Disclosure

Please read footnotes, titles, and explanations with each chart for the source(s) and explanation of data. It is important to note that some of the data presented below can not be taken as absolutely definitive since a minimum of 15 cases are required to calculate a stable age-adjusted rate. Considering the small populations in our rural counties, in several instances, the age-adjusted rates displayed below were calculated with fewer than 15 cases. Also, where the information is left blank, counts/rates were suppressed, likely due to having fewer than 5 reported cases within the specified category.

Instructions

Some of the tables below have filters. In such, use these filters to select the “category” for which you are interested, this will also change the trend chart. Then, click the county/counties within the legend of the associated trend chart to view the county/counties for which you are interested.

Diabetes Rates per 100,000

Select the category by using the filter below. Select and De-select counties by clicking the legend options.

Category:

Year	Category	Adair	Casey	Clinton	Cumberland	Green	McCreary	Pulaski	Russell	Taylor	Wayne	District	Kentucky	U.S.	HP 2020	District Score
2010	Diabetes Prevalence	11.10	11.00	9.80	11.00	11.20	12.60	10.80	11.20	11.60	11.10	11.11	9.30	8.70		D
2011	Diabetes Prevalence	10.80	9.90	9.20	10.60	10.40	13.50	11.30	9.40	11.10	10.10	10.76	10.00	8.40		D
2012	Diabetes Prevalence	10.80	10.50	9.90	10.20	10.20	14.50	11.90	9.20	11.70	11.10	11.20	9.80	8.40		D
2013	Diabetes Prevalence	13.40	12.20	10.60	11.00	11.00	14.60	11.50	10.00	12.30	12.10	11.83	9.70	8.70		D
2014	Diabetes Prevalence	14.10	12.90	12.20	12.50	11.50	14.00	11.60	10.70	12.50	12.90	12.27	11.40	8.40		D
2015	Diabetes Prevalence	14.60	12.50	11.40	13.30	11.00	13.80	10.60	11.40	12.30	12.70	11.88	12.10	8.70		B
2016	Diabetes Prevalence	15.80	12.10	12.20	13.20	9.50	13.30	11.60	9.90	9.20	10.60	11.34	11.80	8.50		B
2017	Diabetes Prevalence	12.00	12.00	9.40	9.90	10.30	16.00	12.70	12.60	7.70	14.70	11.57	11.30	8.50		D
2010	Diagnosed Diabetes Incidence	12.00	12.00	10.40	12.00	12.30	14.20	11.70	12.10	12.80	12.00	12.09	10.30	8.10	7.20	D
2011	Diagnosed Diabetes Incidence	10.70	9.80	8.90	10.60	10.60	14.30	11.30	9.20	11.20	9.90	10.74	10.30	7.30	7.20	D
2012	Diagnosed Diabetes Incidence	8.90	8.50	7.90	8.20	8.30	12.90	9.80	7.20	9.80	9.20	9.20	8.90	7.10	7.20	D
2013	Diagnosed Diabetes Incidence	12.30	10.90	9.20	9.70	9.70	13.70	10.20	8.60	11.10	10.70	10.53	9.00	6.70	7.20	D
2014	Diagnosed Diabetes Incidence	12.00	10.80	10.00	10.20	9.90	12.10	9.50	9.00	10.10	11.20	10.23	9.80	6.60	7.20	D
2015	Diagnosed Diabetes Incidence	15.10	12.00	11.00	13.10	10.30	13.90	10.30	11.00	11.90	12.20	11.57	11.50	6.60	7.20	D
2016	Diagnosed Diabetes Incidence	16.20	11.10	11.50	12.70	8.40	12.70	10.90	8.70	8.00	9.50	10.43	10.40	6.50	7.20	D
2017	Diagnosed Diabetes Incidence	11.20	11.30	8.10	8.70	9.00	15.80	11.70	12.10	6.00	14.00	10.35	9.70	6.60	7.20	D

Note: Prevalence indicates the total number of people in a population with a certain disease or condition. Instances, in comparison, is the amount of new diagnoses of a disease or condition.

Sources:

Diabetes Data: CDC: Diabetes
Healthy People 2020

Introduction

Kentucky ranks 7th in the nation for the rate of diabetes, because of the high rates of obesity and physical inactivity, both of which predispose to Type 2 Diabetes. Type 2 Diabetes is responsible for 90% to 95% of diabetes cases in the state, the rest primarily being Type 1 Diabetes and Gestational diabetes. Type 1 Diabetes is most likely to occur as an autoimmune response in children and young adults and Gestational Diabetes occurs during pregnancy.

Analysis (June 2021)

Using the data from the table above, a four-year average case rate was calculated for each county, the district, and Kentucky (2014-2017). The findings were as follows: Adair – 14; Casey – 11; Clinton – 10; Cumberland – 11; Green – 9; McCreary – 14; Pulaski – 11; Russell – 10; Taylor – 9; and, Wayne – 12; for the overall District – 11; and, for Kentucky – 10. Green and Taylor Counties were below the state average of 10; McCreary and Adair Counties had the highest at 14. All were higher than the national rate of 7.

Discussion

One in 7 adults have been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, but as estimated 1 of 4 adults have Type 2 Diabetes and don’t know it! Risk factors for Type 2 Diabetes include being overweight, physically inactive, being 45 years old and older, family history of diabetes, hypertension, and prediabetes. (Prediabetes is when blood glucose levels are above the normal range, but not yet in the range to be diagnosed for diabetes.) Diabetes increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer, and infections often shortening lifespans. You can prevent or delay Type 2 Diabetes by making healthier food choices, being more active, and losing weight if needed. It is important talk to your health care provider to see if you have prediabetes. Symptoms of diabetes include: increased thirst, increased urination, increased hunger, fatigue, visual changes, unexplained weight loss, cuts that are slow to heal, and dry skin. But, some people have no symptoms at all so it is very important to discuss any signs or symptoms and your risk factors with your health care provider.

Working together in our communities to encourage physical activity and healthy eating will not only help manage diabetes but also helps prevent diabetes. Having more walking trails, sidewalks, biking trails, physical activity programs accessible for our entire community are some first steps. Establishing school, church, and community gardens and teaching the next generation how to plant, nurture, and harvest fresh vegetables followed by cooking classes to cook fresh vegetables are some building blocks to help our communities become healthier. The LCDHD provides Diabetes classes to help individuals learn ways to better control their diabetes, Diabetes Prevention classes, Worksite Wellness, and faith-based programs which include weight loss programs, physical activity programs, and other education/activities to live healthier and feel better.