incidence was 40% for 20 - 39 year old adults; nearly 45% for 40 - 59 year old adults; and nearly 43% among adults 60 years and older. Both obesity and severe obesity were highest in non-Hispanic black adults and higher among women than men.