8 Key Statistics on Type 1 Diabetes

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Written by: Chris Riley

Medically Reviewed by: Erik Rivera

Number 1:  Between the years of 2014 to 2019, the price of insulin has risen 54%

Summary:  Despite newly developed insulins and a two year COVID-19 pandemic, costs of insulin and other basic needs have only decreased in price of approximately 5%

Source: Lee, B. (2022, January 26). How much does insulin cost? Here’s How 28 Brands and Generics Compare. GoodRx. Retrieved July 21, 2022, from https://www.goodrx.com/healthcare-access/research/how-much-does-insulin-cost-compare-brands

Number 2:  In Graves’ disease the frequency of Type 1 diabetes was 18.5%, in Hashimoto’s thyroididitis patients the frequency is 27.8%.  Celiac disease and Type I diabetes were found to be the most prevalent pairing of autoimmune disorders. 

Summary:  This study aimed to find the association between autoimmune disorders and Type 1 diabetes.  This study discovered a high rate of Type 1 Diabetes patients (among other autoimmune disorders) with existing thyroid dysfunction.  Even with the right treatment, screening should be undergone to halt relevant diagnoses.

Source:  Science Direct; Sharma, H., Sahlot, R., Purwar, N., Garg, U., Saran, S., Sharma, B., & Mathur, S. K. (2022). Co-existence of type 1 diabetes and other autoimmune ailments in subjects with autoimmune thyroid disorders. Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research & Reviews, 16(2), 102405.

Number 3:   Individuals with Type 1 Diabetes are up to 4x more likely to contract COVID-19.

Summary: Risk of catching COVID-19 for patients with Type 1 diabetes are three to four times more likely than patients without diabetes. This is indicative of a major need to manage infection risk of COVID-19 for this population. 

Source:  American Diabetes Association; Gregory, J. M., Slaughter, J. C., Duffus, S. H., Smith, T. J., LeStourgeon, L. M., Jaser, S. S., … & Moore, D. J. (2021). COVID-19 severity is tripled in the diabetes community: a prospective analysis of the pandemic’s impact in type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care, 44(2), 526-532.

research on covid and diabetes image
COVID & Diabetes: This is indicative of a major need to manage infection risk of COVID-19 for this population. 

Number 4: From 1990 to 2019, standardized death rates for Type 1 diabetes decreased globally by 17% for ages younger than 25.

Summary: Researchers utilized data from the Global Burden of Disease to evaluate mortality in Type 1 diabetes for individuals under 25.  With a 17% decrease in mortality from this age group between 1990 to 2019, it indicates that Type 1 diabetes, with the proper management, it shows that there is still a need to raise awareness and provide education and care for these individuals to prevent early mortality from this disease. 

Source: Science Direct; Cousin, E., Duncan, B. B., Stein, C., Ong, K. L., Vos, T., Abbafati, C., … & Haque, S. (2022). Diabetes mortality and trends before 25 years of age: an analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. The Lancet diabetes & endocrinology, 10(3), 177-192.

Number 5: In the years between 2012-2018, out of 1.4 million children enrolled in Alabama’s Medicaid program, 5638 (or .38%) had a diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes.  Medicaid spending increased from 28.4 million to 48.6 million dollars during that time.  Over 36% of expenditures for these children living with Type 1 diabetes were due to pharmacy services while 113 million dollars were related to unspecified health services.

Summary:  This was a study that examined how many Medicaid dollars were being spent on children living with Type 1 diabetes.  It indicates a growing need for medical expenses and that Medicaid expenditures have a high probability of increasing. 

Source: Population Health Management; Eke, R., Yang, X., Bond, K. L., Hanson, C., Jenkins, C., & Parton, J. (2022). Health care utilization and Medicaid spending in children with type 1 diabetes in the Alabama Medicaid program. Population Health Management, 25(1), 65-72.

