Diabetes deaths are more often coded as a 'contributing' (any cause) than as an 'underlying' (primary cause).
In Virginia, in 2004, about 75 percent of diabetes deaths coded as a secondary cause were coded as 'Major Cardiovascular Disease' as the primary cause.
In terms of diabetes death (mortality) rates, approximately every 22 out of every 100,000 people die from diabetes as primary cause and approximately 71 out of every 100,000 persons die from diabetes as a secondary cause.
The majority of deaths due to diabetes are listed as a contributing (any) cause.
Diabetes mortality (death) rates have been slightly higher for males than females since 1999. Female mortality rates have been declining at a faster rate than male rates since 2002.
Since 1999, black males and females have had significantly higher diabetes mortality rates than their White counterparts.
In 2004, black males and black females were more likely to die from diabetes in middle age groups (55-74) than their white counterparts.
Rates increase with increasing age across all races and ethnicities.
Healthy People 2010 Objective:
(5-5) Reduce the diabetes death rate to 45 deaths per 100,000 and (5-6) reduce the death rate to 8.8 per 1,000 persons with diabetes.
Sources: VDH, Division of Health Statistics, 2004
Data Note: Rates are age-adjusted per 100,000 population using 2000 U.S. Census data. Rates are not available for other racial and ethnic groups due to insufficient sample size; thus, Hispanics, Asians, American Indian/Alaskan Natives, and all others are coded as "Other".
Diabetes Prevention and Control Project
109 Governor St, DCDPC 10th Floor, Richmond, VA 23219
Phone: (804) 864-7877 Fax Phone: (804) 864-7880
Virginia Diabetes Indicators Database 
