Diabetes Statistics
Diabetes is a major public health problem across the nation and the seventh leading cause of death in South Carolina (2005). According to the 2006 Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS), South Carolina ranks seventh in diabetes prevalence, where an estimated 414,840 people in South Carolina are aware that they have diabetes. However, there are at least that many others in whom diabetes is still undetected. Thus, approximately 830,000 people in South Carolina have diabetes.
The prevalence of diabetes among adults in South Carolina was 9.6% in 2006 (BRFSS, SC DHEC). A total of 1,183 South Carolinians died from diabetes in 2005 and another 2,000 died from other diseases associated with diabetes such as heart disease and stroke (Vital Statistics, SC DHEC). In addition to death from acute complications, diabetes increases the risk of death from cardiovascular disease and end-stage renal disease. Although increased death rates are seen for all ages and races, minority populations and older populations experience the highest rates. South Carolina is 8th in the nation for diabetes prevalence among African Americans (BFRSS, SC DHEC 2006). Likewise, African Americans of either gender are twice as likely to have diabetes as their white counterparts. About 13.8 % of African-Americans said that they had diabetes, while only 8.2% of whites reported having the disease.
Did You Know?
- South Carolina has one of the highest rates of diabetes in the country.
- 1,162 people died of diabetes in the state during 2004.
- Two-thirds of people with diabetes die of heart disease and stroke.
- African American women have the highest risk for diabetes.
Click here for additional diabetes data and statistics.
For additional information contact:
Patsy Myers, DrPh
Chronic Disease Epidemiologist
803-545-4933