CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (WBOY) — Diabetes rates have been on the rise for the last two decades, and show no sign of abating. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly 11.3% of the U.S. population suffers from diabetes—though many of those affected do not know they have the chronic illness.

Diabetes was the 8th leading cause of death in 2020, but the disease does not impact all Americans equally. Instead, variables like poverty level, geographic region, and race all influence diabetes rates, meaning some Americans are disproportionately impacted by the disease.

The Southeastern portion of the U.S. has a particularly high concentration of counties with elevated diabetes rates, with parts of Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Texas, and nearly all of Louisiana, along with other states, facing some of the highest rates. Studies have shown that lack of access to healthy, affordable foods and health care services, exposure to environmental toxins, and other health hazards associated with poverty and systemic racism contribute to the increased likelihood of developing diabetes. These same conditions also mean that poor, non-white Americans are more likely to endure complications and have higher mortality rates from diabetes than wealthier white Americans with the disease.

The proportion of young people with diabetes is projected to increase over the next several decades, with racial, geographic, and socioeconomic disparities only growing larger if trends continue. Using 2022 County Health Rankings & Roadmaps from the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, Stacker identified the counties in West Virginia with the highest percentage of adults with diabetes. Ties were broken by the broader Quality of Life rank provided by the analysis, which includes other poor physical and mental health indicators. The age-adjusted diabetes rate was obtained through the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.

#25. Grant County

– Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 12% (1 point less than state percentage)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #26
— Quality of life rank: #32
— Length of life rank: #18
– Estimated county population: 11,510

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#24. Wetzel County

– Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 12% (1 point less than state percentage)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #28
— Quality of life rank: #33
— Length of life rank: #23
– Estimated county population: 14,904

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Bitmapped // Wikimedia Commons

#23. Mason County

– Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 12% (1 point less than state percentage)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #39
— Quality of life rank: #34
— Length of life rank: #39
– Estimated county population: 26,335

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w:User:Malepheasant // Wikimedia Commons

#22. Lewis County

– Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 12% (1 point less than state percentage)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #37
— Quality of life rank: #35
— Length of life rank: #36
– Estimated county population: 15,805

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#21. Cabell County

– Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 12% (1 point less than state percentage)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #47
— Quality of life rank: #36
— Length of life rank: #51
– Estimated county population: 91,589

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Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#20. Taylor County

– Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 12% (1 point less than state percentage)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #29
— Quality of life rank: #38
— Length of life rank: #14
– Estimated county population: 16,699

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w:User:Malepheasant // Wikimedia Commons

#19. Nicholas County

– Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 12% (1 point less than state percentage)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #36
— Quality of life rank: #40
— Length of life rank: #35
– Estimated county population: 24,340

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w:User:Malepheasant // Wikimedia Commons

#18. Gilmer County

– Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 13% (same as state percentage)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #5
— Quality of life rank: #7
— Length of life rank: #4
– Estimated county population: 7,811

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w:User:Malepheasant // Wikimedia Commons

#17. Summers County

– Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 13% (same as state percentage)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #41
— Quality of life rank: #37
— Length of life rank: #43
– Estimated county population: 12,444

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Tim Kiser // Wikimedia Commons

#16. Raleigh County

– Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 13% (same as state percentage)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #46
— Quality of life rank: #39
— Length of life rank: #49
– Estimated county population: 72,920

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Famartin // Wikimedia Commons

#15. Fayette County

– Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 13% (same as state percentage)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #42
— Quality of life rank: #41
— Length of life rank: #41
– Estimated county population: 42,062

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w:User:Malepheasant // Wikimedia Commons

#14. Braxton County

– Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 13% (same as state percentage)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #34
— Quality of life rank: #42
— Length of life rank: #24
– Estimated county population: 13,702

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w:User:Malepheasant // Wikimedia Commons

#13. Wirt County

– Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 13% (same as state percentage)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #38
— Quality of life rank: #43
— Length of life rank: #31
– Estimated county population: 5,705

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Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#12. Wayne County

– Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 13% (same as state percentage)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #45
— Quality of life rank: #44
— Length of life rank: #44
– Estimated county population: 39,054

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w:User:Malepheasant // Wikimedia Commons

#11. Clay County

– Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 13% (same as state percentage)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #49
— Quality of life rank: #45
— Length of life rank: #48
– Estimated county population: 8,341

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w:User:Malepheasant // Wikimedia Commons

#10. Mercer County

– Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 13% (same as state percentage)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #48
— Quality of life rank: #46
— Length of life rank: #47
– Estimated county population: 58,258

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Richie Diesterheft from Chicago, IL, USA // Wikimedia Commons

#9. Roane County

– Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 13% (same as state percentage)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #44
— Quality of life rank: #47
— Length of life rank: #42
– Estimated county population: 13,482

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w:User:Malepheasant // Wikimedia Commons

#8. Calhoun County

– Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 13% (same as state percentage)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #32
— Quality of life rank: #48
— Length of life rank: #6
– Estimated county population: 6,945

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w:User:Malepheasant // Wikimedia Commons

#7. Lincoln County

– Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 13% (same as state percentage)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #51
— Quality of life rank: #49
— Length of life rank: #52
– Estimated county population: 20,043

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w:User:Malepheasant // Wikimedia Commons

#6. Webster County

– Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 13% (same as state percentage)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #43
— Quality of life rank: #50
— Length of life rank: #37
– Estimated county population: 8,058

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#5. Boone County

– Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 13% (same as state percentage)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #52
— Quality of life rank: #51
— Length of life rank: #50
– Estimated county population: 21,055

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w:User:Malepheasant // Wikimedia Commons

#4. Wyoming County

– Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 13% (same as state percentage)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #50
— Quality of life rank: #53
— Length of life rank: #46
– Estimated county population: 20,123

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#3. Logan County

– Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 14% (1 point higher than state percentage)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #54
— Quality of life rank: #52
— Length of life rank: #54
– Estimated county population: 31,688

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#2. Mingo County

– Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 14% (1 point higher than state percentage)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #53
— Quality of life rank: #54
— Length of life rank: #53
– Estimated county population: 22,951

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Coal town guy // Wikimedia Commons

#1. McDowell County

– Estimated percentage of adults with diabetes: 17% (4 points higher than state percentage)
– Health outcomes statewide rank: #55
— Quality of life rank: #55
— Length of life rank: #55
– Estimated county population: 16,916