Rural Health
Research Gateway

Diabetes

Completed Projects

Listed by project completion date. You can also view these projects alphabetically.

2024

  • Availability and Quality of Dialysis in Rural Counties with a High Diabetes Burden
    This project examined the degree to which counties with a high population risk for end stage renal disease, defined by high diabetes prevalence, are served by dialysis providers. It assessed the accessibility and quality of services for end stage renal disease looking for disparities associated with rural residence and racial/ethnic population composition.
    Research center: Rural and Minority Health Research Center
    Topics: Diabetes, Health disparities and health equity, Health services, Public health, Quality
  • Availability of Diabetes Self-Management Education in High Need Rural Counties
    This project examined the degree to which counties with a high need for diabetes education, defined by high diabetes prevalence, have such education available. Findings were linked to a related study that examined the availability of dialysis for end stage renal disease, a severe outcome of poorly addressed diabetes.
    Research center: Rural and Minority Health Research Center
    Topics: Diabetes, Health services

2023

  • Diabetes Management in Urban and Rural Areas of the U.S.
    This project used the IBM MarketScan database to examine differences in type 2 diabetes prevalence and monitoring for a commercially insured sample. It also employed definitions from the Health Effectiveness Data and Information Set guidelines for comprehensive diabetes care to determine if rural residents are more or less likely to meet recommended standards for type 2 diabetes monitoring and control.
    Research center: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
    Topics: Care management, Chronic diseases and conditions, Diabetes, Health disparities and health equity, Health promotion and disease prevention, Health services, Healthcare access, Private health insurance, Quality

2021

  • Cardiovascular & Cancer Rates for the Rural Delta Region
    This interactive tool can be used to compare county-level rates and incidence of cancer and cardiovascular related health measures for people residing in the lower Mississippi River Delta Region. Users may filter by various health measures and download images and data.
    Research center: North Carolina Rural Health Research and Policy Analysis Center
    Topics: Cancer, Chronic diseases and conditions, Diabetes, Health disparities and health equity, Obesity

2020

2018

  • The Burden of Diabetes in Rural America
    The purpose of this project was to determine rural versus urban differences in type 2 diabetes prevalence, morbidity and mortality in the U.S. Diabetes complications, disparities and associated demographics were reported. A comparison of Mexican-American border versus non-border states was also included.
    Research center: Southwest Rural Health Research Center
    Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Diabetes, Health disparities and health equity, Minority health

2016

  • Quality Measures and Sociodemographic Risk Factors: The Rural Environmental Context
    For three acute care conditions/diagnoses (potential examples include diabetes, congestive heart failure, COPD), this study will (1) identify the key socio-demographic variables that may affect quality adjustment for rural populations/providers; (2) identify data sources/strategies available for the above variables; and (3) identify the quality measures (e.g. readmission rates) that should be adjusted for socio-demographic variables for rural populations/providers and estimate the potential impact of those adjustments on quality measurement.
    Research center: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
    Topics: Diabetes, Quality, Rural statistics and demographics

2015

  • Post-Hospital Transitions in Care Among Dually-Eligible Medicare Beneficiaries
    This project will examine the hospitalization rates, post-discharge physician follow-up, and subsequent readmission rates among Medicare beneficiaries who are also enrolled in Medicaid. We will examine these dual-eligible beneficiaries by level of rurality to determine if residence is a significant factor in these rates. We will also control for co-morbidities, county characteristics, and other factors related to readmission rates.
    Research center: Rural and Minority Health Research Center
    Topics: Diabetes, Hospitals and clinics, Medicare

2014

  • Characteristics and Utilization Patterns of Rural Dual-eligible Medicare Beneficiaries
    Persons who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid insurance coverage (dual eligible) represent 21% of total Medicare enrollment, but account for more than 36% of Medicare expenditures. The purpose of this study is to ascertain whether dual-eligible beneficiaries living in rural areas differ from their urban counterparts in demographic characteristics and Medicare expenditures.
    Research center: Rural and Minority Health Research Center
    Topics: Cancer, Diabetes, Medicaid and CHIP, Medicare
  • Intensity of Service Provision for Medicare Beneficiaries Utilizing Home Health Services
    This study will assess whether Medicare beneficiaries in rural areas receive a lower intensity of home health (HH) services compared to their urban counterparts. Specifically, the study will examine (1) the distribution of levels of HH services for four conditions: joint (hip and knee) replacement, stroke, end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and diabetes; (2) the distribution of type of provider for each condition across the levels of rurality; and (3) the median charge and payment per beneficiary for these services across the levels of rurality.
    Research center: Rural and Minority Health Research Center
    Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Diabetes, Home health, Medicare

