Health Indicator Report of Diabetes Prevalence
More than 191,000 Utah adults have been diagnosed with diabetes. Diabetes is a disease that can have devastating consequences. It is the leading cause of non-traumatic lower-extremity amputation and kidney failure. It is also the leading cause of blindness among adults younger than 75. It is one of the leading causes of heart disease.
Diabetes places an enormous burden on healthcare resources. Nationally, approximately $412.9 billion is spent annually: $306.6 billion in direct medical costs and $106.3 billion in indirect medical costs (disability, work loss, and premature death; see [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37909353/ Economic costs of diabetes in the U.S. in 2022]. In Utah, more than a billion dollars each year is spent on direct and indirect medical costs of diabetes.
Currently, about 98 million Americans aged 18 and older have prediabetes, a condition that puts them at high risk for developing diabetes. For many individuals, taking small steps, such as losing 5-7% of their weight or increasing physical activity, can help them delay or prevent developing diabetes.
The 2022 age-adjusted rate of diabetes for Utah (9.0%) was lower than the rate for the U.S. (10.8%).
Adults With Diabetes, Age-adjusted Rates by Year, Utah and U.S., 2000-2022
Notes
"Don't know" and "Refused" responses were eliminated from the denominator. In 2016, Utah BRFSS modified its methodology for age adjustment for increased precision. With this change Utah is consistent with both the U.S. and other states using IBIS. Data has been updated from 2011 onward in all chart views to reflect this change. [[br]] [[br]] Rates are age-adjusted using 5 age groups. Beginning in 2011, U.S. BRFSS data include both landline and cell phone respondent data along with a new weighting methodology called iterative proportional fitting, or raking. Utah changed to the new methodology in 2009. This new methodology utilizes additional demographic information (such as education, race, and marital status) in the weighting procedure. More details about these changes can be found at: [https://ibis.utah.gov/ibisph-view/pdf/opha/resource/brfss/RakingImpact2011.pdf].Data Sources
- Utah Department of Health and Human Services Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) [https://ibis.utah.gov/ibisph-view/query/selection/brfss/BRFSSSelection.html]
- Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey Data, US Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Data Interpretation Issues
The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) is the primary source for estimating diabetes prevalence for Utah. The BRFSS is a telephone survey (with interviews using both landline and cell phones) that includes only adults 18 and over.Definition
Percentage of Utah adults (18+) diagnosed with diabetes.Numerator
Number of Utah adults who reported being told by a healthcare professional that they have diabetes (excludes women who were told they had diabetes only during pregnancy or those who reported they had "borderline" or prediabetes).Denominator
Utah adults 18 and over.Other Objectives
Healthy People 2030 (HP 2030) emphasizes reducing the incidence of diabetes. HP 2030 Objective D-01 is "Reduce the number of diabetes cases diagnosed yearly."How Are We Doing?
The rising prevalence of diabetes in Utah appears to be slowing. However, many Utah adults are overweight or obese, and/or lead sedentary lifestyles, adding to the number of people at risk for developing diabetes. Prediabetes is a condition in which blood sugar rates are elevated but not yet high enough to reach the clinical threshold of a diabetes diagnosis. An estimated 97.6 million Americans age 18 and older have prediabetes. Unless those individuals take steps to reduce their risk of diabetes, such as increasing physical activity, eating a more nutritious diet, or losing weight, the majority will have diabetes within 10 years.How Do We Compare With the U.S.?
According to the 2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), Utah's age-adjusted rate of diabetes is 9.0% of adults, compared to the U.S. age-adjusted rate of 10.8%. (Note: An age-adjusted rate is an artificial rate that "adjusts" for differences in age distributions between populations).What Is Being Done?
The Healthy Environments Active Living (HEAL) program encourages people with diabetes to enroll in a Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) class. These classes have been shown to help individuals develop the skills they need to manage their diabetes and are usually taught by registered dietitians, registered nurses, or pharmacists, who may also hold the status of Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists (CDCES). CDCES have considerable expertise in diabetes management and understand what the individual with diabetes is going through. The Utah Healthy Aging Program supports Chronic Disease Self-Management programs and Diabetes Self-Management programs throughout the state, this program is also called the Living Well with Chronic Conditions program. This 6-week program is available throughout the state at no cost and taught by community members. Information is available from Nichole Shepard, 385-315-2000, nshepard@utah.gov. More information is available on the [https://healthyaging.utah.gov/ Healthy Aging Program website]. The HEAL program is working statewide to increase the number of locations that offer DSMES and also promote DSMES to eligible participants. The National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP) is an evidence-based program to prevent type 2 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 classes have been shown to improve blood sugar control among participants. In Utah, programs are available that are recognized by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) or certified by the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists (ADCES). Information on classes in Utah is available on the [https://heal.health.utah.gov/dsmes-programs/ HEAL website].Available Services
The American Diabetes Association is an excellent resource for all types of information on diabetes. Call 1-800-DIABETES or visit the [https://diabetes.org/ website]. [https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/community-health-outreach/information-clearinghouses?dkrd=hisce0003 The National Diabetes Education Program] has resources for diabetes management for professionals, businesses, and patients. Most materials are available upon request at no charge. [https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/prevention/index.html The National Diabetes Prevention Program] has resources for diabetes prevention for employers, insurers, health care professionals, program providers, and individuals. [https://dhhs.utah.gov/ The Utah Department of Health and Human Services] has a Health Resource hotline: 1-888- 222-2542. Please call this number or 211 for information about self-management programs in Utah. [https://www.diabeteseducator.org/ Association of Diabetes Care and Educational Specialists] 800-338-3633 [https://www.heart.org/ American Heart Association][[br]] 1937 S. 300 W. #120[[br]] Salt Lake City, UT 84115 [[br]] (801) 484-3838 or 1-800-242-8721Health Program Information
The Utah Department of Health and Human Services Resource hotline can provide information about enrolling in diabetes self-management classes. Call 1-888-222-2542 or 211 for more information. The Utah Department of Health and Human Services Healthy Environments Active Living (HEAL) 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.
Page Content Updated On 03/04/2024,
Published on 03/28/2024