Diabetes deaths fall to lowest levels in years, in early CDC figures

The latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows a significant decrease in diabetes-related deaths in the United States. According to preliminary figures, the mortality rate for diabetes has dropped to some of the lowest levels in years, reversing a surge that was observed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the third quarter of 2024, there were 26.4 deaths per 100,000 people attributed to diabetes, as reported by the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics. This marks a decline from the peak in 2021 when the death rate reached 31.1 deaths per 100,000 individuals. The CDC had identified diabetes as the eighth leading cause of death in 2021, with a possible link to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Christopher Holliday, head of the CDC’s Division of Diabetes Translation, highlighted the impact of the pandemic on individuals with underlying health conditions like diabetes. Research indicates that people with diabetes faced a higher risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and death due to COVID-19. The disruption in routine medical care and management of the disease during the pandemic could have contributed to the increased mortality rates.

While there has been a decrease in diabetes-related deaths since 2021, the numbers have not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels. In 2021, there were 103,294 deaths from diabetes, representing a 17% increase from 2019. The provisional data for 2024 suggests a decrease with 94,294 reported deaths last year.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, diabetes deaths were on a downward trend despite the rising prevalence of the disease. The introduction of new treatments like Ozempic and Mounjaro, which have seen high demand, may have also played a role in managing diabetes effectively. Nearly 1 in 10 adults had diagnosed diabetes in 2023, according to the CDC’s National Health Interview Survey.

Experts caution that analyzing long-term trends in diabetes deaths is complex due to changes in the disease definition over the years and variations in how death certificates record diabetes-related deaths. In many cases, diabetes is listed as a contributing factor rather than the primary cause of death, particularly in cases of cardiovascular-related deaths.

Overall, the data on diabetes-related deaths reflect the awareness of the disease and coding practices among healthcare professionals. It is essential for doctors to accurately determine the underlying cause of death, whether it is diabetes or other health conditions. As trends in underlying causes of death evolve, it is crucial to consider the impact of awareness and coding practices on the reported data.