2012

  • Cancer Hospitalizations in Rural-Urban Areas in Relation to Carcinogenic Discharges from Toxics Release Inventory Facilities
    The purpose of the research is to understand whether discharges of carcinogens from Toxics Release Inventory facilities are related to higher cancer hospitalization rates in rural and urban settings. Evidence for this association will have potential implications for improvements to environmental policy or policies for improved cancer detection and treatment in rural settings.
    Research center: West Virginia Rural Health Research Center
    Topics: Cancer, Chronic diseases and conditions, Diabetes, Environmental and agricultural health, Hospitals and clinics, Public health
  • Dialysis Availability in Rural America
    Working from Medicare Dialysis Compare files and the Standard Analysis File of the US Renal Data System, we will evaluate the current availability of dialysis services across rural America. We will examine general availability of services, service to population ratios, and patient outcome measures across levels of rurality.
    Research center: Rural and Minority Health Research Center
    Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Diabetes, Medicare

2011

  • Consequences of Rural Uninsurance
    This study will assess whether uninsured rural residents have different levels of access to care than their urban counterparts, and the factors associated with any differences (including sub-analyses for individuals with identified chronic conditions). In doing so, it will provide policymakers with critical information for improving rural health systems.
    Research center: Maine Rural Health Research Center
    Topics: Diabetes, Uninsured and underinsured
  • Transitions in Care for Rural Medicare Beneficiaries with Diabetes
    Hospital readmission rates among persons with diabetes, as well as absolute admission rates, may be used to study health disparities among rural and minority populations. This project will use data from the Medicare Chronic Conditions Data Warehouse to explore residence- and race-based disparities in diabetes admission rates, effective transitions to outpatient care, and re-admission rates, to help guide rural policy-makers and healthcare providers.
    Research center: Rural and Minority Health Research Center
    Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Diabetes, Health disparities and health equity, Medicare, Minority health

2008

  • Diabetes and Obesity: Is there a Rural-Urban Difference in the Burden?
    Persons with diabetes are more likely to be obese, increasing the economic burden of diabetes related care. Purpose of this study is to examine if being overweight and obese places additional economic burden and if there is a rural-urban difference in this regard. It will help understand the health and economic consequences of diabetes and obesity epidemic on people's health.
    Research center: FORHP-funded Individual Grantees
    Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Diabetes, Obesity
  • Differences In Antipsychotic Medication Prescribing Patterns Between Rural And Urban Prescribers
    Second-generation antipsychotics have become the treatment of choice for persons with schizophrenia and other serious mental illnesses. Compared to first generation antipsychotics, many second generation medications reduce symptoms with fewer problematic side-effects and related major health problems. However, one aspect that has seen little empirical attention is how longitudinal trends, benefits, and costs may differ between urban and rural areas.
    Research center: WICHE Center for Rural Mental Health Research
    Topics: Diabetes, Mental and behavioral health, Pharmacy and prescription drugs

2007

  • Diabetes Burden and the Lack of Preventive Care in the Rural United States
    The project is designed to determine if there are disparities in diabetes care provided to persons with diabetes residing in rural areas as compared to those in urban areas. Additionally, the project will examine diabetes related health care resource utilization with implications for improving care and reducing the economic burden.
    Research center: FORHP-funded Individual Grantees
    Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Diabetes, Health disparities and health equity, Public health
  • U.S. Hospitalizations for Ambulatory Care Sensitive Conditions: A Rural/Urban Comparison
    This project will assess trends, patterns, and predictors of hospitalizations for three ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSCs) (i.e., uncontrolled diabetes, bacterial pneumonia, and pediatric asthma) among rural and urban residents in the United States. The study will involve the examination of 2003 HCUP Nationwide Inpatient Sample data.
    Research center: FORHP-funded Individual Grantees
    Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Diabetes, Rural statistics and demographics

2006

  • Pharmaceutical Data Validity in Estimating Rural Population Health
    This project will allow for the quantification of variation in morbidity (via prescription use) across rural areas; identify locations that might be at risk for stunted economic development due to high levels of chronic illness in the working population; and potentially lead to the development of a valid and reliable measure of county-level rates of chronic illness using prescription data as a proxy.
    Research center: FORHP-funded Individual Grantees
    Topics: Cancer, Chronic diseases and conditions, Diabetes, Pharmacy and prescription drugs, Public health, Rural statistics and demographics

2005

  • Diabetes and Hypertension in Rural Hispanics
    The project will examine the similarities and differences between rural and urban Hispanics and Caucasian adults diagnosed with diabetes mellitus and hypertension.
    Research center: Rural and Minority Health Research Center
    Topics: Chronic diseases and conditions, Diabetes, Health disparities and health equity, Hispanics, Minority health
  • Effects of Uninsurance during the Preceding 10 Years on Health Status Among Rural Working Age Adults
    Utilizing data from the 1979 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, the effects of long-term, continuous uninsurance on health status will be analyzed through a comparison of rural and urban populations who were between the ages of 14-22 in 1979.
    Research center: Rural and Minority Health Research Center
    Topics: Diabetes, Uninsured and underinsured
  • Rural Quality Improvement Focus on Diabetes
    This project focused specifically on diabetes care management and quality improvement programming in rural areas as a way to understand the adaptability and policy implications of using chronic care coordination and other models in a rural environment.
    Research center: RUPRI Center for Rural Health Policy Analysis
    Topics: Care management, Chronic diseases and conditions, Diabetes, Quality

2004

2003

2001

2000