Comparing the annual median expenditure and service use per enrollee between children with T1DM and other Medicaid enrollees (2012-2018). T1DM, type 1 diabetes graph
Comparing the annual median expenditure and service use per enrollee between children with T1DM and other Medicaid enrollees (2012-2018). T1DM, type 1 diabetes.

Number 6:  Pregnancies that were complicated (i.e, stillbirths) due to Type 1 diabetes increased 44% from April1st, 1998 to March 31st, 2013. 

Summary:  Increased intervention is available for pregnant women, however, complications still associated with Type 1 diabetes and this study indicates that improvements in stillbirth rates are not accurately portrayed in the given population with diabetes.

Source: Springer; Mackin, S. T., Nelson, S. M., Kerssens, J. J., Wood, R., Wild, S., Colhoun, H. M., … & Lindsay, R. S. (2018). Diabetes and pregnancy: national trends over a 15 year period. Diabetologia, 61(5), 1081-1088.

Number 7: The prevalence of Type 1 diabetes in the United States in 2016, based on self-reporting and their current insulin use, was found to be .55% of adults had Type 1 diabetes, representative of 1.3 million adults.  Of all diagnosed cases of Type I diabetes, 5.8% were Type I diabetic.

Summary: This study aimed to gain insights about prevalence of both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.  Knowledge of statistics and trends by diabetic type can help gain insights into education and management programs. 

Source:  NIH National Center for Biotechnology Information; Bullard, K. M., Cowie, C. C., Lessem, S. E., Saydah, S. H., Menke, A., Geiss, L. S., … & Imperatore, G. (2018). Prevalence of diagnosed diabetes in adults by diabetes type—United States, 2016. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 67(12), 359.

Number 8: Anxiety/depression were present in 9% of individuals with Type 1 diabetes, symptoms of anxiety by itself were also present in 2%, and symptoms of depression by itself were present in 11% of respondents with Type 1 diabetes.

Summary: A cross sectional study of 6590 individuals was conducted.  Out of these individuals, 42% had Type 1 diabetes.  1 out of 10 respondents (10%) had elevated comorbid symptoms of anxiety & depression.  Individuals with Type 1 diabetes may have a heightened risk of comorbidities of anxiety/depression. 

Source: Science Direct; Nefs, G., Hendrieckx, C., Reddy, P., Browne, J. L., Bot, M., Dixon, J., … & Pouwer, F. (2019). Comorbid elevated symptoms of anxiety and depression in adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes: Results from the International Diabetes MILES Study. Journal of Diabetes and its Complications, 33(8), 523-529.

Symptoms of depression and anxiety in adults with type 1 diabetes: Associations with self-care behavior

Symptoms of depression and anxiety in adults with type 1 diabetes

Fact Checked and Editorial Process

Diabetic.org is devoted to producing expert and accurate articles and information for our readers by hiring experts, journalists, medical professionals, and our growing Diabetic.org community. We encourage you to read more about our content, editing, and fact checking methods here. This was fact checked by Erik Rivera and medically reviewed by Dr. Angel Rivera. 

fact checked and medically reviewed

References and Sources:

How much does insulin cost? Here’s How 28 Brands and Generics Compare

Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research & Reviews, 16(2), 102405.

COVID-19 Severity Is Tripled in the Diabetes Community: A Prospective Analysis of the Pandemic’s Impact in Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes mortality and trends before 25 years of age: an analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Health Care Utilization and Medicaid Spending in Children with Type 1 Diabetes in the Alabama Medicaid Program

Diabetes and pregnancy: national trends over a 15 year period

Prevalence of Diagnosed Diabetes in Adults by Diabetes Type — United States, 2016

We are committed to providing our readers with only trusted resources and science-based studies with regards to medication and health information. 

Disclaimer: This general information is not intended to diagnose any medical condition or to replace your healthcare professional. If you suspect medical problems or need medical help or advice, please talk with your healthcare professional.

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