Medicaid access expanded in 26 states in January 2014 and diagnosed cases of diabetes have also increased significantly in those states. Diagnosed diabetes cases among Medicaid recipients grew 23% in the states that increased their Medicaid programs under the Affordable Care Act. In the 24 states that didn’t expand Medicaid programs, the increase was only 0.4%.

Early detection of diabetes decreases the risk of complications related to the condition; undiagnosed diabetes can result in major medical problems like kidney failure, stroke, heart disease, blindness, and leg and feet amputations. The financial cost of diabetes is also high; total medical costs and the price of lost work and wages amounted to $245 billion in 2014, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Quest Diagnostics funded the research on the increase of diabetes cases related to Medicaid expansion, and found a greater uptick in diagnoses among men and older individuals aged 50 to 64.

At least one in three people will develop diabetes, according to the CDC. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can develop at any age, but unlike type 1, most cases of type 2 can be prevented. Combining medication with proper diet and exercise can make a big difference in the success of diabetes management plans. For more information on how to manage your diabetes, check out this infographic, “A Snapshot: Diabetes in the United States” by the CDC.