If you live in Delaware, you are more likely to develop diabetes than your fellow Americans in other states, a report suggests.
Health experts at Diabetes strong analyzed lifestyle factors, such as diet, exercise, obesity and alcohol consumption, that are known to increase the risk of type 2 diabetes in every state.
The researchers then scored each state based on the outcome and calculated an average score for comparison. They found that ‘The First State’ ranked first in diabetes risk with a score of 75.2, which could be due to an increasingly older population.
Southern states, which have historically had high rates of obesity and diabetes, were close behind, with Mississippi and Louisiana taking second and third places, respectively.
Utah, meanwhile, has the lowest risk of type 2 diabetes because it has the most physically active residents and 50 percent fewer smokers than the national average.
The number of diabetes patients is increasing all over the world. Type 2 develops over the years and can be caused by obesity, smoking, inactivity and dietary factors
The findings come as researchers predict diabetes will rise to 1.3 billion cases worldwide, more than double the current 529 million.
And more than 96 percent will be type 2 diabetes, largely driven by the world’s ever-expanding waistline.
Christel Oerum, CEO of Diabetes Strong, said: ‘These data provide a fascinating insight into the potential prevalence of type 2 diabetes in the US.’
The researchers looked at data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on physical activity, smoking, diet, alcohol consumption and obesity prevalence across the country.
Each state was then given a score based on the average number of people who were inactive, smoked, ate poorly, consumed alcohol and were obese.
Delaware was considered to be at the highest risk of developing type 2 diabetes with a score of 75.2. Compared to the rest of the US, it had the second highest alcohol consumption per capita at 4.4 liters.
Delaware also had the eighth highest prevalence of obesity at 38 percent.
Additionally, the Delaware Health Department estimates that one in three adults in the state is obese.
The CDC also reported that one-fifth of adults in Delaware had not done any physical activity in the month they were surveyed.
An increasingly older population could be responsible for this risk. Delaware has the fifth highest number of adults age 65 and older, and 40 percent of the population is over age 50.
The risk of diabetes has been shown to increase with age as insulin resistance worsens in the elderly.
Mississippi took second place with a score of 73.5. The researchers noted that the Magnolia State has the fourth highest prevalence of obesity at 39.5 percent and the seventh most smokers at 15 percent.
In third place was Louisiana with 73.2. As of 2022, 17 percent of adults in the state smoke, and it had the second-highest obesity rate: 40.1 percent.
The above graph shows estimates for global diabetes cases. It is predicted that the number of people with the condition will more than double by the year 2050 compared to 2021
The organization Our World in Data has ranked Pakistan as the country with the highest diabetes rates in the world, based on figures from the International Diabetes Federation. Meanwhile, the US and Britain ranked 59th and 136th respectively
West Virginia was fourth with 70.5. Compared to all other US states, it had the seventh highest percentage of adults who were physically inactive, at 30.5 percent.
Kentucky rounded out the top five with a combined score of 70. The Bluegrass State took a top spot thanks to having the highest number of adult smokers, the researchers noted, and the ninth-worst obesity rate at 37.7 percent.
Tennessee, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Alabama and Missouri made up the rest of the top 10.
Meanwhile, Utah was considered the state at least at risk of developing diabetes, as its risk score was only 12.6.
The researchers said this was because the Beehive State had the lowest prevalence of physically inactive adults (18.2 percent) and had 50 percent fewer smokers than the national average.
Diabetes is a chronic condition in which the pancreas no longer produces enough insulin. Insulin regulates blood sugar levels, also called glucose, which the body needs for energy.
When the body cannot produce enough insulin, too much sugar builds up in the bloodstream. This can lead to heart disease, kidney disease, nerve damage and other lasting health problems.
In type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune response causes the body to destroy beta cells and thus stop making insulin. This can be diagnosed at any age.
Type 2 diabetes, meanwhile, develops over many years and is usually diagnosed in adults. This happens when the body’s insulin cannot keep blood sugar levels at normal levels.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 38 million Americans – one in ten – have diabetes, and 90 percent have type 2 diabetes.
From a study published last year in the Journal of the American Heart AssociationFor example, research has shown that obesity is linked to 30 to 53 percent of new cases of type 2 diabetes in the U.S. each year.
The CDC estimates that four in 10 Americans are obese, and that rate is rising. For example, between March 2020 and March 2021, the number increased by 3 percent.
Scientists believe that type 2 diabetes is caused by excess fat around the abdominal organs, which disrupts the pancreas and its ability to produce insulin.
Dietary factors may be at play – as the American diet is high in sugar and processed foods – which are known to contribute to the development of obesity
The Diabetes Strong researchers also looked at smoking rates, which have been linked to diabetes risk.
According to the CDC, nicotine in cigarettes can cause cells to fail to respond to insulin, leading to elevated blood sugar levels.
“Having type 2 diabetes can have a negative impact on life for a variety of reasons, including a serious health complication, reduced quality of life, financial burden and impact on family dynamics,” Ms Oerum said.
‘Overall, the negative impact of type 2 diabetes highlights the importance of preventive measures and early detection to reduce its effects and promote a more satisfying life.
‘Although type 2 diabetes may seem like a distant concept, very simple changes can be made to reduce its risk.’
‘And while not everyone can keep type 2 diabetes at bay with lifestyle choices, it is wise for everyone to think about our lifestyle choices and habits and adjust them where possible.’
Despite rising rates of diabetes and obesity in the US, America isn’t even in the top 10 compared to the rest of the world.
Last year, researchers at Our World in Data found that the US ranked 59th in the number of people with type 2 diabetes, and Britain came in at 136th.
Pakistan took the lead in that ranking, as research has shown that people in Middle Eastern and South Asian countries are genetically more resistant to insulin, which increases the chance of developing the condition.