Treatment and control of diabetes mellitus in the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999-2002

J Cardiometab Syndr. 2006 Fall;1(5):301-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1559-4564.2006.05910.x.

Abstract

Control of glycemia and other risk factors in people with diabetes has a critical bearing on clinical outcome. Using data from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2002, the authors compared the characteristics and control among diabetic subjects in different antidiabetic treatment groups. Among diagnosed diabetic subjects (n=827), 18.3%, 15.2%, 56.6%, and 9.6% used diet therapy alone, insulin therapy alone, oral antidiabetic drugs alone, or both insulin and oral antidiabetic drugs, respectively. The pattern of antidiabetic treatment differed by age and race/ethnicity, but not sex and status of the cardiometabolic syndrome. Only a minority of patients had satisfactory control of glycemia (38.8%), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (35.0%), and blood pressure (42.5%). Patients taking only insulin had the poorest glycemic control (15.2%), while patients using diet treatment alone (65.9%) had the best glycemic control. There is a need to improve glycemic control. Better patient education, intensive lifestyle changes, and newer therapies need to be explored.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Blood Glucose / drug effects
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / epidemiology
  • Diabetes Mellitus / blood
  • Diabetes Mellitus / diet therapy*
  • Diabetes Mellitus / drug therapy*
  • Diabetes Mellitus / epidemiology
  • Diabetes Mellitus / ethnology
  • Diet Therapy*
  • Female
  • Health Surveys
  • Humans
  • Hypercholesterolemia / epidemiology
  • Hypertension / epidemiology
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Insulin / administration & dosage
  • Insulin / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Metabolic Syndrome / diet therapy
  • Metabolic Syndrome / drug therapy
  • Metabolic Syndrome / epidemiology*
  • Metabolic Syndrome / ethnology
  • Middle Aged
  • Nutrition Surveys
  • Prevalence
  • Treatment Outcome
  • United States / epidemiology

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Insulin