|
|
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1 January 1996 | Volume 124 Issue 1 Part 2 | Pages 117-122
Objective: To describe the epidemiologic characteristics of physician care and self-care for adults with diabetes in the U.S. population.
Design and Subjects: Data are drawn from the 1989 National Health Interview Survey, in which a personal household interview was administered to a representative sample of U.S. adults aged 18 years or older. The response rate was 96% (n = 84 572). All subjects identified as having diabetes previously diagnosed by a physician were asked a series of questions about their diabetes. Response rate for this representative sample of U.S. diabetic patients was 95% (n = 2405).
Measurements: Self-reported information was obtained about various aspects of diabetes care, including care by physicians and self-care practices of the diabetic persons. Sociodemographic and clinical factors that may influence diabetes care were also determined.
Results: More than 90% of diabetic adults had one physician for the usual care of their diabetes, but 32% made fewer than four visits to this physician each year. Most physician visits by diabetic patients were not made to diabetes specialists, and the visit rate to other health care professionals such as ophthalmologists, podiatrists, and nutritionists was low. About half of insulin-treated diabetic subjects used multiple daily insulin injections; and 40% of patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, 26% of those with noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) who were taking insulin, and 5% of those with NIDDM who were not taking insulin monitored their blood glucose level daily. Diabetes patient education classes had been attended by 35% of diabetic adults.
Conclusions: These and other data indicate that medical care for diabetic patients and their self-care practices may not be optimal for prevention of diabetes complications. The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial showed that achieving and maintaining near-normal glycemia, with a concomitant 50% to 70% reduction in diabetes complications, may require close monitoring and ongoing support from a health care team, ample financial resources, and advanced patient knowledge and motivation. Providing this level of diabetes management to all diabetic persons may require major changes in the health care system and in patient self-care practices.
Author and Article Information
From the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland. For the current author address, see end of text.
CURRENT NIDDM PRACTICES
Medical Care for Patients with Diabetes: Epidemiologic Aspects
![]()
Note: This article is one of a series of articles comprising an Annals of Internal Medicine supplement entitled "Risks and Benefits of Intensive Management in Non-Insulin-dependent Diabetes Mellitus: The Fifth Regenstrief Conference." To view a complete list of the articles included in this supplement, please view its Table of Contents.
Requests for Reprints: Maureen I. Harris, PhD, MPH, NIDDK/NIH, Natcher Building, Room 5AN24, 45 Center Drive, MSC 6600, Bethesda, MD 20892-6600.
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
P. W. Tuerk, M. Mueller, and L. E. Egede Estimating Physician Effects on Glycemic Control in the Treatment of Diabetes: Methods, effects sizes, and implications for treatment policy Diabetes Care, May 1, 2008; 31(5): 869 - 873. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
F. A. Sloan, M. A. Bethel, D. Ruiz Jr, A. H. Shea, and M. N. Feinglos The Growing Burden of Diabetes Mellitus in the US Elderly Population Arch Intern Med, January 28, 2008; 168(2): 192 - 199. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
P. J. Lustman, M. M. Williams, G. S. Sayuk, B. D. Nix, and R. E. Clouse Factors Influencing Glycemic Control in Type 2 Diabetes During Acute- and Maintenance-Phase Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder With Bupropion Diabetes Care, March 1, 2007; 30(3): 459 - 466. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
L. E. Egede Association Between Number of Physician Visits and Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among Diabetic Adults With Access to Care Diabetes Care, September 1, 2003; 26(9): 2562 - 2567. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
D. S. von Goeler, M. C. Rosal, J. K. Ockene, J. Scavron, and F. De Torrijos Self-Management of Type 2 Diabetes: A Survey of Low-lncome Urban Puerto Ricans The Diabetes Educator, July 1, 2003; 29(4): 663 - 672. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
L. E. Egede and D. Zheng Racial/Ethnic Differences in Adult Vaccination Among Individuals With Diabetes Am J Public Health, February 1, 2003; 93(2): 324 - 329. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
K. M. Nelson, G. Reiber, and E. J. Boyko Diet and Exercise Among Adults With Type 2 Diabetes: Findings from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) Diabetes Care, October 1, 2002; 25(10): 1722 - 1728. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. B. Saaddine, M. M. Engelgau, G. L. Beckles, E. W. Gregg, T. J. Thompson, and K.M. V. Narayan A Diabetes Report Card for the United States: Quality of Care in the 1990s Ann Intern Med, April 16, 2002; 136(8): 565 - 574. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
L. E. Egede, D. Zheng, and K. Simpson Comorbid Depression is Associated With Increased Health Care Use and Expenditures in Individuals With Diabetes Diabetes Care, March 1, 2002; 25(3): 464 - 470. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
L. E. Egede and D. Zheng Modifiable Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Adults With Diabetes: Prevalence and Missed Opportunities for Physician Counseling Arch Intern Med, February 25, 2002; 162(4): 427 - 433. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
K. L. Herbst and I. B. Hirsch Insulin Strategies for Primary Care Providers Clin. Diabetes, January 1, 2002; 20(1): 11 - 17. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
L. E. Egede and Y. Miohel Perceived Difficulty of Diabetes Treatment in Primary Care: Does it Differ by Patient Ethnicity? The Diabetes Educator, September 1, 2001; 27(5): 678 - 684. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
R. E. Glasgow, R. G. Hiss, R. M. Anderson, N. M. Friedman, R. A. Hayward, D. G. Marrero, C. B. Taylor, and F. Vinicor Report of the Health Care Delivery Work Group: Behavioral research related to the establishment of a chronic disease model for diabetes care Diabetes Care, January 1, 2001; 24(1): 124 - 130. [Abstract] [Full Text] |
||||
![]() |
D. M. Thompson, S. E. Kozak, and S. Sheps Insulin adjustment by a diabetes nurse educator improves glucose control in insulin-requiring diabetic patients: a randomized trial Can. Med. Assoc. J., October 1, 1999; 161(8): 959 - 962. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
R. A. DeFronzo Pharmacologic Therapy for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Ann Intern Med, August 17, 1999; 131(4): 281 - 303. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
B. Gaster and I. B. Hirsch The Effects of Improved Glycemic Control on Complications in Type 2 Diabetes Arch Intern Med, January 26, 1998; 158(2): 134 - 140. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
H. G. MrKay, E. G. Feil, R. E. Glasgow, and J. E. Brown Feasibility and Use of an Internet Support Service for Diabetes Self-Management The Diabetes Educator, January 1, 1998; 24(2): 174 - 179. [PDF] |
||||