This study, an analysis of data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, looks at the number of adults diagnosed with diabetes in each US state.
By comparing the 2018 and 2021 figures, it uncovers the state with the most significant percentage increase in cases, providing a snapshot of the current diabetes landscape in the US (2021 is the latest comprehensive data set).Â
South Dakota takes the top spot with 11,378 more diagnoses in 2021 than in 2018, marking an 18.45% increase. This percentage is significantly higher than the other states in the top ten. These numbers underscore the urgent need for increased diabetes awareness and prevention measures in these communities.Â
Second is Connecticut, which, with 36,484 new cases registered in 2021, has seen a 13.24% increase in individuals with diabetes. Â
California comes in third place with an 11.51% increase, as diabetes diagnoses went from 3,209,418 in 2018 to 3,578,930 in 2021, for a difference of 369,512 new cases.
While these numbers might seem more worrying, they need to be put into perspective, as California’s population is significantly larger than the rest of the top ten, as it’s the most populous state in the country.Â
Further down on the list, Nevada is fourth, with an 11.20% increase in diagnoses, while Virginia closes the top five with an 8.42% increase.Â
Top 10 states with the highest increase in diabetes diagnoses from 2018 to 2021Â :
| State | People diagnosed with diabetes | Change 2018-2021 | Percentage increase | Rank | |
| Â | 2018Â | 2021Â | Â | Â | Â |
| South Dakota | 61,656 | 73,034 | 11,378 | 18.45 | 1 |
| Connecticut | 275,491 | 311,975 | 36,484 | 13.24 | 2 |
| California | 3,209,418 | 3,578,930 | 369,512 | 11.51 | 3 |
| Nevada | 254,570 | 283,707 | 29,137 | 11.45 | 4 |
| Virginia | 701,793 | 780,387 | 78,594 | 11.20 | 5 |
| New Mexico | 200,548 | 217,427 | 16,879 | 8.42 | 6 |
| Illinois | 993,082 | 1,075,676 | 82,594 | 8.32 | 7 |
| Alabama | 550,149 | 593,485 | 43,336 | 7.88 | 8 |
| Wisconsin | 392,965 | 423,469 | 30,504 | 7.76 | 9 |
| Massachusetts | 476,687 | 507,452 | 30,765 | 6.45 | 10 |
At the other end of the list, Hawaii is the top state with the highest decrease in cases, as they went from 128,653 in 2018 to 108,576 in 2021, for a difference of -20,077 and a percentage decrease of 15.61.Â
New Hampshire takes second place with a decrease of 13.08% and Oregon is third with a 10.15% decrease in cases.Â
Top five states with the highest decrease in diabetes diagnoses from 2018 to 2021:
| State | People diagnosed with diabetes | Change 2018-2021 | Percentage decrease | Rank | |
| Â | 2018Â | 2021Â | Â | Â | Â |
| Hawaii | 128,653 | 108,576 | -20,077 | 15.61 | 1 |
| New Hampshire | 113,110 | 98,311 | -14,799 | 13.08 | 2 |
| Oregon | 364,447 | 327,470 | -36,977 | 10.15 | 3 |
| Arkansas | 321,645 | 290,039 | -31,606 | 9.83 | 4 |
| Washington | 582,006 | 536,580 | -45,426 | 7.81 | 5 |
Methodology
- Data were sourced from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding diagnosed cases of diabetes among adults in each US state.Â
- Only data for the years 2018 and 2021 were utilized to capture trends over a four-year period.Â
- The number of diagnosed diabetes cases between 2018 and 2021 was compared for each state.Â
- The results were ranked from the biggest to lowest percentage increase in diagnoses.Â
- Florida was removed from the ranking as data for 2021 were missing.Â
Study limitations
Because the data includes all types of diabetes without differentiating by type, it’s not possible to get a clear picture of which types of diabetes are increasing or decreasing the most.
Because the data only includes adults (18+), it likely underrepresents the number of type 1 diabetes diagnoses, as a high percentage of people with type 1 diabetes are diagnosed before the age of 18.
