On the Pulse: Hypertension in Delaware

Essence Forbes Awareness, Hypertension, Research

Hypertension in Delaware

Hypertension is more than numbers on a machine – it is a reality for millions of people in the United States, including thousands of our own Delaware residents. From the bustling streets of Wilmington to the quiet back roads of Laural, hypertension quietly affects us all in some shape or form. 

 

And as with many other chronic conditions that can be found here, some communities are more heavily affected than others. That is why we are taking a deeper dive into the disease also known as the “silent killer”. This post is going to delve into:

  • What is hypertension and who is at risk?
  • How is hypertension affecting Delawarians by age and geography?
  • How this can connected to the bigger picture: Public Health 

 

This is not to scare you but to educate, empower and make the change!

 

First, We’ll Start with an Overview

According to the CDC, blood pressure is the force in which your blood is pushing against your arteries. Throughout the day, blood pressure fluxates in accordance to environmental and internal stimuli. However, high blood pressure or hypertension is when the pressure that the blood is moving through the arteries are consistently high causing the heart to work harder to move blood throughout the body. 

 

The American College of Cardiolgy catorgorized hypertension in adults in two stages:

  • Stage 1 Hypertension is a systolic pressure between 130 – 139 mmHg or a diastolic pressure between 80 – 89 mmHg
  • Stage 2 Hypertension is a systolic pressure greater than 140 mmHg or a diastolic pressure greater than 90 mmHg.

 

Roughly 1.28 billion adults aged 30-79 worldwide are reported to have hypertension. In the United States, hypertension was responsible for over 650,000 deaths in 2023. What makes hypertension so dangerous is that is puts indviduals at higher risk for:

  • Stroke
    • Hemorrahgic 
    • Ischemic
  • Cardiovascular Issues
    • Heart Failure
    • Heart Attack
    • Chest pains, known as angina 
  • Kidney Damage or Kidney Failure
  • Vision Loss and;
  • Dementia

As mentioned before, hypertension is also known by the monikor “silent killer”. This is because many people may not feel any symptoms until it unfortunately causes serious harm.

 

A Statewide Snapshot: Hypertension in Delaware

As of 2019, there has been a distinct increase in hypertension rates with an increase with age.

 

Age Group Hypertension Prevelance
18 – 24 12.6%
45 – 64 39.6%
65+ 61.3%

 

Why Where you Live Matters:

While the statewide data paints an important image, when digging deeper the county-level data offers a deeper insight. 

  • Sussex county shows a higher prevalence of hypertension, espeically in the older population
  • New Castle County Kent county trail close behind but still report high prevalence rates

 

County Hypertension Prevalence (all adults aged 18-65, 2019)
New Castle County 36.1%
Kent County 37.8%
Sussex County 39.4%

This is important to note because there are factors associated with each of these counties that affect the prevalence of this chronic condition:

  • New Castle County is the most populous of the counties which means there is a strong hospital and primary care prevalence. However, there are urban disparites that create issues in recieving proper care:
    • Income inequality
    • Housing
    • Food insecurity
  • Kent County has a higher rural population although there is a mix of suburban communities. Much of the population faces having to travel long distances to see specialists thus increasing the odds of severe hypertension-related complications. 
  • Sussex county faces the issues of both access inequity as well as age-related increase in hypertension prevalence. Sussex has the oldest median age of the three thus many of the population have an increased incidence of chronic condtions. Addtiontally there is still that inaccess to specialist care. 

Strive for a Healthier Delaware: What You Can Do

For Individuals & Families:

  • Check your blood pressure regularly – at home, the pharmacy, or a wellness visit
  • Eat more whole foods – vegetables, lean proteins, low-sodium options
  • Get moving – aim for 30 minutes of activity 5x a week
  • Cut back on sodium and processed foods
  • Take prescribed medications consistently
  • Manage stress with mindfulness, therapy, or community support

For Communities:

  • Support screening events and blood pressure clinics
  • Share educational resources and stories
  • Advocate for safe places to walk, bike, and play
  • Promote policies that support healthy food access in every zip code 

Interested in supporting heart health?

There are Heart Walks happening within Delaware with proceeds from the events going directly to the American Heart Association. The Heart Walk for Delaware are:

2025 Wilmington Heart Walk
Tubman Garrett Riverfront Park
Sunday, September 7, 2025

2025 Southern Delaware Heart Walk
Rehoboth Beach Bandstand
Sunday, November 2, 2025

For more information please visit the American Heart Association.

When we understand hypertension—where it’s hitting hardest, and why—we can intervene earlier, design better programs, and help Delawareans live longer, healthier lives.

It starts with awareness. It continues with small actions that ripple through families and communities.

 

References:

Let’s Talk About Diabetes in Delaware

Essence Forbes Awareness, Diabetes, Research

Diabetes is more than just a number on a chart—it’s a condition that affects thousands of Delawareans every day. From Wilmington to Seaford, our communities face real challenges when it comes to managing and preventing this chronic illness. And some groups are hit harder than others.

That’s why we’re taking a closer look—not just at how many people are living with diabetes, but who, where, and why.

With the help of local and national data, we’re unpacking:

  • How diabetes affects Delaware by race and ethnicity
  • What patterns show up across our counties
  • How this ties into broader issues like access to care and community support

We’re not here to alarm you—we’re here to inform, inspire, and maybe even spark some change.

First let’s understand what diabetes and the causes of it. As defined by the Cleveland Clinic, diabetes is a common condition that affects the population of all ages. This condition occurs when your glucose (blood sugar) becomes too high and your pancreas either cannot make enough insulin or cannot make insulin at all, or when your body isn’t responding to the insulin that is being released adequately enough.

