What does this measure?

The number of adults who have been diagnosed with a new case of diabetes by a doctor (not including gestational diabetes), in each year per 10,000 residents.

Why is this important?

Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure, non-traumatic lower-limb amputations, and new cases of blindness among adults in the United States. It is also a major cause of heart disease and stroke, and the seventh leading cause 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.

How is our county doing?

In 2019, the rate of new diabetes diagnoses was 60 per 10,000 residents in Essex County. This was higher the national rate of 56 per 10,000 residents. Essex's rate has declined 21% from 76 per 10,000 in 2011, a bit lower than the national decrease of 23%.

How do we compare to similar counties?

Essex County had the second highest rate among the comparison counties in 2019, below Lake County, IL (66) and above Middlesex, MA (50) and Westchester, NY (57). Rates have been declining in most of these counties as well.

Notes about the data

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.