Diabetes rates have been on the rise for the last two decades, and show no sign of abating. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly 11.3% of the U.S. population suffers from diabetes—though many of those affected do not know they have the chronic illness.
Diabetes was the 8th leading cause of death in 2020, but the disease does not impact all Americans equally. Instead, variables like poverty level, geographic region, and race all influence diabetes rates, meaning some Americans are disproportionately impacted by the disease.
The Southeastern portion of the U.S. has a particularly high concentration of counties with elevated diabetes rates, with parts of Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Texas, and nearly all of Louisiana, along with other states, facing some of the highest rates. Studies have shown that lack of access to healthy, affordable foods and health care services, exposure to environmental toxins, and other health hazards associated with poverty and systemic racism contribute to the increased likelihood of developing diabetes. These same conditions also mean that poor, non-white Americans are more likely to endure complications and have higher mortality rates from diabetes than wealthier white Americans with the disease.
The proportion of young people with diabetes is projected to increase over the next several decades, with racial, geographic, and socioeconomic disparities only growing larger if trends continue. Using 2022 County Health Rankings & Roadmaps from the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, Stacker identified the counties in Montana with the highest percentage of adults with diabetes. Ties were broken by the broader Quality of Life rank provided by the analysis, which includes other poor physical and mental health indicators. The age-adjusted diabetes rate was obtained through the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.
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1 / 25#25. Phillips County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 8% (2 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #29
--- Quality of life rank: #27
--- Length of life rank: #27
- Estimated county population: 3,919
Montanabw // Wikimedia Commons
2 / 25#24. Cascade County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 8% (2 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #27
--- Quality of life rank: #29
--- Length of life rank: #17
- Estimated county population: 81,346
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3 / 25#23. Prairie County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 8% (2 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #32
--- Quality of life rank: #30
--- Length of life rank: #27
- Estimated county population: 1,067
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4 / 25#22. Silver Bow County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 8% (2 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #37
--- Quality of life rank: #36
--- Length of life rank: #20
- Estimated county population: 35,180
Aualliso // Wikimedia Commons
5 / 25#21. Musselshell County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 8% (2 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #38
--- Quality of life rank: #37
--- Length of life rank: #27
- Estimated county population: 4,669
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6 / 25#20. Toole County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 8% (2 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #34
--- Quality of life rank: #41
--- Length of life rank: #9
- Estimated county population: 4,686
J.B. Chandler // Wikimedia Commons
7 / 25#15. Garfield County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 8% (2 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #NR
--- Quality of life rank: #NR
--- Length of life rank: #NR
- Estimated county population: 1,268
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8 / 25#15. Golden Valley County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 8% (2 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #NR
--- Quality of life rank: #NR
--- Length of life rank: #NR
- Estimated county population: 827
J.B. Chandler // Wikimedia Commons
9 / 25#15. Powder River County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 8% (2 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #NR
--- Quality of life rank: #NR
--- Length of life rank: #NR
- Estimated county population: 1,681
Larry D. Moore // Wikimedia Commons
10 / 25#15. Treasure County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 8% (2 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #NR
--- Quality of life rank: #NR
--- Length of life rank: #NR
- Estimated county population: 695
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11 / 25#15. Wibaux County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 8% (2 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #NR
--- Quality of life rank: #NR
--- Length of life rank: #NR
- Estimated county population: 939
Aualliso // Wikimedia Commons
12 / 25#14. Wheatland County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 9% (3 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #30
--- Quality of life rank: #28
--- Length of life rank: #27
- Estimated county population: 2,157
J.B. Chandler // Wikimedia Commons
13 / 25#13. Hill County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 9% (3 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #33
--- Quality of life rank: #32
--- Length of life rank: #21
- Estimated county population: 16,358
J.B. Chandler // Wikimedia Commons
14 / 25#12. Chouteau County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 9% (3 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #31
--- Quality of life rank: #34
--- Length of life rank: #13
- Estimated county population: 5,699
Aualliso // Wikimedia Commons
15 / 25#11. Pondera County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 9% (3 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #36
--- Quality of life rank: #35
--- Length of life rank: #23
- Estimated county population: 5,782
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16 / 25#10. Lake County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 9% (3 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #40
--- Quality of life rank: #39
--- Length of life rank: #41
- Estimated county population: 30,986
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17 / 25#9. Mineral County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 9% (3 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #39
--- Quality of life rank: #40
--- Length of life rank: #27
- Estimated county population: 4,544
Aualliso // Wikimedia Commons
18 / 25#8. Deer Lodge County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 9% (3 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #42
--- Quality of life rank: #42
--- Length of life rank: #42
- Estimated county population: 9,204
JERRYE AND ROY KLOTZ MD // Wikimedia Commons
19 / 25#7. Sanders County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 9% (3 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #41
--- Quality of life rank: #43
--- Length of life rank: #40
- Estimated county population: 12,157
Jimmy Emerson, DVM // Flickr
20 / 25#6. Liberty County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 9% (3 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #NR
--- Quality of life rank: #NR
--- Length of life rank: #NR
- Estimated county population: 2,369
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Larry D. Moore // Wikimedia Commons
21 / 25#5. Rosebud County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 10% (4 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #43
--- Quality of life rank: #38
--- Length of life rank: #44
- Estimated county population: 8,836
J.B. Chandler // Wikimedia Commons
22 / 25#4. Blaine County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 11% (5 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #44
--- Quality of life rank: #44
--- Length of life rank: #45
- Estimated county population: 6,568
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23 / 25#3. Big Horn County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 13% (7 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #46
--- Quality of life rank: #45
--- Length of life rank: #46
- Estimated county population: 13,063
J.B. Chandler // Wikimedia Commons
24 / 25#2. Roosevelt County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 13% (7 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #47
--- Quality of life rank: #46
--- Length of life rank: #47
- Estimated county population: 10,964
Aualliso // Wikimedia Commons
25 / 25#1. Glacier County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 13% (7 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #45
--- Quality of life rank: #47
--- Length of life rank: #43
- Estimated county population: 13,594
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