Diagnosed diabetes among American Indians and Alaska Natives aged <35 years--United States, 1994-2004.

Diabetes disproportionately affects American Indians/Alaska Natives (AI/ANs), and the prevalence of diabetes is increasing among young persons in certain AI/AN populations. To examine trends in the prevalence of diagnosed diabetes among AI/ANs aged <35 years, CDC analyzed patient data collected by the Indian Health Service (IHS) during 1994-2004. This report summarizes the results of that analysis, which indicated that the age-adjusted prevalence of diagnosed diabetes increased from 8.5 to 17.1 per 1,000 population among AI/ANs aged <35 years who use IHS health-care services. Because young persons with diabetes have more years of disease and greater risk for costly and disabling complications early in life, diabetes prevention programs targeting younger age groups have become increasingly important in AI/AN communities.