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 Georgia 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. Dooly County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 15% (4 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #136
--- Quality of life rank: #143
--- Length of life rank: #123
- Estimated county population: 13,174
Richardelainechambers // Wikimedia Commons
2 / 25#24. Candler County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 15% (4 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #148
--- Quality of life rank: #146
--- Length of life rank: #143
- Estimated county population: 10,985
Michael Rivera // Wikimedia Commons
3 / 25#23. Turner County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 15% (4 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #138
--- Quality of life rank: #148
--- Length of life rank: #119
- Estimated county population: 7,882
Michael Rivera // Wikimedia Commons
4 / 25#22. Ben Hill County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 15% (4 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #154
--- Quality of life rank: #149
--- Length of life rank: #156
- Estimated county population: 16,614
Rivers Langley; SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons
5 / 25#21. Quitman County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 15% (4 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #121
--- Quality of life rank: #150
--- Length of life rank: #74
- Estimated county population: 2,271
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6 / 25#20. Clayton County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 16% (5 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #70
--- Quality of life rank: #93
--- Length of life rank: #54
- Estimated county population: 292,646
Mjrmtg // Wikimedia Commons
7 / 25#19. Atkinson County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 16% (5 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #112
--- Quality of life rank: #108
--- Length of life rank: #122
- Estimated county population: 8,393
#18. Taliaferro County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 16% (5 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #100
--- Quality of life rank: #126
--- Length of life rank: #74
- Estimated county population: 1,562
Rivers Langley; SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons
9 / 25#17. Talbot County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 16% (5 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #135
--- Quality of life rank: #131
--- Length of life rank: #134
- Estimated county population: 6,143
#16. Mitchell County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 16% (5 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #134
--- Quality of life rank: #137
--- Length of life rank: #129
- Estimated county population: 21,602
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11 / 25#15. Jefferson County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 16% (5 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #137
--- Quality of life rank: #138
--- Length of life rank: #131
- Estimated county population: 15,267
Ireana Medlin // Wikimedia Commons
12 / 25#14. Dougherty County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 16% (5 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #150
--- Quality of life rank: #147
--- Length of life rank: #149
- Estimated county population: 86,477
Michael Rivera // Wikimedia Commons
13 / 25#13. Crisp County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 16% (5 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #155
--- Quality of life rank: #155
--- Length of life rank: #152
- Estimated county population: 22,034
Robbie Honerkamp // Wikimedia Commons
14 / 25#12. Early County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 16% (5 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #157
--- Quality of life rank: #157
--- Length of life rank: #155
- Estimated county population: 10,037
Michael Rivera // Wikimedia Commons
15 / 25#11. Clinch County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 16% (5 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #153
--- Quality of life rank: #158
--- Length of life rank: #136
- Estimated county population: 6,582
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16 / 25#10. Terrell County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 17% (6 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #142
--- Quality of life rank: #144
--- Length of life rank: #130
- Estimated county population: 8,523
JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD // Wikimedia Commons
17 / 25#9. Telfair County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 17% (6 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #125
--- Quality of life rank: #145
--- Length of life rank: #99
- Estimated county population: 15,781
Mbclark2 // Wikimedia Commons
18 / 25#8. Macon County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 17% (6 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #149
--- Quality of life rank: #151
--- Length of life rank: #133
- Estimated county population: 12,712
#7. Warren County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 17% (6 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #152
--- Quality of life rank: #152
--- Length of life rank: #154
- Estimated county population: 5,232
Blastoids // Wikimedia Commons
20 / 25#6. Jenkins County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 17% (6 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #132
--- Quality of life rank: #153
--- Length of life rank: #85
- Estimated county population: 8,746
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21 / 25#5. Calhoun County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 18% (7 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #76
--- Quality of life rank: #141
--- Length of life rank: #22
- Estimated county population: 6,231
Rivers Langley; SaveRivers // Wikimedia Commons
22 / 25#4. Randolph County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 18% (7 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #156
--- Quality of life rank: #156
--- Length of life rank: #142
- Estimated county population: 6,682
csmith/dbb1 // Wikimedia Commons
23 / 25#3. Hancock County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 18% (7 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #159
--- Quality of life rank: #159
--- Length of life rank: #157
- Estimated county population: 8,494
Robbie Honerkamp // Wikimedia Commons
24 / 25#2. Stewart County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 19% (8 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #141
--- Quality of life rank: #142
--- Length of life rank: #127
- Estimated county population: 6,689
Robbie Honerkamp // Wikimedia Commons
25 / 25#1. Clay County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 19% (8 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #126
--- Quality of life rank: #154
--- Length of life rank: #74
- Estimated county population: 2,866
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