'Missing' Diabetes Patients Found

Why 3% in U.S. Have Diabetes but Don't Know It: Poor Health Care Access

June 25, 2007 (Chicago) -- It sounds like a scene from Michael Moore's latest movie, Sicko -- but the question, and the answer, come from the CDC.

How is it possible, wondered CDC researcher Xuanping Zhang, PhD, that nearly 3% of Americans can have diabetes and not know it?

After all, these 6.2 million people represent a huge chunk of the nearly 21 million Americans -- 7% of the U.S. population -- with diabetes.

"There is a relationship between these missing patients with diabetes and lack of health care access," Zhang says. "Among people with diabetes, health care access is an important predictor for being undiagnosed."

To find out who these missing patients are, Zhang and colleagues used responses to national health surveys to track down 110 people who, to the patients' surprise, turned out to have diabetes. They compared them with 704 matched patients with known diabetes.

Zhang announced the findings at the American Diabetes Association's 67th Annual Scientific Sessions, held June 22-26 in Chicago. During his presentation, he often used the words "much lower chance" and "huge difference" to describe the missing patients' access to health care.

Compared with people who knew they had diabetes, those who had diabetes but didn't know it:

Were more than 33 times more likely to have no routine place to go for health care

Were more than 10 times less likely to have received any health care in the last year

Were four times less likely to get health care in a consistent way

Were 70% more likely to be uninsured

Were 2.5 times more likely to be uninsured for longer than three years

"In order to prevent diabetes complications, we need to identify people with undiagnosed diabetes for appropriate treatments," Zhang said.

"Efforts to identify missed patients may need to address health care access issues," Zhang said.

Answer:

Your level is currently NormalHigh (hyperglycemia).Low (hypoglycemia).

If the level is below 70 and you are experiencing symptoms such as shaking, sweating or difficulty thinking, you will need to raise the number immediately. A quick solution is to eat a few pieces of hard candy or 1 tablespoon of sugar or honey. Recheck your numbers again in 15 minutes to see if the number has gone up. If not, repeat the steps above or call your doctor.

People who experience hypoglycemia several times in a week should call their health care provider. It's important to monitor your levels each day so you can make sure your numbers are within the range. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.

Your blood sugar level is slightly high. You should call your health care provider and ask if laboratory tests to check for diabetes are needed. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.

Congratulations on taking steps to manage your health.

However, it's important to continue to track your numbers so that you can make lifestyle changes if needed. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.

Your level is currently normal. However, if you are concerned about diabetes speak with your physician. There may be other risk factors that increase your risk for diabetes.

Your level is high if this reading was taken before eating. Aim for 70-130 before meals and less than 180 two hours after meals.

Even if your number is high, it's not too late for you to take control of your health and lower your blood sugar.

One of the first steps is to monitor your levels each day. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.

Your blood sugar level may be high, depending on when you last ate. If you have not eaten for at least 8 hours, your blood sugar should be less than 100. If you've eaten within the last 2 hours, your blood sugar should be less than 140. You should call your health care provider and ask if you need laboratory tests to check for diabetes. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.

Blood sugars consistently above 180 warrant prompt medical attention.

Even if your number is high, it's not too late for you to take control of your health and lower your blood sugar.

One of the first steps is to monitor your levels each day. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.

Your blood sugar level is high. You should call your health care provider and ask if laboratory tests to check for diabetes are needed. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.

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