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In a new nationwide study, Mayo Clinic researchers have shed light on factors contributing to diabetes rates in rural America. Their observational study found people in rural areas were more likely to develop diabetes (higher incidence) and to already have it (greater prevalence) compared to people in urban areas. However, when risk factors that can be changed, such as inactivity and obesity, were accounted for, the gap in diabetes prevalence and incidence narrowed, and in some cases, the trend reversed. Higher levels of inactivity and obesity were the strongest predictors of higher diabetes rates.
Sagar Dugani, M.D., Ph.D., the study's first author, says that future research will focus on the best strategies for addressing diabetes risks in rural populations.
When the researchers analyzed diabetes rates in different regions of the country, they found different associations between how rural a community was and its diabetes incidence rates. These findings suggest that tailored approaches may be needed to meet the diverse needs of rural communities and reduce diabetes-related disparities.
Adrian Vella, M.D., the study's senior author, says the study also emphasizes that taking care of diabetes involves more than just medication.
"Diabetes care also requires a suitable care environment and infrastructure," says Dr. Vella.
Read the full article on Mayo Clinic News Network
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