Diabetes Fact Sheet

More than 1.3 million Texans have Diabetes.

One out of every 10 healthcare dollars is spent on diabetes.

Diabetes claims a life every three minutes.

Diabetes and its complications kill more people than Aids, and breast cancer combined.

The funded rate per patient:

• Aids cure research is funded at a rate of $2,450 per patient
• Breast cancer at a rate of $230 per patient
• Heart disease cure research at a rate of $180 per patient
• DIABETES CURE RESEARCH IS FUNDED AT ONLY $28 PER PATIENT

In 1997 the cost (direct and indirect) of Diabetes in Texas was $9.2 billion.

Diabetes affects all age groups, from infants to senior citizens.

Type I diabetes is increasing at a rate of 3.5 percent each year.

The age of onset is falling dramatically, babies as young as 3 months are being diagnosed.

Diabetes is disproportionately prevalent among Mexican Americans and African Americans.

Diabetes affects every organ of the body.

Diabetes is the leading cause of new adult blindness, kidney failure and non-traumatic amputations, as well as a leading factor for heart disease, stroke, nerve disease and problems in pregnancy.