Geospatial and geodemographic insights for diabetes in the United States

Diabetes is a major public health problem in the United States. Over 29 million residents are currently diagnosed with the disease. Further, with such a large percentage of the U.S. population being diabetic, an interesting spatial pattern for the disease has emerged. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the geodemographic correlates of Type 2 diabetes in the United States. Specifically, using a nationwide database of age-adjusted, county level estimates for diabetes prevalence, we provide an exploratory spatial analysis of lifestyle groups and their connection with diabetes. Results suggest that geodemographic information can be effective in pinpointing risky lifestyle environments and may provide basic guidance for identifying at-risk populations in order to target intervention efforts more effectively.