Utah Diabetes Prevention and Control Program

Utah Facts

Diabetes in Utah Report

More than 120,000 Utah adults (about 6 percent of adults, or one in 17) have been diagnosed with diabetes (1). Roughly 45,000 more Utah adults have diabetes but have not yet been diagnosed (making the total number of adults with diabetes- diagnosed and undiagnosed about 165,000 or about 8 percent).

Because they are not diagnosed, and therefore not being treated, these individuals are vulnerable to complications that could be delayed or prevented

U.S. data indicate that some ethnic and racial minorities have an increased risk for diabetes. Hispanics, Pacific Islanders, Native Americans, and African Americans have diabetes prevalence rates that are roughly double those for non-Hispanic whites.

If not well controlled, diabetes can lead to a number of serious complications including blindness, amputations, cardiovascular disease and kidney failure.

Loss of vision – Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness among adults ages 25 to 74 (2).

Amputation of the toe, foot, or leg – Over half of all non-traumatic lower extremity amputations occur in people with diabetes (2). In Utah, there were 269 hospital discharges for lower-extremity amputations for people with diabetes. This number does not include amputations done on an out-patient basis.

Heart attack and stroke – Diabetes increases the risk of these life-threatening events by two to four times (2).

Dialysis – In 2007, there were 659 Utahns with diabetes on dialysis, representing half (50.6%) of all Utahns on dialysis (3).

Diabetes complications substantially increase the risk for hospitalization. In 2007, over 24,000 discharges for Utah residents listed diabetes as any listed diagnosis, with charges amounting to over $480 million (4).

Diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death in Utah. In 2007, diabetes contributed to one out of every 13 deaths in Utah, or over 1,100 deaths (5).

(1) Utah Health Status Survey (2007-2008). Office of Public Health Data. Utah Department of Health, Salt Lake City, UT

(2) Statistics: Diabetes Surveillance report 1999

(3) http://www.esrdnet15.org/Annual%20Report/table2_2007.pdf

(4) Utah Inpatient Hospital Discharge Database 2007, Office of Health Care Statistics, Utah Department of Health.

(5) Utah Death Records 2007, Office of Vital Records and Statistics, Utah Department of Health

Diabetes is a serious disease with potentially devastating consequences. Diabetes care represents a significant health care burden. The reports and tables included in this section provide a brief description of the prevalence of diabetes and its consequences in Utah.

The Utah Diabetes Prevention and Control Program obtains data from a variety of databases including vital records, hospital discharge, and the Governor's Office of Planning and Budget. In addition, the program uses survey data extensively. These data sources have been used to compile the following reports and health district profiles.

Presentations

Walking the Walk: Implementing a Successful Physical
Activity Program Among Utah Pacific Islanders
Presentation given by Ivoni Nash at the 3rd National Leadership Summit on Eliminating Racial & Ethnic Disparities in Health on February 26, 2009

Diabetes and Hispanic/Latino Population in Utah
Presentation given by Brenda Ralls and Michael Friedrichs at the Utah Diabetes Center on August 9, 2005.

Utah Facts

Reports and Factsheets

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