Loading Curie Briefs...
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Not all kids with type 1 diabetes have equal access to care. A new study in JAMA Network Open found that T1D incidence among children and teens ranges from 17.0 per 100,000 in Hawaii to 27.8 per 100,000 in West Virginia — and the gap in pediatric endocrinologist availability is even starker, with some states having 6–8 times fewer specialists than others.
A new cross-sectional study published in JAMA Network Open reveals striking geographic disparities in both the burden of type 1 diabetes (T1D) and access to specialist care for children and teens across the US. Using the T1D Index model, researchers estimated state-level T1D incidence and prevalence among patients under 20 years old in 2024.
The national incidence rate was 24.0 per 100,000, but ranged from a low of 17.0 in Hawaii to a high of 27.8 in West Virginia. In terms of total cases, California and Texas led the country, while Wyoming and Washington D.C. reported the fewest. The specialist access gap is where things get especially concerning — the ratio of board-certified pediatric endocrinologists per 1,000 pediatric T1D patients was as low as 2.7 in Idaho, compared to 46.4 in Washington D.C.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: These findings highlight a serious equity issue in pediatric diabetes care. Children in underserved states may face significant barriers to timely diagnosis and management due to a shortage of specialists — a disparity the study authors say must be urgently addressed before it widens further.
