CDC PLACES County-Level Data

Diabetes Prevalence by State

The national average county-level diabetes prevalence is 13.2% of adults. Diabetes rates vary dramatically by state and correlate closely with obesity, rural isolation, and access to primary care. States with the highest diabetes burden often face compounding challenges: fewer physicians, more hospital deserts, and higher chronic disease costs.

13.2%

National Average

States Above 15%

Highest (17.7%)

Lowest (9.6%)

Diabetes Prevalence Map

Average county-level adult diabetes prevalence by state. Darker colors indicate higher rates. Click a state to explore its full health profile.

20%+

Avg county-level adult diabetes prevalence (CDC PLACES)

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All 50 States Ranked by Diabetes Prevalence

Sorted by highest average county-level diabetes rate. Click any column header to re-sort. Click a state name to see its full profile.

#	State	Avg Diabetes % ▼	Avg Obesity %	Hospital Deserts	PCPs/100K
1	MississippiMS	17.7%	42.8%	9	56.2
2	AlabamaAL	17.2%	42.2%	8	65.4
3	LouisianaLA	17.1%	42.5%	6	72.0
4	West VirginiaWV	17.1%	41.8%	15	81.6
5	South CarolinaSC	17.0%	39.4%	10	67.3
6	GeorgiaGA	15.8%	38.5%	56	67.5
7	ArkansasAR	15.6%	41.2%	21	69.3
8	TennesseeTN	15.4%	40.2%	24	68.2
9	New MexicoNM	15.2%	35.2%	7	73.1
10	TexasTX	15.1%	37.7%	75	60.9
11	FloridaFL	14.6%	34.8%	11	73.0
12	OklahomaOK	14.6%	41.0%	5	59.2
13	VirginiaVA	14.4%	37.9%	65	75.9
14	North CarolinaNC	14.3%	37.8%	23	70.3
15	OhioOH	14.1%	39.5%	11	76.7
16	ArizonaAZ	13.9%	33.3%	1	63.9
17	MissouriMO	13.9%	39.0%	47	72.1
18	IndianaIN	13.8%	40.1%	18	66.1
19	South DakotaSD	13.6%	37.1%	21	80.5
20	DelawareDE	13.3%	36.7%	0	78.2
21	MichiganMI	13.3%	38.1%	13	80.5
22	NevadaNV	13.1%	35.1%	3	58.4
23	HawaiiHI	13.0%	28.6%	1	88.1
24	OregonOR	13.0%	35.5%	4	94.7
25	IllinoisIL	12.9%	38.9%	25	82.6
26	KansasKS	12.7%	38.7%	10	79.1
27	MarylandMD	12.7%	36.4%	3	85.6
28	NebraskaNE	12.5%	39.6%	27	75.1
29	WisconsinWI	12.5%	39.2%	8	81.3
30	IowaIA	12.4%	39.4%	10	74.3
31	MaineME	12.3%	34.1%	1	105.3
32	North DakotaND	12.2%	39.0%	18	79.3
33	CaliforniaCA	12.1%	30.1%	2	84.2
34	MontanaMT	11.9%	33.6%	7	82.8
35	MinnesotaMN	11.8%	37.0%	8	89.9
36	IdahoID	11.7%	33.4%	11	62.8
37	WyomingWY	11.7%	34.3%	0	71.2
38	WashingtonWA	11.6%	34.3%	3	85.1
39	New YorkNY	11.3%	33.2%	5	83.4
40	AlaskaAK	11.2%	36.2%	20	93.9
41	New JerseyNJ	10.9%	30.1%	1	79.2
42	ColoradoCO	10.7%	27.4%	16	83.1
43	UtahUT	10.7%	31.7%	6	56.1
44	Rhode IslandRI	10.5%	29.5%	1	93.2
45	ConnecticutCT	10.2%	30.7%	0	83.7
46	MassachusettsMA	10.1%	28.1%	0	102.2
47	New HampshireNH	10.1%	32.0%	0	84.8
48	VermontVT	9.6%	30.7%	2	114.3
49	KentuckyKY	—	—	44	63.2
50	PennsylvaniaPA	—	—	9	80.7

Source: CDC PLACES (county-level model-based estimates), AHRF (workforce), CMS Provider of Services (hospital data).

Why Diabetes Prevalence Matters for Rural Health

Diabetes is among the most common and costly chronic conditions in the United States, affecting an estimated 38 million adults. In rural communities, diabetes prevalence is consistently higher than in urban areas — driven by higher obesity rates, limited access to preventive care, and fewer primary care physicians.

For state health agencies and rural hospital leaders, county-level diabetes data reveals where chronic disease burden is highest and where care delivery infrastructure may be insufficient. States with high diabetes prevalence and low PCP supply face a double bind: the patients who need the most ongoing management have the fewest providers available to deliver it.

The RHT Compass platform integrates CDC PLACES prevalence data with AHRF workforce metrics, CMS hospital financial data, and HRSA shortage designations — giving decision-makers a complete picture of where chronic disease and access gaps intersect.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does the diabetes prevalence data come from?

Diabetes prevalence estimates come from the CDC PLACES dataset, which provides model-based county-level estimates for chronic disease indicators. The data reflects diagnosed diabetes among adults aged 18 and older. RHT Compass averages county-level rates to produce each state's score.

Why do Southern states tend to have higher diabetes rates?

The geographic pattern, sometimes called the “diabetes belt,” reflects a combination of factors: higher obesity rates, lower physical activity levels, higher poverty rates, and fewer healthcare providers per capita. These factors cluster in the Southeast and Delta regions, where rural populations are largest and hospital access is most limited.

How does diabetes prevalence relate to hospital financial distress?

Counties with high diabetes prevalence generate higher healthcare utilization — more ER visits, more inpatient admissions, and more readmissions. For rural hospitals operating on thin margins, a high-acuity patient population with limited commercial insurance can accelerate financial distress. RHT Compass correlates chronic disease data with hospital financial metrics to identify these compounding risk patterns.

Can I see county-level diabetes data for my state?

Yes. Every state profile page includes county-level CDC PLACES data, including diabetes, obesity, depression, and other chronic disease indicators. Click any state in the table above to see its full breakdown.

Explore Diabetes & Health Access in Your State

Every state page includes county-level chronic disease data, hospital financials, and workforce metrics. Start with your state, or request a demo of the full analytics platform.

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Diabetes and obesity prevalence from CDC PLACES (model-based county-level estimates). Workforce data from HRSA Area Health Resources File (AHRF). Hospital data from CMS Provider of Services. Last updated: 2026-02-15.