Nearly 1.7 million California adults age 18 and older (6.6%) have been diagnosed with diabetes, up from 1.5 million (6.2%) in 2001. The prevalence of diabetes nationally (6.6%) is similar to that in California. 

This policy brief examines the prevalence of diagnosed diabetes in California based on data from the 2003 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS). It also describes how the prevalence has changed since 2001 based on data from the 2001 CHIS. The brief concludes with public policy recommendations intended to reduce the risk of diabetes and its related complications.