Full table:Â
| State | People diagnosed with diabetes | Change 2018-2021 | Percentage increase | Rank | |
| Â | 2018Â | 2021Â | Â | Â | Â |
| South Dakota | 61,656 | 73,034 | 11,378 | 18.45 | 1 |
| Connecticut | 275,491 | 311,975 | 36,484 | 13.24 | 2 |
| California | 3,209,418 | 3,578,930 | 369,512 | 11.51 | 3 |
| Nevada | 254,570 | 283,707 | 29,137 | 11.45 | 4 |
| Virginia | 701,793 | 780,387 | 78,594 | 11.20 | 5 |
| New Mexico | 200,548 | 217,427 | 16,879 | 8.42 | 6 |
| Illinois | 993,082 | 1,075,676 | 82,594 | 8.32 | 7 |
| Alabama | 550,149 | 593,485 | 43,336 | 7.88 | 8 |
| Wisconsin | 392,965 | 423,469 | 30,504 | 7.76 | 9 |
| Massachusetts | 476,687 | 507,452 | 30,765 | 6.45 | 10 |
| New York | 1,717,067 | 1,827,228 | 110,161 | 6.42 | 11 |
| Mississippi | 326,420 | 345,464 | 19,044 | 5.83 | 12 |
| South Carolina | 531,143 | 561,158 | 30,015 | 5.65 | 13 |
| North Dakota | 54,372 | 57,293 | 2,921 | 5.37 | 14 |
| Tennessee | 730,416 | 763,894 | 33,478 | 4.58 | 15 |
| Oklahoma | 373,824 | 390,413 | 16,589 | 4,44 | 16 |
| Idaho | 132,857 | 138,750 | 5,893 | 4,44 | 17 |
| Ohio | 1,111,161 | 1,158,772 | 47,611 | 4.28 | 18 |
| Arizona | 590,916 | 615,248 | 24,332 | 4.12 | 19 |
| Delaware | 91,358 | 95,089 | 3,731 | 4.08 | 20 |
| North Carolina | 1,014,358 | 1,055,369 | 41,011 | 4.04 | 21 |
| Colorado | 311,554 | 322,909 | 11,355 | 3.64 | 22 |
| Minnesota | 386,480 | 399,668 | 13,188 | 3.41 | 23 |
| Kentucky | 474,456 | 486,196 | 11,740 | 2.47 | 24 |
| Utah | 186,706 | 191,021 | 4,315 | 2.31 | 25 |
| Nebraska | 141,491 | 143,867 | 2,376 | 1.68 | 26 |
| Wyoming | 38,658 | 39,301 | 643 | 1.66 | 27 |
| Maine | 115,001 | 116,484 | 1,483 | 1.29 | 28 |
| Georgia | 1,013,358 | 1,024,050 | 10,692 | 1.06 | 29 |
| Pennsylvania | 1,147,490 | 1,145,528 | -1,962 | -0.17 | 30 |
| Rhode Island | 92,821 | 92,577 | -244 | -0.26 | 31 |
| Indiana | 640,435 | 636,681 | -3,754 | -0.59 | 32 |
| Missouri | 546,090 | 541,716 | -4,374 | -0.80 | 33 |
| Iowa | 242,403 | 240,238 | -2,165 | -0.89 | 34 |
| Montana | 77,847 | 77,136 | -711 | -0.91 | 35 |
| New Jersey | 760,249 | 746,427 | -13,822 | -1.82 | 36 |
| West Virginia | 232,336 | 226,294 | -6,042 | -2.60 | 37 |
| Kansas | 255,215 | 248,262 | -6,953 | -2.72 | 38 |
| Vermont | 46,377 | 44,803 | -1,574 | -3.39 | 39 |
| Louisiana | 505,468 | 486,568 | -18,900 | -3.74 | 40 |
| Alaska | 48,620 | 46,165 | -2,455 | -5.05 | 41 |
| Texas | 2,694,402 | 2,552,463 | -141,939 | -5.27 | 42 |
| Maryland | 568,232 | 537,027 | -31,205 | -5.49 | 43 |
| Michigan | 912,794 | 855,014 | -57,780 | -6.33 | 44 |
| Washington | 582,006 | 536,580 | -45,426 | -7.81 | 45 |
| Arkansas | 321,645 | 290,039 | -31,606 | -9.83 | 46 |
| Oregon | 364,447 | 327,470 | -36,977 | -10.15 | 47 |
| New Hampshire | 113,110 | 98,311 | -14,799 | -13.08 | 48 |
| Hawaii | 128,653 | 108,576 | -20,077 | -15.61 | 49 |
