• 50 million adults (18-99) are living with diabetes in the IDF North America and Caribbean Region — 1 in 8 adults. This figure is estimated to increase to 73 million by 2045.
• The prevalence of diabetes in the IDF North America and Caribbean Region is 13% — the highest of all IDF Regions.
• Over 1 in 3 (38%) of people living with diabetes in the IDF North America and Caribbean Region are undiagnosed.
• Diabetes was responsible for 378,000 deaths in the IDF Africa Region in 2017. 
• 58 million adults (18-99) in the IDF North America and Caribbean Region have Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT), which places them at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
• 1 in 7 live births in the IDF North America and Caribbean Region are affected by hyperglycaemia in pregnancy.
• USD 440 billion was spent on healthcare for people with diabetes in 2017— more than in all the other IDF regions combined.

Source: IDF Diabetes Atlas 8th Edition 2017

Diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD)

People with diabetes are at increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD). CVD is a major cause of death and disability in people with diabetes, and a barrier to sustainable development.

In 2017, the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), in partnership with Novo Nordisk, initiated the Taking Diabetes to Heart study to assess knowledge and awareness of CVD among people with type 2 diabetes. Data was collected between September 2017 and May 2018 through an online questionnaire in 32 languages. A total of 12,695 participants from 133 countries across all seven IDF regions took part in the study. The questionnaire comprised 17 questions divided into the following sections: demographics; CVD risk knowledge; CVD risk awareness; education on CVD by health professionals; and CVD information sources.

255 responses were received from the IDF North America and Caribbean region. Download the findings (pdf).