Diabetes is a highly significant public health problem in the United States. Approximately 21 million children and adults (7% of the population) have diabetes, although only about 14.6 million have been diagnosed. The estimated number of persons with prediabetes is 54 million. The prevalence of diabetes is higher among persons of Hispanic, African American and Native American heritage than among persons of non-Hispanic white origins. Of persons with type 2 diabetes, two of three deaths are caused by cardiovascular disease, myocardial infarction, or stroke, which may in part be due to an increased prevalence of atherosclerosis risk factors such as hypertension and dyslipidemias. Prevalence of peripheral arterial disease is also greatly increased in persons with diabetes.