Diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic medical condition marked by high levels of blood glucose (a form of sugar) resulting from defects in insulin production, insulin action, or both.  There were 3.7 million Californians with diabetes in 2008, meaning that 1 out of 7 adult Californians (13.5 percent) has diabetes. Of these, 2.3 million (8.5 percent) are aware that they have diabetes, and about 1.4 million (5 percent) adults have undiagnosed diabetes, meaning that they are not yet aware.  In 2002, a national clinical trial demonstrated that type 2 diabetes can be delayed or prevented by healthy lifestyle changes, including moderate weight loss and engagement in regular moderate-intensity physical activity.