Diabetes and Physical Inactivity Rates Across Michigan Counties: CDC PLACES Data

Two of the most consequential health metrics on the Michigan Signals dashboards are diabetes prevalence and physical inactivity rates. Both are leading indicators of long-term health burden: unmanaged diabetes drives kidney failure, blindness, amputations, and cardiovascular disease; physical inactivity is one of the top modifiable risk factors for virtually all major chronic diseases. CDC PLACES 2024 provides county-level estimates for both across Michigan.

Diabetes Prevalence by County

Adult diabetes prevalence (PLACES 2024, age-adjusted):

• Oakland County: 9.5% (estimated)
• Washtenaw County: near-Oakland levels
• Livingston County: mid-range, 11–12% estimated
• Ottawa County: mid-range
• Kent County: ~12%
• Macomb County: ~12–13%
• Kalamazoo County: mid-range
• Ingham County: ~13%
• Wayne County: ~14–15%
• Genesee County: 15.9% (highest in Michigan Signals)

The income gradient is especially strong for diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is heavily associated with obesity, physical activity levels, food environment quality, and access to preventive care — all factors that correlate with income. Genesee County's 15.9% prevalence reflects the cumulative effect of these conditions across a lower-income population. Genesee County health dashboard

Oakland County's 9.5% reflects the opposite: high income, better food access, lower obesity rates, higher health insurance coverage, and more proactive preventive care. Oakland County health dashboard

Physical Inactivity Rates

CDC PLACES measures physical inactivity as the share of adults who report no leisure-time physical activity in the past month. High inactivity rates are a warning sign for a range of chronic diseases.

Across Michigan Signals counties, physical inactivity rates follow the same pattern as obesity and diabetes — higher in lower-income counties (Wayne, Genesee) and lower in wealthier counties (Oakland, Washtenaw, Livingston). The mechanism: lower-income households face greater time constraints from multiple jobs, longer commutes, and more caregiving responsibilities; recreation infrastructure (parks, gyms, trails) is less available in lower-income areas; and safety concerns can limit outdoor physical activity in some urban areas.

Connection to Other Metrics

Physical inactivity, obesity, diabetes, and depression cluster together — not because they are the same thing, but because they share underlying social determinants. A county with high physical inactivity tends to have high obesity; high obesity correlates with high diabetes; and the stress and limited resources of lower-income living are associated with depression. The Michigan Signals health dashboard lets you see all of these metrics together, with state and national comparison values for each. Explore health data for: Wayne | Genesee | Kalamazoo

Data Sources

• CDC PLACES (2024): County-level estimates of diabetes prevalence and leisure-time physical inactivity using BRFSS, ACS, and Census data via multilevel regression and poststratification. Age-adjusted prevalence used where available. CDC PLACES