by Dr. Joseph Mercola, Mercola:
Story at-a-glance
- CDC data shows diabetes prevalence has reached 15.8% of U.S. adults, with 11.3% diagnosed and 4.5% undiagnosed, highlighting an urgent need for increased screening and prevention
- Men face higher diabetes risk (18%) compared to women (13.7%), while rates surge dramatically with age, affecting 27.3% of adults over 60 and 24.2% of those with obesity
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- The HOMA-IR test provides a simple way to detect insulin resistance early, calculating the relationship between fasting glucose and insulin levels to evaluate metabolic health
- Excess linoleic acid, found in seed oils and processed foods, triggers inflammation and disrupts insulin signaling pathways, making cells less responsive to insulin and accelerating the progression toward diabetes
- A significant increase in linoleic acid consumption since the mid-20th century contributes to diabetes by disrupting mitochondrial function and cellular energy production
Nearly 1 in 6 American adults now live with diabetes, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).1 The data, from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) spanning August 2021 to August 2023, reveal that the overall prevalence of diabetes in the U.S. has climbed to 15.8%.
This figure includes both diagnosed and undiagnosed cases, with 11.3% of adults aware they have diabetes and an additional 4.5% living with the condition without a formal diagnosis. The rise in total diabetes prevalence marks a significant public health challenge, underscoring the need for increased awareness, early detection and effective management strategies.2
Diabetes often leads to severe complications affecting your nervous system, kidneys, eyes, heart and blood vessels, making prevention and treatment essential for optimal health. Mitochondrial poisons that harm your cellular energy production are a driving force behind chronic diseases like Type 2 diabetes.
Higher Diabetes Rates Among Men, Older Adults and Those with Obesity
If you’re male, the statistics show that you’re at a higher risk for both total and diagnosed diabetes compared to women. The NHANES data indicate that 18% of U.S. men have diabetes, with only 12.9% of them being diagnosed, versus 13.7% and 9.7% for women, respectively.3 This gender disparity suggests that men may need to be even more vigilant about their health concerning diabetes.
While the prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes doesn’t differ significantly between men and women, the higher rates of diagnosed diabetes in men highlight the importance of regular screenings and proactive health measures. Factors contributing to this increased risk in men could include lifestyle choices, biological differences and possibly lower rates of health care utilization.
As you age, your risk of developing diabetes also increases. According to the CDC findings, diabetes prevalence jumps from 3.6% in adults aged 20 to 39 to a staggering 27.3% in those 60 and older.4 Additionally, weight plays a role in this risk. Individuals with obesity face a diabetes prevalence of 24.2%, compared to 12.3% in the overweight category and 6.8% among those with normal or underweight status.5
These trends highlight how both aging and increased weight status significantly elevate your chances of developing diabetes. Managing your weight through a healthy diet and regular physical activity will substantially reduce your risk.
The NHANES data also show a clear inverse relationship between educational attainment and the prevalence of diabetes. Adults with only a high school diploma, GED or less have a total diabetes prevalence of 19.6%, which decreases to 10.7% among those holding a bachelor’s degree or higher.6
Similarly, diabetes rates drop from 14.6% in less educated groups to 7.3% in those with advanced education. This correlation suggests that higher education levels may provide better access to health information, resources and healthier lifestyle choices, all of which contribute to lower diabetes risk.
Understanding HOMA-IR — A Simple Test for Insulin Resistance
Recognizing insulin resistance early is essential, as it’s a warning sign for your metabolic health — one that often precedes Type 2 diabetes. The HOMA-IR (Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance) is a valuable diagnostic tool that helps assess insulin resistance through a simple blood test. Created in 1985, it calculates the relationship between your fasting glucose and insulin levels to evaluate how effectively your body uses insulin.
Unlike other more complex tests, HOMA-IR requires just one fasting blood sample, making it both practical and accessible. This simplicity allows doctors and patients to screen for early signs of insulin resistance, monitor prediabetes risk, track treatment effectiveness over time and guide intervention strategies. The HOMA-IR formula is as follows:
HOMA-IR = (Fasting Glucose x Fasting Insulin) / 405, where
- Fasting glucose is measured in mg/dL
- Fasting insulin is measured in μIU/mL (microinternational units per milliliter), and
- 405 is a constant that normalizes the values
If you’re using mmol/L for glucose instead of mg/dL, the formula changes slightly:
HOMA-IR = (Fasting Glucose x Fasting Insulin) / 22.5, where
- Fasting glucose is measured in mmol/L
- Fasting insulin is measured in μIU/mL, and
- 22.5 is the normalizing factor for this unit of measurement
Anything below 1.0 is considered a healthy HOMA-IR score. If you’re above that, you’re considered insulin resistant. The higher your values, the greater your insulin resistance. Conversely the lower your HOMA-IR score, the less insulin resistance you have, assuming you are not a Type 1 diabetic who makes no insulin. Insulin resistance often exists long before obvious signs of trouble, silently disrupting your body’s balance and setting the stage for serious conditions later.
