BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- Between now and the year 2034, diabetes cases in the United States are expected to roughly double.

Researchers from the University of Chicago used national health data to construct a model of future diabetes problems, should current population trends continue.

They found that the number of Americans living with diabetes will increase from 23.7 million to more than 44 million in the next 25 years.

The medical costs related to diabetes are estimated to triple over the same time, reaching $336 billion.

The reasons for the sharp increase? An aging population and high levels of obesity. Both advancing age and excess weight increase the odds of damage to insulin producing cells in the pancreas. The resulting blood sugar problems increase the risks of eye disease, heart attacks, and poor blood circulation.

The researchers said there is an urgent need to develop better strategies for fighting and treating diabetes before the medical system becomes overwhelmed with cases.