Diabetes and Disability, 2018: 27.1% of Adults With Diabetes Had a Disability, vs 8.1%

In 2018, U.S. adults who had ever been told they had diabetes were far more likely to have a disability than those who had not: 27.1% against 8.1%. The pattern held at every age, and disability became more common with age whatever a person's diabetes status.

Adults with disability, by diagnosed diabetes status and age group, United States, 2018, with 95% confidence intervals. CDC / MMWR

How it was measured

• Disability: answering "a lot of difficulty" or "cannot do at all" in at least one of six areas — seeing (even with glasses), hearing (even with hearing aids), walking or climbing stairs, communicating, remembering or concentrating, and self-care such as washing all over or dressing.
• Diabetes: answering yes to "Have you ever been told by a doctor or other health professional that you have diabetes or sugar diabetes?" Women were asked not to count diabetes that occurred only during pregnancy.
• Survey: household interviews with a sample of civilian, noninstitutionalized adults — the National Health Interview Survey, Sample Adult component.

Sources

Based on "QuickStats: Percentage of Adults Aged ≥18 Years with Disability, by Diagnosed Diabetes Status and Age Group — National Health Interview Survey, United States, 2018," reported by Nazik Elgaddal and Julie D. Weeks, MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, volume 69, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, from the National Health Interview Survey, 2018; a work of the United States government in the public domain.