The number of Americans with diabetes will nearly double over the next 25 years, rising from 23.7 million at present to 44.1 million in 2034, according to a study by the University of Chicago. In the same period, medical costs associated with treating the disease will triple from $113 billion to $336 billion, even without a rise in the incidence of obesity, according to the study published in the December issue of Diabetes Care.

The study said its projections, despite being significantly higher than other recent estimates, may be too conservative because they assume the rate of diabetes and obesity, a risk factor for the disease, will remain stable