Diabetes: MN Public Health Data Access - MN Dept. of Health
Diabetes
A leading cause of disability & death
Diabetes is a group of diseases that occur when a person's body accumulates too much glucose (sugar) in the blood. This can lead to major chronic health problems, including cardiovascular disease, stroke, blindness, kidney disease, and nerve damage.
Over 380,000 Minnesota adults have diabetes
In 2020, 8.8% of Minnesota adults were living with diabetes. An estimated 24,000 new cases were diagnosed in Minnesota in 2018.
Diabetes can't be cured, but it can be managed – and type 2 diabetes can be prevented. Being physically active, eating a healthy diet, and not using tobacco can greatly help prevent or manage diabetes.
Not knowing prevents people from improving their health
As many as 1 in 3 Minnesotans has pre-diabetes, meaning that their blood glucose is higher than normal and they are at greater risk of developing diabetes.
Nine in ten people with pre-diabetes don't know they have it, and don't know that there is something they can do about it.
As many as 1 in 10 Minnesotans with diabetes don't know that they have diabetes.
This means they are not working with a healthcare provider to get their diabetes under control. Having diabetes under control means there is a lower risk of developing health problems like heart and kidney diseases.
What can you do about diabetes?
- Learn how to prevent diabetes
- Learn how to manage diabetes
- Find out if you are at risk
- Find a Diabetes Education Program in Your Area (diabeteseducator.org)
What is Minnesota doing about diabetes?
- The MDH Diabetes Program released the report Income, employment and diabetes in March 2016. The program works in partnership with other public and private organizations and businesses to prevent diabetes, improve care and self-management for people with diabetes, and reduce diabetes-related disparities. It supports implementation of diabetes prevention and management activities throughout Minnesota.
- The American Diabetes Association of Minnesota works to prevent and cure diabetes through education for the general public and activities that support those living with diabetes and pre-diabetes.
Related Links
CDC provides a diabetes impact tool-kit including state-level data.