Prevalence of receiving multiple preventive-care services among adults with diabetes--United States, 2002-2004

An estimated 7% of the U.S. population has diabetes; however, only 70% of these persons have had the disease diagnosed. Recommended preventive-care services such as annual foot and eye examinations can prevent or delay amputation and blindness. Measurement of glycosylated hemoglobin (A1C) two or more times per year is important for glycemic control and diabetes management. Three national health objectives for 2010 are to increase the proportion of adults with diabetes who have an annual dilated eye examination (objective no. 5-13; target: 75%), an annual foot examination (objective no. 5-14; target: 75%), and A1C measurements at least twice each year (objective no. 5-12; target: 50%). To determine the percentage of U.S. adults with diabetes receiving each of these three preventive-care services and the percentage receiving all three services, CDC analyzed data from Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) surveys for 2002-2004. This report summarizes the results of that analysis, which determined that four in 10 U.S. adults with diabetes reported receiving all three preventive-care services; persons with recently diagnosed diabetes and current smokers were least likely to receive all three preventive-care services. Increased understanding of barriers to receiving multiple preventive-care services and continued interventions to ensure their delivery can improve the health status of persons with diabetes.