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 Arkansas 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. Sharp County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 12% (same as state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #43
--- Quality of life rank: #67
--- Length of life rank: #11
- Estimated county population: 17,424
Michael Barera // Wikimedia Commons
2 / 25#24. Sevier County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 13% (1 point higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #13
--- Quality of life rank: #14
--- Length of life rank: #19
- Estimated county population: 16,702
#23. Lincoln County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 13% (1 point higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #36
--- Quality of life rank: #37
--- Length of life rank: #37
- Estimated county population: 12,944
Valis55 // Wikimedia Commons
4 / 25#22. Howard County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 13% (1 point higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #41
--- Quality of life rank: #38
--- Length of life rank: #41
- Estimated county population: 13,109
Valis55 // Wikimedia Commons
5 / 25#21. Johnson County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 13% (1 point higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #32
--- Quality of life rank: #45
--- Length of life rank: #29
- Estimated county population: 26,513
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6 / 25#20. Yell County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 13% (1 point higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #25
--- Quality of life rank: #46
--- Length of life rank: #15
- Estimated county population: 21,181
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7 / 25#19. Woodruff County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 13% (1 point higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #58
--- Quality of life rank: #52
--- Length of life rank: #62
- Estimated county population: 6,264
Brandonrush // Wikimedia Commons
8 / 25#18. Nevada County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 13% (1 point higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #40
--- Quality of life rank: #56
--- Length of life rank: #28
- Estimated county population: 8,099
Brandonrush // Wikimedia Commons
9 / 25#17. Bradley County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 13% (1 point higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #66
--- Quality of life rank: #57
--- Length of life rank: #70
- Estimated county population: 10,639
Brandonrush // Wikimedia Commons
10 / 25#16. Dallas County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 13% (1 point higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #60
--- Quality of life rank: #59
--- Length of life rank: #59
- Estimated county population: 6,802
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11 / 25#15. Ashley County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 13% (1 point higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #57
--- Quality of life rank: #60
--- Length of life rank: #49
- Estimated county population: 19,339
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12 / 25#14. Jackson County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 13% (1 point higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #65
--- Quality of life rank: #68
--- Length of life rank: #58
- Estimated county population: 16,636
Michael Barera // Wikimedia Commons
13 / 25#13. Hempstead County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 14% (2 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #34
--- Quality of life rank: #49
--- Length of life rank: #27
- Estimated county population: 21,253
#12. Ouachita County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 14% (2 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #62
--- Quality of life rank: #62
--- Length of life rank: #60
- Estimated county population: 23,167
#11. Columbia County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 14% (2 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #56
--- Quality of life rank: #63
--- Length of life rank: #40
- Estimated county population: 23,331
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#10. Lafayette County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 14% (2 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #55
--- Quality of life rank: #64
--- Length of life rank: #34
- Estimated county population: 6,596
#9. Mississippi County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 14% (2 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #73
--- Quality of life rank: #66
--- Length of life rank: #73
- Estimated county population: 40,066
Brandonrush // Wikimedia Commons
18 / 25#8. Monroe County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 14% (2 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #74
--- Quality of life rank: #69
--- Length of life rank: #74
- Estimated county population: 6,584
#7. Crittenden County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 14% (2 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #69
--- Quality of life rank: #71
--- Length of life rank: #66
- Estimated county population: 47,616
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20 / 25#6. Jefferson County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 15% (3 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #68
--- Quality of life rank: #65
--- Length of life rank: #67
- Estimated county population: 65,377
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21 / 25#5. St. Francis County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 15% (3 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #63
--- Quality of life rank: #70
--- Length of life rank: #47
- Estimated county population: 24,682
Brandonrush // Wikimedia Commons
22 / 25#4. Lee County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 16% (4 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #71
--- Quality of life rank: #72
--- Length of life rank: #72
- Estimated county population: 8,513
#3. Chicot County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 16% (4 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #70
--- Quality of life rank: #73
--- Length of life rank: #68
- Estimated county population: 9,924
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24 / 25#2. Desha County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 16% (4 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #72
--- Quality of life rank: #75
--- Length of life rank: #65
- Estimated county population: 11,110
#1. Phillips County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 17% (5 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #75
--- Quality of life rank: #74
--- Length of life rank: #74
- Estimated county population: 17,299
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