Data Points | The cost of diabetes

That was the number of children and adults diagnosed with diabetes in the U.S. as of 2011, according to the American Diabetes Association. This growing population is putting an increasing burden on the U.S. health system.

The average length of hospital stays for patients with diabetes as a first-listed diagnosis, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That's down from eight days 10 years earlier, but still slightly higher than the average of 4.8 days for all patients.

Percentage of African-Americans with diabetes, the highest prevalence for any racial group. Some health systems are beginning to take on this and other disparities by addressing the social determinants of health.

Diabetes ranks first among causes of kidney failure leading to dialysis (end-stage renal disase) according to the U.S. Renal Data System. U.S. spending on ESRD was $33 billion in 2010, up 8% from 2009.

The total direct medical costs associated with diagnosed diabetes, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.