Type 2 Diabetes Statistics in US 2025 | Key Facts

Type 2 Diabetes in US 2025

The landscape of type 2 diabetes in the United States has reached critical proportions as we navigate through 2025, representing one of the most pressing public health challenges facing the nation. This chronic metabolic condition continues to affect millions of Americans across all age groups, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds, creating an unprecedented burden on healthcare systems, families, and the economy. The statistics paint a sobering picture of a disease that has grown significantly over the past five decades, with current data indicating that type 2 diabetes accounts for 90-95% of all diagnosed diabetes cases among adults in the United States. Understanding these numbers becomes essential not only for healthcare professionals and policymakers but also for individuals seeking to comprehend their own risk factors and the broader implications of this epidemic on American society.

The year 2025 marks fifty years since Congress received the National Commission on Diabetes report, which originally highlighted that diabetes affected approximately 5% of the population. Since that pivotal moment in 1975, the prevalence has more than doubled, driven primarily by substantial increases in obesity rates, sedentary lifestyles, and demographic shifts toward an aging population. Today’s statistics reveal a more complex and challenging scenario where 38.4 million Americans live with diabetes, with the overwhelming majority suffering from type 2 diabetes. These figures underscore the urgent need for comprehensive prevention strategies, improved screening protocols, and enhanced management approaches that can address the multifaceted nature of this disease. The data collected from multiple U.S. government agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health, provides crucial insights into prevalence rates, demographic disparities, economic costs, complications, and emerging trends that shape our understanding of type 2 diabetes in 2025.

Key Type 2 Diabetes Facts in the US 2025

Data Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Diabetes Statistics Report, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), American Diabetes Association

The data presented reveals the staggering scope of type 2 diabetes in the United States during 2025, with numbers that demand immediate attention from both public health officials and the general population. The fact that 11.6% of the entire U.S. population lives with diabetes represents a substantial increase from historical levels, and when we consider that type 2 diabetes comprises 90-95% of these cases, the magnitude of this specific form becomes undeniable. Perhaps most concerning is the revelation that 8.7 million Americans remain undiagnosed, representing 22.8% of all adults with diabetes, which means nearly one in four individuals with the condition remains unaware of their status and consequently receives no treatment. This hidden epidemic poses severe risks for complications and premature mortality, as untreated diabetes can silently damage multiple organ systems over years before diagnosis.

The statistics on prediabetes are equally alarming, with 97.6 million American adults currently in this intermediate state where blood glucose levels exceed normal ranges but have not yet reached diabetic thresholds. This represents 38.0% of the adult population, meaning more than one in three American adults stands on the precipice of developing full-blown type 2 diabetes without intervention. The annual diagnosis rate of 1.2 million new cases demonstrates that despite decades of public health campaigns and medical advances, the incidence continues at troubling levels. Even more disturbing is the emergence of type 2 diabetes in youth, with 5,300 young people diagnosed annually, a condition that historically affected only middle-aged and older adults. The economic implications reach $412.9 billion annually, encompassing both direct medical costs and indirect losses from reduced productivity, disability, and premature death. The mortality rate of 53.95 deaths per 100,000 people in 2023 represents more than double the rate observed in 1999, highlighting the deadly progression of this disease when inadequately managed.

Prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes in the US 2025

Data Source: CDC National Center for Health Statistics, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) August 2021–August 2023

The prevalence of type 2 diabetes demonstrates a clear and dramatic correlation with age, as evidenced by data collected through the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted between August 2021 and August 2023. Among younger adults aged 20-39 years, the total diabetes prevalence stands at 3.6%, with 2.2% diagnosed and 1.3% remaining undiagnosed. This relatively modest percentage masks the concerning reality that type 2 diabetes increasingly affects younger populations who face decades of living with the disease and its complications. The prevalence escalates sharply in middle age, with adults aged 40-59 years showing a total prevalence of 17.7%, representing nearly one in six individuals in this age bracket. Within this group, 12.1% carry diagnosed diabetes while 5.6% remain unaware of their condition, highlighting significant gaps in screening and detection among working-age Americans.

The highest burden falls upon older adults, where those aged 60 years and above experience a total prevalence of 27.3%, meaning more than one in four individuals in this demographic lives with diabetes. Among this senior population, 20.5% have received formal diagnoses while 6.8% continue undiagnosed. When examining adults aged 65 and older specifically, the prevalence reaches 29.2%, translating to approximately 16.5 million seniors managing diabetes in their later years. The overall adult prevalence across all age groups stands at 15.8%, with 11.6% diagnosed and 4.2% undiagnosed, numbers that have steadily climbed from 10.3% in 2001-2004 to 13.2% in 2017-2020. This age-stratified data reveals that type 2 diabetes functions as a progressive condition where risk accumulates over decades of life, influenced by factors such as declining pancreatic function, accumulated weight gain, reduced physical activity, and the cumulative effects of insulin resistance that worsen with advancing years.

