One in Three U.S. Teens Diagnosed with Prediabetes, CDC Reports

One in Three U.S. Teens Diagnosed with Prediabetes, CDC Reports
……………..

New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals that approximately one in three U.S. teens and preteens aged 12 to 17—about 8.4 million young people—had prediabetes in 2023. Prediabetes is characterized by higher-than-normal blood sugar levels that are not yet high enough to be classified as Type 2 diabetes.

The CDC warns that prediabetes significantly raises the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Meanwhile, adult diabetes diagnoses, after years of decline, have plateaued, with around 1.5 million new cases reported in 2023.

The CDC emphasizes that lifestyle changes, such as healthier eating habits and increased physical activity, can prevent or delay progression to Type 2 diabetes. Risk factors include being overweight, family history of diabetes, and insufficient physical activity. Officials call the findings a “wake-up call” to address the growing threat of diabetes among young people.