Geographic and Sociodemographic Patterns in Prevalence of Diagnosed Diabetes, US, 2021-2024

Using pooled data from the 2021-2024 National Health Interview Survey, we compared the prevalence of diagnosed diabetes among rural and urban adults (≥18 y) across multiple sociodemographic factors by using survey-weighted descriptive statistics and t tests. Overall prevalence was 9.8%, with higher rates among rural residents (12.3%) than urban residents (9.3%) (P < .001); differences persisted across most sociodemographic groups, including by income, education, and race and ethnicity, but were absent among adults aged 65 years or older. The higher prevalence among rural residents compounds existing socioeconomic and racial and ethnic inequities, highlighting the need to monitor both rural-urban and within-rural differences and to prioritize tailored prevention and management strategies.