Type 2 Diabetes by Race and Ethnicity in the US 2025

Data Source: CDC National Health Interview Survey 2019-2021, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

The racial and ethnic disparities in type 2 diabetes prevalence represent one of the most persistent and troubling health inequities in the United States, with data from 2019-2021 revealing dramatic differences across demographic groups. American Indian and Alaska Native adults bear the highest burden at 13.6% prevalence, nearly double the rate observed among non-Hispanic White adults. This disparity stems from complex interactions between genetic predisposition, historical trauma, limited access to healthcare in tribal communities, food insecurity, and high rates of poverty that concentrate diabetes risk factors. Non-Hispanic Black adults experience the second highest prevalence at 12.1%, representing a significant disparity that researchers attribute to multiple factors including higher obesity rates, reduced access to preventive care, residential segregation affecting food environments, chronic stress from discrimination, and biological factors that may increase susceptibility to insulin resistance.

Hispanic and Latino adults demonstrate an 11.7% prevalence, with substantial variation among subgroups where Mexican Americans show particularly high rates while Central and South American populations exhibit somewhat lower percentages ranging from 5.0% to 7.3%. Non-Hispanic Asian adults, at 9.1% prevalence, present a complex picture because this category encompasses diverse populations with varying risk profiles, and research indicates that Asian Americans may develop diabetes at lower body mass index thresholds compared to other groups. Non-Hispanic White adults show the lowest prevalence at 6.9%, yet this still represents millions of individuals affected by the disease. These disparities persist despite decades of awareness and intervention efforts, suggesting that social determinants of health play crucial roles in diabetes development and management. Factors such as education level, income, insurance status, neighborhood resources, exposure to environmental stressors, and cultural attitudes toward healthcare all contribute to these gaps. The data reveals that individuals with less than a high school education face 13.1% prevalence compared to 6.9% among those with more than high school education, while adults with family incomes below the federal poverty level experience substantially higher rates than those in wealthier brackets.

Type 2 Diabetes Mortality Trends in the US 2025

Data Source: CDC Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (WONDER) Database, Journal of the American College of Cardiology

The mortality trends associated with type 2 diabetes present a deeply concerning picture of escalating death rates that more than doubled over a twenty-four-year period from 1999 to 2023. Starting from a baseline age-adjusted mortality rate of 21.54 deaths per 100,000 population in 1999, the rate climbed steadily over two decades, reaching 40.57 per 100,000 by 2018. However, the period between 2018 and 2021 witnessed an unprecedented surge, with mortality rates jumping dramatically to 62.72 per 100,000 in 2021, representing a staggering 16.06% annual percent change during this three-year window. This sharp increase coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic, which disproportionately affected individuals with diabetes due to their heightened vulnerability to severe infections, reduced access to routine medical care, disrupted medication supplies, and stress-induced worsening of glycemic control. From the peak in 2021, rates declined to 53.95 per 100,000 in 2023, though this figure still represents a 150% increase from 1999 levels.

Throughout the entire period from 1999 to 2023, a cumulative total of 2,031,626 deaths were attributed to type 2 diabetes in the United States, underscoring the deadly nature of this disease when inadequately prevented or managed. The mortality data reveals significant demographic disparities, with males consistently experiencing higher death rates than females (68.82 versus 42.48 per 100,000 in 2023). Among racial and ethnic groups, Hispanic or Latino populations faced the highest age-adjusted mortality rate at 69.69 per 100,000 in 2023, followed by non-Hispanic Black or African American individuals at 65.45, non-Hispanic other populations at 53.70, and non-Hispanic White individuals at 49.98. Geographic analyses demonstrate that the Western region of the United States recorded the highest mortality rate at 78.29 per 100,000, while rural areas consistently showed elevated death rates compared to urban areas (69.88 versus 55.32 per 100,000 in 2020). Cardiovascular disease accounted for 626,706 deaths among adults with type 2 diabetes during this period, representing the leading cause of mortality in this population and highlighting the critical importance of managing cardiovascular risk factors alongside glucose control.

Economic Impact of Type 2 Diabetes in the US 2025

Data Source: American Diabetes Association Economic Costs of Diabetes Report 2022, CDC National Health Expenditure Data

The economic burden of type 2 diabetes represents one of the most expensive chronic conditions afflicting the United States, with total costs reaching an astronomical $412.9 billion annually as of 2022. This figure encompasses both direct and indirect expenses, and because type 2 diabetes accounts for 90-95% of all diabetes cases, the economic impact attributable specifically to this form ranges from $370 billion to $390 billion per year. The direct medical costs of $306.6 billion reflect expenditures for treating diabetes itself and managing its numerous complications and comorbidities, representing 74% of total costs. These direct expenses include hospital inpatient care at approximately $92 billion (30% of medical costs) and prescription medications at approximately $92 billion (30% of medical costs), making these the two largest components. Within prescription drug spending, glucose-lowering medications and diabetes supplies account for roughly $52 billion, or 17% of total direct medical costs, with insulin spending alone having tripled over the past decade from $8 billion in 2012 to $22.3 billion in 2022.

