Counties with the highest diabetes rate in Missouri
Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons
Counties with the highest diabetes rate in Missouri
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 Missouri 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.
Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons
#25. Lewis County
– Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 11% (2 points higher than state percentage)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #82
— Quality of life rank: #91
— Length of life rank: #70
– Estimated county population: 9,810
Sector001 // Wikimedia Commons
#24. Morgan County
– Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 11% (2 points higher than state percentage)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #93
— Quality of life rank: #93
— Length of life rank: #89
– Estimated county population: 20,716
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#23. Crawford County
– Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 11% (2 points higher than state percentage)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #97
— Quality of life rank: #94
— Length of life rank: #96
– Estimated county population: 23,739
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#22. Reynolds County
– Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 11% (2 points higher than state percentage)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #100
— Quality of life rank: #95
— Length of life rank: #101
– Estimated county population: 6,198
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#21. Dade County
– Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 11% (2 points higher than state percentage)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #110
— Quality of life rank: #96
— Length of life rank: #114
– Estimated county population: 7,568
Steveewatkins // Wikimedia Commons
#20. Dent County
– Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 11% (2 points higher than state percentage)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #102
— Quality of life rank: #97
— Length of life rank: #106
– Estimated county population: 15,481
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#19. Hickory County
– Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 11% (2 points higher than state percentage)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #92
— Quality of life rank: #99
— Length of life rank: #80
– Estimated county population: 9,586
Dazspell // Wikimedia Commons
#18. Scott County
– Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 11% (2 points higher than state percentage)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #99
— Quality of life rank: #102
— Length of life rank: #91
– Estimated county population: 38,288
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#17. Iron County
– Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 11% (2 points higher than state percentage)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #105
— Quality of life rank: #105
— Length of life rank: #103
– Estimated county population: 10,098
Americasroof // Wikimedia Commons
#16. Washington County
– Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 11% (2 points higher than state percentage)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #107
— Quality of life rank: #107
— Length of life rank: #107
– Estimated county population: 24,604
Skye Marthaler // Wikimedia Commons
#15. Butler County
– Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 11% (2 points higher than state percentage)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #108
— Quality of life rank: #109
— Length of life rank: #108
– Estimated county population: 42,178
Charvex // Wikimedia Commons
#14. Sullivan County
– Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 12% (3 points higher than state percentage)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #89
— Quality of life rank: #82
— Length of life rank: #95
– Estimated county population: 6,033
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#13. Texas County
– Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 12% (3 points higher than state percentage)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #91
— Quality of life rank: #92
— Length of life rank: #87
– Estimated county population: 25,112
JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD // Wikimedia Commons
#12. McDonald County
– Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 12% (3 points higher than state percentage)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #94
— Quality of life rank: #100
— Length of life rank: #85
– Estimated county population: 22,900
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#11. Wright County
– Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 12% (3 points higher than state percentage)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #101
— Quality of life rank: #101
— Length of life rank: #100
– Estimated county population: 18,325
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
#10. St. Louis
– Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 12% (3 points higher than state percentage)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #111
— Quality of life rank: #103
— Length of life rank: #112
– Estimated county population: 297,645
christopher friese // Wikimedia Commons
#9. Shannon County
– Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 12% (3 points higher than state percentage)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #106
— Quality of life rank: #104
— Length of life rank: #104
– Estimated county population: 8,203
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#8. Oregon County
– Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 12% (3 points higher than state percentage)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #98
— Quality of life rank: #106
— Length of life rank: #78
– Estimated county population: 10,411
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#7. Wayne County
– Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 12% (3 points higher than state percentage)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #104
— Quality of life rank: #108
— Length of life rank: #98
– Estimated county population: 12,769
Joseph Sohm // Shutterstock
#6. New Madrid County
– Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 12% (3 points higher than state percentage)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #113
— Quality of life rank: #110
— Length of life rank: #111
– Estimated county population: 16,693
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#5. Ozark County
– Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 12% (3 points higher than state percentage)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #103
— Quality of life rank: #111
— Length of life rank: #92
– Estimated county population: 9,083
Dean Sebourn // Wikimedia Commons
#4. Ripley County
– Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 12% (3 points higher than state percentage)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #109
— Quality of life rank: #112
— Length of life rank: #109
– Estimated county population: 13,300
Kbh3rd // Wikimedia Commons
#3. Dunklin County
– Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 13% (4 points higher than state percentage)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #114
— Quality of life rank: #115
— Length of life rank: #113
– Estimated county population: 28,878
Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons
#2. Pemiscot County
– Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 14% (5 points higher than state percentage)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #115
— Quality of life rank: #113
— Length of life rank: #115
– Estimated county population: 15,600
Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons
#1. Mississippi County
– Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 14% (5 points higher than state percentage)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #112
— Quality of life rank: #114
— Length of life rank: #105
– Estimated county population: 12,691
