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 Virginia 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. Richmond
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 13% (3 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #96
--- Quality of life rank: #100
--- Length of life rank: #89
- Estimated county population: 232,226
Puritan Nerd // Wikimedia Commons
2 / 25#24. Prince Edward County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 13% (3 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #92
--- Quality of life rank: #101
--- Length of life rank: #75
- Estimated county population: 23,006
Nolanwebb // Wikimedia Commons
3 / 25#23. Roanoke
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 13% (3 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #116
--- Quality of life rank: #103
--- Length of life rank: #122
- Estimated county population: 99,058
Taber Andrew Bain from Richmond, VA, USA // Wikimedia Commons
4 / 25#22. Buckingham County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 13% (3 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #82
--- Quality of life rank: #104
--- Length of life rank: #50
- Estimated county population: 17,168
Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons
5 / 25Acroterion // Wikimedia Commons
6 / 25#20. Accomack County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 13% (3 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #103
--- Quality of life rank: #108
--- Length of life rank: #100
- Estimated county population: 32,238
vastateparksstaff // Wikimedia Commons
7 / 25#19. Halifax County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 13% (3 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #111
--- Quality of life rank: #110
--- Length of life rank: #108
- Estimated county population: 33,633
Mojo Hand // Wikimedia Commons
8 / 25#18. Charles City County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 13% (3 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #100
--- Quality of life rank: #111
--- Length of life rank: #95
- Estimated county population: 6,821
Carol M. Highsmith // Wikimedia Commons
9 / 25#17. Buena Vista
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 13% (3 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #99
--- Quality of life rank: #114
--- Length of life rank: #76
- Estimated county population: 6,402
Ser Amantio di Nicolao // Wikimedia Commons
10 / 25Tburgess68 // Wikimedia Commons
11 / 25#15. Buchanan County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 13% (3 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #123
--- Quality of life rank: #127
--- Length of life rank: #116
- Estimated county population: 20,613
Cyoung9 // Wikimedia Commons
12 / 25#14. Galax
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 13% (3 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #130
--- Quality of life rank: #128
--- Length of life rank: #130
- Estimated county population: 6,296
Mojo Hand // Wikimedia Commons
13 / 25#13. Essex County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 13% (3 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #119
--- Quality of life rank: #129
--- Length of life rank: #101
- Estimated county population: 10,943
Rhyssdavies // Wikimedia Commons
14 / 25#12. Lunenburg County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 13% (3 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #122
--- Quality of life rank: #130
--- Length of life rank: #104
- Estimated county population: 12,267
U.S. Navy photo // Wikimedia Commons
15 / 25#11. Portsmouth
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 14% (4 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #113
--- Quality of life rank: #113
--- Length of life rank: #115
- Estimated county population: 95,094
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Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons
16 / 25#10. Nottoway County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 14% (4 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #102
--- Quality of life rank: #117
--- Length of life rank: #78
- Estimated county population: 15,160
Puddin Tain // Wikimedia Commons
17 / 25#9. Sussex County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 14% (4 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #114
--- Quality of life rank: #118
--- Length of life rank: #103
- Estimated county population: 10,925
Sleddog116 // Wikimedia Commons
18 / 25#8. Martinsville
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 14% (4 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #129
--- Quality of life rank: #121
--- Length of life rank: #131
- Estimated county population: 12,355
Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD // Wikimedia Commons
19 / 25#7. Brunswick County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 14% (4 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #110
--- Quality of life rank: #122
--- Length of life rank: #87
- Estimated county population: 16,037
Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons
20 / 25#6. Franklin
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 14% (4 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #128
--- Quality of life rank: #126
--- Length of life rank: #127
- Estimated county population: 7,833
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Taber Andrew Bain // Wikimedia Commons
21 / 25#5. Greensville County
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 15% (5 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #109
--- Quality of life rank: #119
--- Length of life rank: #85
- Estimated county population: 11,280
Acroterion // Wikimedia Commons
22 / 25#4. Danville
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 15% (5 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #127
--- Quality of life rank: #132
--- Length of life rank: #125
- Estimated county population: 39,869
Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons
23 / 25#3. Hopewell
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 15% (5 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #131
--- Quality of life rank: #133
--- Length of life rank: #128
- Estimated county population: 22,375
Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons
24 / 25#2. Petersburg
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 17% (7 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #133
--- Quality of life rank: #125
--- Length of life rank: #133
- Estimated county population: 30,446
DanTD // Wikimedia Commons
25 / 25#1. Emporia
- Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 18% (8 points higher than state percentage)
- Health outcomes statewide rank: #132
--- Quality of life rank: #131
--- Length of life rank: #132
- Estimated county population: 5,257
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