Indirect costs totaling $106.3 billion (26% of total costs) reflect the broader economic toll through reduced productivity, disability, and premature mortality. Lost productivity from disability accounts for $28.3 billion, representing individuals unable to work due to diabetes complications such as blindness, kidney failure, amputations, or cardiovascular disease. Presenteeism contributes $35.8 billion, reflecting reduced on-the-job productivity when employees with diabetes experience symptoms, complications, or suboptimal health that diminishes their work performance. Premature death results in $32.4 billion in lost productivity, based on 338,526 premature deaths attributed to diabetes in the analysis year. The economic analysis reveals that people with diagnosed diabetes account for one in four healthcare dollars spent in the United States, with 61% of these expenditures directly attributable to diabetes rather than unrelated conditions. On average, individuals with diabetes incur annual medical expenditures of $19,736, of which approximately $12,022 relates directly to their diabetes. This represents medical costs 2.6 times higher than what would be expected in the absence of diabetes. The inflation-adjusted direct medical costs have risen 7% from 2017 and 35% from 2012, demonstrating an accelerating financial burden despite relatively stable prevalence rates, driven primarily by increased per capita spending on hospitalizations and prescription medications.

Type 2 Diabetes Complications and Risk Factors in the US 2025

Data Source: CDC National Diabetes Statistics Report, National Health Interview Survey, CDC National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

The complications and risk factors associated with type 2 diabetes reveal the multifaceted nature of this disease and its devastating impact on multiple organ systems when inadequately managed. Obesity stands as the most significant modifiable risk factor, with 89.8% of adults with diagnosed diabetes classified as overweight or obese (body mass index ≥25 kg/m²), including 26.9% who are overweight (BMI 25.0-29.9) and the majority carrying obesity diagnoses. Research demonstrates that obesity contributes to 30-53% of all new type 2 diabetes cases annually, with obese individuals facing 3.64 times higher odds of diagnosis compared to normal-weight individuals. The obesity-diabetes connection operates through multiple mechanisms including insulin resistance, chronic inflammation from adipose tissue, elevated free fatty acids, and hormonal dysregulation, making weight management a critical component of both prevention and treatment strategies.

Physical inactivity affects 31.9% of adults with diabetes, defined as obtaining less than 10 minutes per week of moderate or vigorous activity across work, leisure, and transportation categories. This sedentary behavior exacerbates insulin resistance, promotes weight gain, increases cardiovascular risk, and accelerates the progression of diabetic complications. Glycemic control remains suboptimal for many individuals, with 47.4% maintaining A1C levels of 7.0% or higher, missing the general treatment target recommended by most clinical guidelines. More concerning, approximately 9.4% of adults with diabetes have A1C levels of 10% or higher, indicating severely uncontrolled disease that dramatically increases complication risks. Age patterns reveal that younger adults face particular challenges, with 10.4% of those aged 18-44 years showing A1C ≥10%, compared to 9.4% of those 45-64 years and 2.6% of those 65+ years.

Hypertension complicates the picture for 80.6% of adults with diabetes, who either maintain blood pressure ≥130/80 mmHg or require prescription medications for control. This combination of diabetes and hypertension synergistically accelerates cardiovascular disease, kidney damage, and retinopathy. Tobacco use continues among 22.1% of individuals with diabetes despite clear evidence of amplified harm when combined with diabetes, including accelerated atherosclerosis, increased heart attack and stroke risks, and worsened peripheral vascular disease. The kidney failure data proves particularly sobering, with diabetes serving as the primary cause in 39.2% of all end-stage renal disease cases (307,385 out of 783,594 people), making it the leading cause ahead of hypertension. Vision impairment affects 10.1% of adults with diagnosed diabetes, who report severe vision difficulty or blindness, with diabetes representing the leading cause of new blindness cases among working-age adults. Cardiovascular disease emerges as the deadliest complication, accounting for 626,706 deaths among adults with type 2 diabetes between 1999 and 2023, with individuals with diabetes facing 2-4 times higher risk of heart disease and stroke compared to those without the condition.

