Diabetes Association Releases Statement on the Socioecological Determinants of Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes

ADA  June 20, 2013

The epidemic growth of type 2 diabetes in the U.S. over the past decade has clearly been shown to be associated with social, environmental and economic factors, as outlined in a Scientific Statement released today by the American Diabetes Association at its 73rd Scientific Sessions®. The release of the statement coincides with a call for research applications to target these socioecological factors in a rigorous scientific manner, so that programs may be developed that would strive to prevent diabetes through community-based interventions

The statement notes that “current prevalence rates are staggering” for both obesity and type 2 diabetes, “and are expected to continue to climb over the ensuing decades.” One-third of adults and up to 18 percent of youth are obese, while one in three Americans are expected to develop type 2 diabetes by the year 2050 if current trends continue. Currently, 8.3 percent of the U.S. population lives with diabetes and an additional 35 percent have prediabetes, putting them at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes.  Read more