According to new research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of Georgia residents with diabetes increased 145 percent between 1995 and 2010.
The jump represented the third highest increase in the U.S. behind only Oklahoma and Kentucky during that time frame.
According to the CDC, diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death in the U.S. and is a leading contributor to heart disease and stroke.
Experts stress that most cases of diabetes can be linked to poor eating habits and a lack of exercise.