Geographic Distribution of Type 2 Diabetes in the US 2025

Data Source: U.S. Diabetes Surveillance System, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC Geographic Analysis

The geographic distribution of type 2 diabetes across the United States reveals substantial variations that reflect differences in demographics, socioeconomic conditions, healthcare access, cultural factors, and regional lifestyle patterns. At the county level, age-adjusted diabetes prevalence ranges from a low of 4.4% to a high of 17.9%, representing nearly a fourfold difference in burden across American communities. The median county-level prevalence has risen from 6.3% in 2004 to 8.3% in 2021, demonstrating consistent increases over nearly two decades that affected virtually all regions but with varying intensity. Rural areas consistently show higher diabetes prevalence compared to metropolitan areas, a pattern observed for both men and women though with different magnitudes. This rural-urban disparity stems from multiple factors including higher obesity rates in rural communities, reduced access to healthcare facilities and specialists, lower rates of preventive care visits, limited availability of healthy food options, fewer opportunities for physical activity, and higher poverty rates.

The Western region of the United States exhibits the highest type 2 diabetes mortality rate at 78.29 deaths per 100,000 population in 2023, substantially exceeding rates in other geographic areas. Meanwhile, the South and Midwest regions demonstrate particularly high prevalence rates and have experienced the most pronounced increases over recent years. These regional patterns likely reflect the concentration of risk factors including obesity (which reached 31.6% in Florida as one example), sedentary lifestyles that predominate in certain areas, cultural dietary patterns favoring high-calorie foods, and socioeconomic challenges that limit access to prevention and management resources. State-level analyses reveal enormous variation, with median state-level total diabetes-attributable costs of $8.2 billion but ranging from $842 million to $81 billion depending on state population and prevalence. Per-person costs also vary by state, with a median of $21,082 but ranging from $17,452 to $37,090, suggesting differences in disease severity, complication rates, healthcare utilization patterns, and regional price variations for medical services.

Research examining county metropolitan status found that diagnosed diabetes prevalence varies significantly based on whether communities are classified as large central metropolitan, large fringe metropolitan, medium or small metropolitan, micropolitan, or noncore rural areas, with a clear gradient showing increasing prevalence as communities become more rural and less populated. These geographic disparities underscore the importance of place-based interventions that address the unique challenges facing different communities, from expanding telehealth services in remote areas to addressing food deserts in urban neighborhoods and investing in community infrastructure that supports physical activity and healthy lifestyles across all regions.

Type 2 Diabetes Prevention and Prediabetes in the US 2025

Data Source: CDC National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, CDC Youth Diabetes Surveillance

The prediabetes epidemic in the United States represents both a massive public health challenge and a critical opportunity for diabetes prevention, with 97.6 million American adults currently having blood glucose levels elevated above normal but not yet reaching diabetic thresholds. This astonishing figure translates to 38.0% of the entire adult population, meaning more than one in three American adults lives in this intermediate state where intervention can still prevent or delay progression to full-blown type 2 diabetes. The distribution across age groups reveals that 32.8 million adults aged 18-44 years have prediabetes, representing the younger workforce and families who face decades of potential disease progression without intervention. Middle-aged adults aged 45-64 years account for 37.5 million cases, while 27.2 million adults aged 65 and older carry prediabetes diagnoses, representing 48.8% of the senior population. This means nearly half of all older Americans exist in this high-risk state, facing imminent diabetes development in their remaining years.

Perhaps the most troubling aspect of the prediabetes crisis involves awareness levels, with more than 80% of adults with prediabetes remaining unaware of their condition. This knowledge gap prevents millions from taking action to reverse their progression through lifestyle modifications, creating a hidden population that will likely swell the ranks of diagnosed diabetes cases in coming years. Recent data from 2025 reveals that nearly one in three American adolescents (approximately 29-32% prevalence) now have prediabetes, a dramatic increase from previous estimates near 20%. This pediatric prediabetes epidemic reflects broader societal changes in childhood nutrition, physical activity patterns, screen time, and rising obesity rates among youth, with Hispanic, Black, and American Indian adolescents showing disproportionately high incidence that correlates with childhood obesity and socioeconomic factors.

The silver lining in these sobering statistics emerges from robust evidence demonstrating that lifestyle interventions can prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. Research supporting the National Diabetes Prevention Program shows that structured lifestyle change programs focusing on modest weight loss (5-7% of body weight), healthy eating patterns, and regular physical activity (150-300 minutes per week of moderate activity) can reduce diabetes risk by 58% among adults overall and by 71% among adults over age 60. These interventions prove cost-effective compared to the lifetime medical expenses and complications associated with diabetes, yet participation in prevention programs remains disappointingly low. Expanding access to these evidence-based programs, particularly among high-risk populations and underserved communities, represents a critical strategy for bending the diabetes prevalence curve and reducing future healthcare costs. The Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program, which began covering lifestyle change programs in 2018, provides a model for broader implementation, though significant gaps remain in reaching eligible individuals and ensuring program completion.

Disclaimer: This research report is compiled from publicly available sources. While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, no representation or warranty, express or implied, is given as to the completeness or reliability of the information. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions, losses, or damages of any kind arising from the use of this report.

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