Diabetes will place an immense burden on Arizona’s various health care delivery systems in the next decade. If the diabetes prevalence rate remains steady, by the year 2020 it is estimated there will be approximately 485,000 persons with diabetes in Arizona. However, measures of diabetes prevalence, mortality, hospitalization and major risk factors indicate that current rates are worsening. The increase is seen among all ethnic and racial groups. This report contains county-specific information about the prevalence, mortality, and hospitalization of persons with diabetes. It also shows the distribution of diabetes educators, who are effective in encouraging optimal care of persons with diabetes.

Diabetes is largely a preventable and manageable chronic disease. People with well-managed diabetes have better clinical outcomes and reduced medical costs. Since diabetes is mainly a self-managed disease, the cornerstone for treatment is diabetes self-management education/training. The exact numbers of people who receive this traianing in Arizona are unclear, but numbers are below the Healthy People 2010 goal of 60% of people with diabetes receiving formal education/training. Medicare covers it and estimates that only about one percent of beneficiaries with diabetes utilize this service.

Mounted black and white photograph with a typescript annotation, "July 17 1914. Making the trip down Bright Angel trail at the Grand Canyon of Arizona on mules. Left to right: George H. N. Luhrs, Jr., unknown, George H. N. Luhrs, Emma Luhrs, Ella Luhrs. Bright Angel Trail to the Colorado River, at bottom on canyon."

Black and white print with members of the Luhrs family. Typescript annotation, "July 17th, 1914. Going down Bright Angel Canyon of Arizona, Those on the mules, from bottom up: unknown, unknown, Ella Luhrs, Emma Luhrs, George H. N. Luhrs, unknown, Roger Hunt, George Luhrs Jr., Catherine Margarita 'Gretchen' (Mrs Geo H. N.) Luhrs standing beside George Luhrs Jr." Beside the trail, a sign displays, "Photo by Kolb Brothers."