This study, an analysis of data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), looks at the number of adults diagnosed with diabetes in each U.S. 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 U.S. (2021 is the latest comprehensive data set). 

Key Points:

  • South Dakota takes the lead with an 18.45 percent increase between 2018 and 2021. 
  • Connecticut is second with a 13.24 percent increase, while California ranks third.
  • On the other side of the list, Hawaii has seen the biggest decrease at -15.61 percent.

South Dakota takes the top spot with 11,378 more diagnoses in 2021 than in 2018, marking an 18.45 percent 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. 

Second is Connecticut, which, with 36,484 new cases registered in 2021, has seen a 13.24 percent increase in individuals with diabetes.  

California comes in third place with an 11.51 percent 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 concerning, they need to be put into perspective — California’s population is significantly larger than the rest of the top ten, as it’s the most populous state in the country. 

Further down on the list, Nevada is fourth, with an 11.20 percent increase in diagnoses, while Virginia closes the top five with an 8.42 percent increase. 

Top 10 states with the highest increase in diabetes diagnoses from 2018 to 2021 :

State People diagnosed with diabetes Change 2018-2021 Percentage increase Rank 
 2018 2021    
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. 

New Hampshire takes second place with a decrease of 13.08 percent and Oregon is third with a 10.15 percent decrease in cases. 

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 
 2018 2021    
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 

Table of Contents

Methodology

  • Data were sourced from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding diagnosed cases of diabetes among adults in each U.S. state. 
  • Only data for the years 2018 and 2021 were utilized to capture trends over a four-year period. 
  • The number of diagnosed diabetes cases between 2018 and 2021 was compared for each state. 
  • The results were ranked from the largest to smallest percentage increase in diagnoses. 
  • Florida was removed from the ranking as data for 2021 were missing. 

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: 

State People diagnosed with diabetes Change 2018-2021 Percentage increase Rank 
 2018 2021    
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