What Is the Diabetes Belt?

The Southeastern US has been dubbed the “diabetes belt” with 644 mostly southern counties presenting above average rates of diabetes, according to new research by the CDC. There are more than 18 million diabetes sufferers nationwide, with a state pattern emerging for overall averages that matches known risk factors like obesity, sedentary lifestyle, lower education, and certain ethnicities prone to diabetes. The “diabetes belt” has more than 10% cases of diabetes compared to the rest of the U.S. with 8% rates.