Diabetes is a major cause of kidney failure, heart disease and stroke, and the 8^th 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.

In 2019-21, African Americans in Westchester County had the highest rate of deaths due to diabetes, at 29 per 100,000, higher than the rate for Hispanics, at 16 per 100,000, Asians, at 10 per 100,000, and 9 per 100,000 for Whites. Westchester's rates are below state rates for all racial/ethnic groups. Rates increased markedly for all racial/ethnic groups since 2016-2018 except for Asians which remained about the same. The largest increase was among Hispanics, whose rate jumped 64%.

Compared with similar counties, Westchester had the highest morality rate from diabetes among African Americans, above Nassau County at 28, tied for the highest rate among Hispanics, and the lowest rate among Asians.

Lack of access to health care and lower socioeconomic status among African American and other populations can be barriers to preventing diabetes and managing diabetes once diagnosed. Minority populations with diabetes are more likely to receive less and lower-quality care and have serious diabetes-related complications. Genetic predisposition, higher rates of obesity, earlier onset, diet and lack of exercise have all been shown to contribute to these racial and ethnic disparities.

Rates are age-adjusted, meaning adjusted to account for differences in age distributions across geographies.