Diabetes Workgroup

Diabetes happens when the body cannot produce enough insulin or cannot respond appropriately to insulin. Insulin is a hormone the body needs to absorb and use glucose (sugar) as fuel for cells. Without a properly functioning insulin signaling system, blood glucose levels become elevated and other metabolic abnormalities occur, leading to serious, disabling complications. Effective therapy can prevent or delay diabetic complications.^1,2 Over 30 million U.S. adults have diagnosed or undiagnosed diabetes, and another 84 million American adults have blood glucose levels that greatly increase their risk of developing type 2 diabetes in the next several years.³ Diabetes complications tend to be more common and more severe among people with poorly controlled diabetes, which makes diabetes complications an immense and complex public health challenge. Preventive care practices are essential to better health outcomes for people with diabetes.⁴

Core objectives selected by the Diabetes Workgroup aim to track and reduce the incidence of diabetes and diabetes-related complications through improved diabetes care and self-management. Developmental objectives highlight high-priority public health issues that lack data. The Diabetes Workgroup selected a developmental objective focusing on enrolling eligible people in CDC-recognized lifestyle change programs with the goal of reducing the incidence of diabetes.