{
  "id": 283081,
  "title": "Type 1 Diabetes Cases and Care Vary Widely Across States",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/07/type-1-diabetes-cases-and-care-vary-widely-across-states",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-07T21:08:19.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MedPage Today",
    "slug": "medpage-today",
    "url": "https://www.medpagetoday.com/endocrinology/type1diabetes/122538"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Type 1 diabetes incidence and care availability vary significantly across U.S. states, according to recent research. In 2024, the national incidence rate for individuals under 20 was 24.0 per 100,000, but statewide rates ranged from 17.0 in Hawaii to 27.8 in West Virginia, New Mexico, and Vermont. California and Texas had the highest prevalence, while Wyoming and Washington, D.C. had the lowest.\n\nData from a cross-sectional study reveals stark disparities in access to specialized pediatric endocrinologists. Nebraska, Mississippi, North Dakota, and New Mexico had fewer than five pediatric endocrinologists per 1,000 patients under 18. Conversely, Washington, D.C. had the highest ratio at 46.4, followed by Rhode Island (22.5) and Massachusetts (20.7). The demand for pediatric endocrinologists is expected to rise with increased screening, new drug approvals, and technological advancements.\n\nGeography effectively acts as a clinical variable, with significant variation in access to care. While the gap is less pronounced compared to primary care physicians or general specialists, states with lower incidence often have similar or higher levels of specialist shortage. The study aims to help individuals with type 1 diabetes, policymakers, and healthcare providers by providing state-level estimates of care capacity and identifying areas requiring targeted investment in workforce development, telehealth, and shared-care support.",
  "summary": "A recent study has revealed significant disparities in the number of type 1 diabetes patients and specialists across U.S. states, which could impact access to care as diagnostic and treatment methods evolve. In 2024, the national incidence rate for type 1 diabetes among individuals aged 20 and under was 24.0 per 100,000, but state-level rates ranged from 17.0 to 27.8. The research, published in JAMA Network Open, emphasizes the importance of understanding regional variation in disease burden to allocate resources equitably and ensure access to care regardless of location. States with the lowest estimated incidence per 100,000 youth under age 20 include Hawaii (17.0), New Mexico (20.5), and California (20.6), while West Virginia (27.8), Maine (27.4), and Vermont (27.4) had the highest rates. Additionally, the study highlights a stark disparity in access to specialized care, particularly in the ratio of board-certified pediatric endocrinologists to patients with type 1 diabetes. For instance, Nebraska, Mississippi, North Dakota, and New Mexico each had fewer than five pediatric endocrinologists per 1,000 patients under 18, while Washington, D.C. recorded the highest ratio at 46.4. The researchers urge addressing this inequity to prevent it from widening as new screening methods, drugs, and diabetes technologies become available.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}