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Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates a significant decline in diabetes-related deaths in the United States, marking a hopeful turn after the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Provisional statistics from the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics reveal a death rate of 26.4 per 100,000 people due to diabetes in the third quarter of 2024. This represents a decrease from the pandemic peak of 31.1 deaths per 100,000 in 2021, when diabetes was the eighth leading cause of death in the country.
The COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on diabetes management, contributing to a surge in mortality rates. Individuals with underlying health conditions, such as diabetes, faced increased risks of severe illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19. Additionally, the pandemic disrupted routine medical care and access to physical activity, making diabetes management more difficult for many Americans. In 2021, the U.S. recorded over 103,000 diabetes-related deaths, a rise of more than 17 percent from 2019. The preliminary data for 2024 shows a reduction to 94,294 deaths, though rates have not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels.
Experts note the complexity in interpreting diabetes mortality trends, as many deaths among diabetic patients are related to cardiovascular issues. The coding practices of physicians also influence how these deaths are recorded, adding further challenges to year-over-year comparisons. Despite the recent decline, diabetes death rates had been decreasing prior to the pandemic, thanks in part to advancements in disease management and treatments.
As of 2023, nearly one in ten adults in the U.S. has been diagnosed with diabetes. While the decline in mortality rates is encouraging, experts emphasize the need for ongoing improvements in access to healthcare, medications, and education to maintain this positive trend and ensure better outcomes for individuals living with diabetes.
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