The most common type of diabetes is:

  • Type II diabetes: The body cannot make enough insulin and/or the body doesn’t respond normally to insulin – known as insulin resistance. This is the most common type of diabetes affecting mainly adults but can affect children as well.
  • Prediabetes: This is the precursor stage before Type II diabetes. The body’s blood sugar is higher than normal but not high enough for an official diagnosis of Type II diabetes.
  • Type I diabetes: This type is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin in the pancreas for an unknown reason. Roughly ~10% of people who have diabetes have Type I, most diagnosed in children and young adults, however, can happen at any age.
  • Gestational diabetes: This type develops in some mothers during pregnancy. Typically, gestational diabetes goes away after pregnancy. However, if a person had gestational diabetes, they are at a higher risk of developing Type II diabetes later in life.

Now that we have the basics, let’s dig into the data.

Statewide Snapshot:

Over 1 in 8 adults in Delaware — 13.3%– had been diagnosed with diabetes in 2023, indicating a 12% increase from 2018. This trend is moving away from the states goal of 10.5%. This is signaling an urgent need for prevention and wellness efforts across the Delaware communities.

Why does it matter?

    • This rate is higher than both the national averages and the state goals, 11.3% and 10.5% respectively. It highlights the importance of:
      • Routine screening & early diagnosis
      • Prevention programs focusing on diet, exercise, and pre-diabetes
      • Policies that increase access to healthcare & healthy living

 

Table One: Diabetes Prevalence in Delaware

Year Prevalence (%) Target (%)
2022 13.9% 10.5%
2023 13.3% —
   

(Data represents adults diagnosed with diabetes; BRFSS survey estimates.)

Where You Live Matters:

Diabetes affects Delawareans across the state, but when we take a closer look there is some variations among the counties:

  • The highest rate of diabetes is found in Sussex County at 14.2%, followed by Kent County and New Castle County at 13.6% and 12.9%, respectively.

These regional differences, though slight, may reflect the vary access to health care, nutrition education, and lifestyle resources.

 

Breaking Down Diabetes by Race in Delaware:

In Delaware, diabetes doesn’t affect all communities equally. Black and American Indian or Alaska Native adults face the highest rates, with prevalence exceeding 16%. Hispanic Delawareans also show elevated rates compared to their White and Asian counterparts.

These disparities don’t occur in a vacuum—they’re shaped by historical and systemic inequities in access to healthcare, nutrition, transportation, and culturally tailored prevention programs.

Why does it matter?

  • Health equity isn’t just a buzzword – it is the foundation of effective chronic disease prevention.

 

Beyond the Numbers and Charts:

Diabetes is more than just a health condition that requires a diet change, it is a driver of long-term complications, co-morbidities, financial strain and other health inequities. Some examples include:

  • Cognitive Decline: Diabetes – specifically Type II – increases the risk of dementia and other cognitive impairments.
  • Heart Disease: Adults with diabetes are 2 times more likely to die from heart disease compared to adults without diabetes.
  • Quality of Life: Chronic fatigue, vision issues such as glaucoma, and mobility issues associated with diabetes can cause an impact on day to day lives.
  • Healthcare Cost: Cost of medical care, and lost productivity associated with diabetes cost the United States roughly $357 billion dollars a year.

 

Strive to a Healthier Delaware: Small Steps for a Big Impact

For Individuals and Families:

  1. Get up and move: Aim for 30 minutes of exercise a day. This includes but limited to:
    1. Walking
    2. Biking
    3. Running
    4. Yoga or Pilates
    5. Weight Training

 

  1. Eat Healthy: Aim for foods for veggies, fruits, lean protein (chicken breast, turkey, etc.) and whole grains. That doesn’t mean you have to skip out on a sweet treat every now and again of course.

 

  1. Keep an eye out on your numbers: Checking your blood pressure and cholesterol with regular wellness visits and bloodwork. You can also find blood pressure monitors over the counter at places that have a pharmacy such as Walmart or Walgreens

 

  1. Know your risk: You can use CDC’s Diabetes Risk Test to assess your chances of developing Type II diabetes. You can also consult with your primary care doctor about your risk and family history.

What can you do for your community:

  1. Share resources: help others find local support like wellness clinics, food pantries and wellness events.
  2. Advocate in the communities: support initiatives and policies that improve access to nutritious food, safe places to exercise and health education for children and adults alike.

By understanding the numbers, knowing who are the most at risk, and trying to promote small lifestyle changes, we can build a healthier future for Delaware. Whether is advocating and making changes for yourself or if you are sharing the resources within the communities, action is progress! Raising awareness, sharing resources, and supporting our neighbors in reducing the prevalence of diabetes across the First State!

 

References:

  1. CDC – Diabetes Data and Statistics
    https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/data/index.html

  2. CDC – National Diabetes Prevention Program
    https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/prevention/index.html

  3. CDC – Diabetes and Health Equity
    https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/library/features/health-equity.html

  4. Delaware Department of Health and Social Services – Diabetes Program
    https://www.dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dph/dpc/diabetes.html

  5. Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) – Delaware County-Level Data (2023)
    https://myhealthycommunity.dhss.delaware.gov/

  6. 2025 County Health Rankings & Roadmaps – Delaware
    https://www.countyhealthrankings.org/

  7. U.S. Chronic Disease Indicators Dataset (2025)
    CDC Chronic Disease Indicators – data.cdc.gov