Diabetes is a major cause of kidney failure, heart disease and stroke, and one of the top 10 causes of death in the United States. Associated with lack of activity and being overweight and obese, Type 2 diabetes is a growing public health concern across the U.S.

In 2021-23, the overall mortality rate due to diabetes in Westchester County was 12 per 100,000, slightly higher than in 2016-18 when it was 11. African Americans in Westchester County had the highest rate, at 28 per 100,000, higher than the rate for Hispanics at 13, Whites at 9, and 8 per 100,000 for Asians. Westchester's rates are below state rates for all racial/ethnic groups. Rates increased for all racial/ethnic groups since 2016-2018 except for Asians which declined by 2 points. The largest increase was among Hispanics, whose rate jumped 30%.

Compared with similar counties, Westchester's overall rate was lower than Putnam (16) and Rockland (14) and similar to Nassau (12). Westchester had the highest morality rate from diabetes among African Americans, above Rockland County at 25 per 100,000, and the second highest rate among Hispanics, behind Putnam County at 29. Westchester had the lowest rate among both Asians and Whites.

Lack of access to health care and lower socioeconomic status among African American and other populations can be barriers to preventing diabetes and managing diabetes once diagnosed. Minority populations with diabetes are more likely to receive less and lower-quality care and have serious diabetes-related complications. Genetic predisposition, higher rates of obesity, earlier onset, diet and lack of exercise have all been shown to contribute to these racial and ethnic disparities.

Rates are age-adjusted, meaning adjusted to account for differences in age distributions across geographies.