A new 22-year study reveals that diabetes-related mortality in the United States is not only rising but disproportionately affecting rural communities—especially among Black and American Indian populations. Using CDC WONDER data from 1999 to 2020, researchers found that rural areas consistently had higher death rates across all age groups, genders, and races.
The disparities are most severe among racial minorities. In rural regions, Black or African American individuals had a mortality rate of 43.75 per 100,000, compared to 30.96 in urban areas. American Indian or Alaska Native individuals faced an even starker gap: 40.85 in rural areas versus 15.22 in urban ones. These figures underscore the compounded impact of geographic isolation and systemic inequities in healthcare access.
Men in rural areas also experienced higher mortality than women, and older adults—particularly those over 85—faced rates as high as 347.37 per 100,000. Researchers attribute these disparities to delayed diagnoses, limited access to specialists, and inadequate disease management in rural settings.
The study calls for urgent, targeted interventions to address these racial and geographic gaps. Improving healthcare infrastructure, expanding diabetes education, and tailoring community-based programs to meet the needs of rural minority populations could be key steps toward equity.
See: “A Retrospective Study of Disparities in Mortality Due to Diabetes Mellitus Over a 22-Year Period in the United States” (August 27, 2025)
