Published: 05:43 BST, 8 August 2026 | Updated: 05:49 BST, 8 August 2026<\/p>\n
It's a Northeastern state famed for its lobster rolls and peaceful lifestyle. But data shows\u00a0Maine has quietly become a hotspot for type 1 diabetes.<\/p>\n
New state-by-state data reveals the state has the highest incidence rate in the nation at 27.4 per 100,000, significantly above the national average of 24.0.<\/p>\n
Nationwide,\u00a0Vermont,\u00a0New Hampshire\u00a0and West Virginia also ranked among the top five,\u00a0while the lowest rates are found in Hawaii, New Mexico and California.<\/p>\n
Most diabetics in the US have type 2 diabetes, which is when the body is no longer able to control blood sugar levels because cells no longer respond to the hormone insulin.<\/p>\n
But more people are now being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, where the body no longer makes insulin, often because the immune system has mistakenly destroyed insulin-producing cells.<\/p>\n
The exact cause of type 1 diabetes is unclear. But researchers warn that genetics, being from a white ethnic background and exposure to viruses and other environmental factors may play a role.<\/p>\n
Now, researchers in New York have analyzed state-level population data to establish which areas of the country have the highest rates of the disease.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Nationwide, an estimated 2.07 million Americans are now living with the condition, a number projected to grow by 10 percent by 2033.\u00a0<\/p>\n
More than 60,000 people are diagnosed with the disease every year, with half of all new cases now diagnosed in adults, most commonly in those 45 to 64 years old.<\/p>\n
The latest data, published in JAMA Network Open, analyzed incidence rates – number of cases newly diagnosed – for type 1 diabetes nationwide in 2024.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Data was converted to cases per 100,000 people to allow for comparisons between states, which have different population sizes.<\/p>\n
By state, West Virginia recorded the highest incidence rate at 27.8 per 100,000, followed closely by Maine and Vermont, both at 27.4.\u00a0<\/p>\n
New Hampshire, with 26.9, and Kentucky \u2013 26.8 \u2013 rounded out the top five.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Researchers caution, however, that West Virginia's figure is based on a smaller population, and that Maine and West Virginia are statistically tied.<\/p>\n