Issue 127 Item 6 Equal Survey Reveals: Americans Concerned About Developing Diab

Nearly 50 percent of Americans are concerned that they may develop diabetes according to results released from a recent survey conducted by Equal(R) sweetener. Today more Americans than ever before are living with diabetes. This year alone, 1 million new cases of diabetes are expected, adding to the 17 million people currently living with this disease.

According to the survey, women are more likely than men to be concerned about developing diabetes (52 vs. 48 percent). And, African Americans are more likely than Caucasians (67 vs. 46 percent) to be concerned. Those ages 35-44 also are more likely to be concerned about developing diabetes than those 65 plus (53 vs. 42 percent).

When it comes to knowing and helping others with diabetes, the survey showed seven out of every 10 people know someone who has diabetes, but less than a third of those people are doing anything to help the people they know manage the disease.

In terms of a cure for diabetes, 80 percent of those surveyed believe it is likely that scientists and researchers will find a cure for diabetes in the next twenty years, and more than two thirds said they would like to help find a cure.

The survey, conducted by ORC International(R), polled 1,000 adults 18 years and older to find out about issues related to diabetes