Important Facts for Deaths due to Diabetes as Underlying Cause

Definition

Diabetes as the underlying cause of death refers to the first-listed cause of death with ICD-10 codes E10-E14 (diabetes mellitus).

Numerator

Number of deaths with diabetes as the underlying cause of death.

Denominator

Number of Utah residents.

Why Is This Important?

Diabetes is a leading cause of disability and death. It is currently the eighth leading cause of death in the U.S.

How Are We Doing?

Utah death rates from diabetes were in decline from 1999 to 2008. From 2009 to 2017, death rates from diabetes remained relatively the same. However, since 2018 the death rates have been increasing slightly, with a drop in 2022.

How Do We Compare With the U.S.?

Between 1999 and 2008, rates for diabetes deaths in Utah were consistently higher than those for the U.S. However, since 2008, Utah had similar death rates for diabetes compared to the U.S. But, in 2020, rates of diabetes deaths in Utah again were higher than those for the U.S. Age-adjusted rates are used in this indicator to account for the differences in age composition between the U.S. and Utah. In 2020, in the U.S., the age-adjusted rate was 24.8 per 100,000 population. For Utah in 2022 the rate was 24.9. 2020 is the most recent data available for U.S. deaths due to diabetes.

What Is Being Done?

Diabetes care and education specialists play a prominent role in providing information about nutrition, exercise, and blood glucose monitoring. Diabetes education for all people with diabetes is encouraged to prevent complications and death from diabetes. The Healthy Environments Active Living ([https://heal.utah.gov/ HEAL]) Program promotes diabetes education throughout the state. The HEAL program is working statewide to increase the number of locations that offer Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) and also promote DSMES to eligible participants. The National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP) is also an evidence-based program to prevent type 2 diabetes, which would also contribute to reduced deaths from diabetes. The HEAL program works with statewide partners to promote the National DPP to eligible Utahns and also is working to expand National DPP sites across the state.

Evidence-based Practices

Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support ([https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/managing/education.html DSMES]) has been shown to improve blood glucose control in people with diabetes. Education programs may be recognized/accredited by the American Diabetes Association or the Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists. A list of DSMES programs available in Utah is available at [https://heal.health.utah.gov/dsmes-programs/].

Health Program Information

Staff from the HEAL Program work with healthcare providers, including diabetes educators, dietitians, pharmacists, community health centers, community health workers, worksites, and health plans to improve the care provided to Utahns with diabetes. The Utah Department of Health and Human Services Healthy Environments Active Living program plays a key role in improving the health of residents in the state of Utah. The program was formed in July 2013 (as EPICC), through a new funding opportunity from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that allowed for the merging of three previously existing programs: the Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Program, the Diabetes Prevention and Control Program, and the Physical Activity, Nutrition and Obesity Program, as well as the addition of a school health program. The Healthy Environments Active Living Program (HEAL) was recently restructured as part of this strategic planning process and the new program model focuses on working together with staff and partners to address the social determinants of health while advancing health equity and increasing policy, systems and environment changes. HEAL champions public health initiatives and addresses the challenges of making health awareness and access truly universal and equitable in eight key areas: nutrition, heart health, diabetes, physical activity, schools, child care, community health workers, and worksites. Visit [https://heal.utah.gov/ HEAL's website] for more information.