An estimated 1 in 3 teens and preteens, ages 12 to 17, have prediabetes, according to new data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The CDC data means an estimated 8.4 million young people – or 32.7% of the U.S. adolescent population – had prediabetes in 2023, the most recent data available.
With prediabetes, blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough for a Type 2 diabetes diagnosis.
It’s one of those things where politicians say (as they do with cigarettes), “Well, everyone knows it’s bad, but people are free to make bad choices.” A crackdown on added sugars and derivatives (HFCS) would do way more to help public health than banning food dyes.