People with diabetes have a higher risk of health problems including heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, vision loss, and nerve damage and according to the Centers for Disease Control, diabetes is among the top 10 causes of death in the United States. Associated with lack of activity and being overweight and obese, Type 2 diabetes is a growing public health concern across the U.S.

In 2019, the rate of new diabetes diagnoses was 72 per 10,000 residents in Worcester County. This was notably higher than the state rate of 53 and the national rate of 56 per 10,000 residents. Rates from 2011 to 2020 have declined at a much slower rate in Worcester County (down 4%) compared to the state decrease of 18% and national decrease of 23%.

Data come from a federal government survey designed to collect scientific data on health risks and behaviors.

Beginning in 2011, the Centers for Disease Control made two changes to the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System on which this indicator is based. The survey now includes cell-phone users, and a new statistical method is used to weight responses. As a result, changes from 2010 to 2011 may be a result of those technical changes rather than true trends.